Grilled Flank Steak with Coffee Sauce

These steaks are amazingly good. They really need no special handling, but I promised a second recipe for the delicious grass-fed flank steaks I received from Hearst Ranch. Since salt and pepper don't constitute a recipe, I wanted to find something outstanding for you to try. I can't think of a better way to use beef of this quality than to prepare it using a recipe from one of the country's premier chefs. Gordon Hamersley, of Hamersley Bistro in Boston, is noted for a grilled flank steak that is marinated and sauced with a flavored coffee reduction. The recipe comes from his book, Bistro Cooking at Home, which can be found here. With extraordinary beef in one hand and his recipe in the other, I set out to duplicate his grilled flank steak. The recipe is easy to follow and it produces a marvelous steak. You'll need to start the simple marinade several hours before you plan to grill the steak. The steak may be cooked indoors in a grill pan or outdoors on a gas grill. The trick to a tender flank steak is fast cooking. About three minutes per side will give you gloriously pink beef that is at once tender and toothsome. I think you'll like this steak. Here's the recipe.

Grilled Flank Steak with Coffee Sauce...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, inspired by Gordon Hamersley

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons grainy Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 tablespoon chopped shallots
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided use
2 cups espresso or strong brewed coffee
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon Black pepper
1 (20-oz.) flank steak
Salt to taste
1 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons butter

Directions:
1) Combine mustard, garlic, shallots, balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons oil, espresso, brown sugar and black pepper in a large pan. Reserve 1 cup of marinade to make sauce. Add flank steak and marinate for 2 hours, turning meat every 30 minutes.
2) Pat steak dry and season each side with salt and pepper. Heat a large cast iron skillet over high heat. Add vegetable oil and heat until smoking hot. Add flank steak and cook for 3 minutes per side, brushing each side with marinade. Remove pan from heat, but tent with foil and let rest for 10 minutes.
3) While beef is resting, combine reserved marinade and the beef broth. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat to medium. Reduce sauce by 1/2. Add 2 tablespoons of butter. Whisk to incorporate. Correct the seasoning. Transfer steak to a cutting board and slice crosswise on the diagonal into 2-inch slices. Spoon sauce over meat and serve immediately. Yield: 3 to 4 servings.

Note: Small photo courtesy of Hearst Ranch.

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Sizzling Southwestern Flank Steak - One Perfect Bite
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Flank Steak Roulade - The Food Addicts
Grilled Flank Steak with Mushrooms - Simply Recipes
Grilled Flank Steak with Chimichurri - The Gourmet Connection
Quick-Marinated Flank Steak - Noble Pig