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Grill/Barbecue

Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

by:
May 20, 2013
4.3
6 Ratings
Photo by Peden+Munk
  • Prep time 50 minutes
  • Cook time 8 minutes
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

Tart, herbaceous, and absolutely addictive, Argentinean chimichurri sauce is the perfect match for the rich beefy flavor of skirt steak – or any cut of steak. Cook the steak over intense heat quickly to sear the outside while cooking the inside just to medium-rare. Then slice it thinly and serve with generous amounts of sauce. (All recipes from The Grilling Book.) —Adam Rapoport

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Ingredients
  • Skirt Steak
  • one 1 1/2 pounds skirt steak (about 1/2-inch thick), cut in half crosswise
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Vegetable oil, for brushing
  • 1/2 cup Chimichurri Sauce
  • Chimichurri
  • 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, more as needed
  • 3 to 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced or minced
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped
  • 1 Fresno chile or red jalapeño, finely chopped
  • 2 cups minced fresh cilantro
  • 1 cup minced flat-leaf parsley
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped fresh oregano
  • 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Directions
  1. Skirt Steak
  2. Season skirt steak lightly with salt and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels and season again with salt and pepper.
  3. Build a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill, or heat a gas grill to high. Brush grill grate with oil.
  4. Cook until meat is nicely charred and medium-rare, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer steak to a work surface; let rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Slice thinly against the grain and serve with Chimichurri Sauce.
  1. Chimichurri
  2. Combine vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt, garlic, shallot, and chile in a medium bowl and let stand for 10 minutes.
  3. Stir in cilantro, parsley, and oregano. Using a fork, whisk in oil. Transfer ½ cup chimichurri to a small bowl, season with salt to taste, and reserve as sauce.
  4. To use as a marinade with beef or lamb: Put beef or lamb in a glass, stainless steel, or ceramic dish. Toss with remaining chimichurri. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours or overnight.
  5. Remove meat from marinade, pat dry, and grill. Serve with reserved sauce.
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Adam Rapoport is Editor-in-Chief of Bon Appétit magazine and its website bonappetit.com.

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31 Reviews

Write a Review
Christina January 19, 2022
I have tried many chimichurri recipes out there but for years have always gone back to this one. It is the ABSOLUTE BEST one out there!
Jeanne May 25, 2020
Delicious! I followed the ingredients list and prep instructions exactly, using the overnight marinade. Our Memorial Day BBQ was rained out in Miami so I seared the steaks indoors on a screaming hot Lodge cast iron griddle/grill on a gas range. It may not be a "traditional" chimichurri, but everyone loved it.
Vannes_Et_Sa_Femme May 27, 2017
Beware of the "chimichurri" recipe. Red wine vinegar is completely wrong and will destroy your sauce. Use white wine vinegar or even lemon instead. Also do not use oregano, as it is far too over powering.
Karin L. September 19, 2015
Linda use a cast iron pan, and open all the widows.
Karin L. September 19, 2015
It meat is cut against the grain, otherwise it would be tough.
bethL September 18, 2015
Anyone cook this indoors?
ebony June 5, 2015
i agree with Gladys. this chimichurri is probably very tasty, but no Argentine i know would be caught dead using cilantro or jalapeno in chimichurri!
amy.d.cutting September 8, 2014
Loved it! I made double the sauce to use on some grilled chicken as well (I had a few people who aren't big fans of beef) and everyone loved it. Thank you!
Judy September 6, 2014
If I could make a suggestion it would be to ask your butcher for a tri-tip roast (NOT tri-tip steak) and use that instead of the skirt steak. Do not be fooled by the looks of it as it is one of the most flavorful cuts of beef that there is. Sear just as this directs and then cook about 4 minutes per side.
Eduardo June 24, 2014
I have grilled this so called flat steak in South Texas for last 40 years and chimichurri is an other marinate I shall try. Cutting with grain will throw you out of all Texas kitchens.
Beth H. June 11, 2014
The chimichurri sauce is amazing!
Gladys January 20, 2014
Leyendo la receta, quería comentarles que en Argentina casi no se usa el cilantro. Sí, usamos para el chimichurri el perejil, el ají molido que es un condimento seco (menos picante que el chile o jalapeño), el orégano seco, sal, aceite y vinagre normalmente el blanco no de vino. Ese corte parece lo que aquí llamamos "entraña". Es muy rico, pero se debe cocinar muy poco tiempo ya que tiende a endurecer si se cocina por demás. Podrían también dejar la carne marinar durante toda la noche en una fuente con el chimicurri, tapada con un film dentro de la heladera, y lo cocinan en horno al día siguiente. Se chuparán los dedos! Me alegra saber que en otros países se conocen nuestras costumbres! Un abrazo para todos!
Karin L. June 19, 2013
Linda, use a really hot cast iron pan, sear the meat on both sides (to close the pores) then add canola oil, brown quickly turning once, that would make the meat brown on the outside and medium rare in the middle..
linda W. June 16, 2013
How would you cook this flat steak in the house, I do not have an outside grill? Thanks
Jocelyn G. June 11, 2013
What I want to know is if people are cutting with the grain (as the picture shows) or against the grain (lengthwise)?
Virginia M. June 11, 2013
After reading some of the comments below, I meant to cut into 3-4 inch pieces with the grain then cut into smaller pieces against the grain, but I totally forgot to! Cutting it with the grain ended up being fine for me without the meat being noticeably tough or chewy, though it wasn't exactly 'tender' either.
Virginia M. June 11, 2013
Made this on Sunday and it was amazing! I marinated the skirt steak for 3 hours in the leftover chimichurri beforehand, and didn't have any trouble with the steak getting dried out on the grill or being too tough. We ate it with provoleta and grilled bread the first night, then had it reheated in tortillas with avocado and cherry tomatoes for dinner again last night. Amazing!
Karin L. June 3, 2013
I use 1/2 cilantro and 1/2 parsley. I find it gives the Chimichuri a cleaner taste.
Jihee K. June 3, 2013
Made this this weekend and MY LAWD it was the tastiest thing Ive ever grilled. Just made one change. I poked it with a knife a bunch to make sure the marinade soaked thru as much as it could. Only marinaded it for 4 hours and broiled it both sides for 4 minutes. It was perfect. Next time Ill save a whole cup of the chimichurri. We ate it with some charred baby broccoli and padron peppers. Guaranteed hit!
Peter J. May 25, 2013
To tenderise meats like this, use the juice of a Kiwi Fruit, the acid contained breaks down the connective tissues, you need to experiment on time frame as if left too long, e.g. overnight,results may be overkill - usually a few hours maximum will do it, and it does not change the flavour.
Kate's K. May 23, 2013
I wondered how tender this would be also, especially without marinating. I have used a Korean marinade on skirt steak with good success - one of the ingredients is rice vinegar and I marinate it for 24 hrs.