Food and Recipes Recipes Pan-Seared Flank Steak with Herb Sauce Be the first to rate & review! Flank steak is a great weeknight dinner option. By Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola has been on staff at Southern Living since 2015. As Deputy Editor, Lisa manages the food and travel departments and edits those sections of each issue, as well as digital content. Previously, she was the features editor at Food Network Magazine and has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing photo shoots for print and digital lifestyle brands. Southern Living's editorial guidelines and Patricia S York Patricia S York Patricia was the assistant food editor at Southern Living and worked with the Southern Living food team from 2006-2022. She contributed to articles about food, gardening, and pets. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on September 13, 2021 Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Active Time: 30 mins Total Time: 35 mins Servings: 6 Steak dinner, but make it weeknight-friendly. That was our Test Kitchen's goal in developing this recipe for Seared Flank Steak with Zesty Herb Sauce. With just 30 minutes of active time, this dish is a shockingly easy way to make any night feel special. If you thought that you had to fire up the grill to make a nice steak dinner, think again. In this pan-seared flank steak recipe, the tried-and-true cast iron skillet is your best friend. Prepared correctly (more on that below), the steak is tender and delicious, but the real secret to this recipe is the sauce. This bright and herbaceous sauce is inspired by chimichurri, which is typically served with steak in Argentina. Whip up an extra batch to drizzle on grilled chicken, seafood, or vegetables. Our Test Kitchen has a few tips on how to sear flank steak without over- or under-cooking the meat. When shopping for steak, try to buy a cut that is uniform in thickness—this will ensure that the steak cooks evenly. Flipping the steak during cooking also encourages even cooking and helps it cook faster. Flank steak is a leaner cut of meat, so cut it in thin slices against the grain for a more tender bite. Pair this flavorful flank steak with simple roasted potatoes and a green salad. Ingredients ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1 (1½- to 2-lb.) flank steak (about ¾ inch thick), trimmed 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided 1 ½ teaspoons black pepper, divided 1 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley ½ cup packed fresh cilantro leaves 1 medium shallot, coarsely chopped (about ¼ cup) 2 ½ tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 large garlic clove Hot roasted potatoes, for serving Directions Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil to skillet, and swirl to coat. Sprinkle both sides of steak evenly with 1½ teaspoons of the salt and 1 teaspoon of the pepper. Cook steak in hot skillet, flipping about every 2 minutes, until a thermometer inserted in thickest portion of meat registers 125°F (for medium-rare), 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer steak to a cutting board; cover loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest 10 minutes. While steak rests, pulse parsley, cilantro, shallot, vinegar, garlic, and remaining ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper in a food processor until finely chopped, about 10 pulses, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. With processor running, slowly pour remaining ½ cup oil through food chute until mixture is thoroughly combined but still chunky, about 10 seconds. Cut steak diagonally against the grain into ¼-inch-thick slices, and arrange on a platter. Serve with roasted potatoes and herb sauce. Rate It Print