What's for Dinner?: Spiced Rubbed Grilled Flank Steak...And More!

Labor Day has come and gone. What a great summer it has been.  It has gone by too quick.  Already the kids are back to school, routine is starting to set in, and what better way to celebrate my son’s first job.  Tonight it’s Spiced Rubbed Grilled Flank Steak, Carmelized Onions, Cilantro Lime Rice, Tomato Salad and Corn and that’s What’s for Dinner!

Again, a recipe you can do the day before and have it the next day. The meat is so tender you’ll make this recipe a lot. Always a crowd pleaser too.

Spice Rub for Flank Steak

I eyeball all the ingredients as to how much spice you want

• 1 ½ to 2lbs of Flank Steak
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Garam Masala
• Chili Powder
• Cardamom
• Oregano
• ¾ cup Brown Sugar
• Kosher Salt
• Cracked Black Pepper
• Cayenne Pepper
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Meat Tenderizer (optional)
• Paprika
• 1 TBSP Ground Coffee (The key to the Rub)

Tip: Make this rub and double it, and put the remainder away for the next time for pork chops as well.  Keeps well in a sealed container or you can freeze the rub for future use as well.

Mix thoroughly. Rub the meat with a little olive oil then rub the mix onto the meat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Tip: Let the meat rest 1 hour before you grill it.  Never put cold meat on a hot grill as the meat will seize up and be tough.

Grill for about 7 mins per side or less, remove, cover with tin foil and let rest for 5-8 mins. Allow the meat to rest so the juices don’t run out and the meat will continue to cook as well. 

Cut on the bias, at an angle thinly.

I like to serve it with soft flour tortilla’s and caramelized onions.  Like a fajita you can add shredded jack cheese if you wish guacamole and salsa too.  I prefer the onions as an accompaniment to the meat. 

Carmelized Onions

So easy to do. In a large saute pan add 3T Olive oil and 2T butter, let heat up and add to it 3 Large sliced onions, sprinkle with kosher salt and cook for 20 mins or longer.  You will see them start to lightly brown and carmelize with the natural sugars in the onions coming out. They turn out so sweet.

Cilantro Lime Rice-So easy to do

• 2 Cups of Water
• 1 Cup of White Rice, Basmati Rice, Jasmine Rice, whatever you’d like
• 1 Tbsp Kosher Salt
• Large bunch of fresh Cilantro Chopped
• Juice of 2 Limes

In a large pan place 2 cups of water with the salt, bring to a boil, add the 1 cup of rice, stir in the lime juice and fresh cilantro. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce and simmer for 15-20 mins till all the liquid is absorbed.  You can add 2 Tbsp of butter to the water if you like as well.

Tip: Another way is to make the rice (water, rice and salt) and at the end add the Cilantro and Lime juice. Either way will work out fine. I've done it both ways.

Hope you enjoy!