The Summer Seasoning Mistake You're Making With Grilled Steak

Putting steaks on the grill is a pure and treasured rite of summer. Add a baked potato or some corn and toss a simple green salad, and you have an amazing meal. (A good, cold beer can also enhance the experience.)  

Grilling is fairly straightforward. According to MasterClass, it's the method of cooking on a metal grate over an open gas, hot coal or wood flame. MasterClass says thinner cuts of beef that don't need long cooking times, such as New York strip steak, bone-in rib-eye, hanger steak, skirt steak, or flank steak are perfect for grilling.

But if you're not adding some fresh herbs to your summer steak game, you're missing out on a tasty opportunity. When the weather is warm, fresh herbs are easy to grow in your backyard or in a pot on your patio or a sunny terrace. They're also easy to find and inexpensive at summer farmer's markets. Fresh herbs are truly one of the undisputed joys of the season and impart distinctive fresh-from-the-garden flavor in a variety of dishes, including grilled steak.

Michael Ollier, Senior Corporate Chef for the Certified Angus Beef brand, told Mashed that fresh herbs and spices are a way to build flavor and heighten the overall taste of your grilled steak as well as its presentation. 

Certified Angus Beef's Michael Ollier told Mashed one way to incorporate the flavor of your favorite summer herbs into your grilled steak is to create a "brush" by bundling together some of your favorite herbs, dipping it in oil, and using it to baste the grates on your grill. The heat will bring out the aroma of the herbs and flavor your steak.

You can also create a flavor-infused board dressing by setting a pool of chopped herbs and olive oil on a cutting board and placing the steak on top of it to rest. Ollier says that the heat from the steak will "activate the flavors of the herbs" and infuse it with flavor. 

You can also use your summer herbs to make a simple version of the Italian condiment gremolata (via The Splendid Table). Gremolata traditionally accompanies osso buco (via Chef Bolek), but can be served any time you want the flavor of fresh herbs (via Food & Wine). The Splendid Table's recipe for Essential Grilled Steak with Chopped Fresh Summer Herbs that calls for a half-cup of your favorite herbs, minced, and combined with salt and pepper. Just before serving, the steak is sliced, sprinkled with the herbs, drizzled with a bit of olive oil, and served with a lemon wedge to enhance the herbs' flavors.

If you want to grow your own herbs, David Domoney has a beginner's guide to cultivating your own rosemary, parsley, sage, basil, and more.