Herby Skirt Steak Recipe

Skirt steak, believe it or not, was once upon a time looked on as a cheap, throwaway cut of meat. Nowadays, we most commonly associate skirt steak with fajitas, and when it comes to making a true, authentic fajita, skirt steak is the only way to go. These days, skirt steaks can be pretty pricey, so you might want to use them for something other than fajitas. (Go ahead and make those with cheaper chicken, authenticity be darned.) 

Recipe developer Hayley MacLean likes to enhance the flavor of this cut of meat with an herb crust composed of basil, parsley, and mint, Yes, mint! While we might associate this herb with lemonade or mint juleps, its fresh, cool flavor can also complement savory dishes and it's widely used in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Asian cooking. There are two different ways you can cook the meat. MacLean prefers to grill it, but pan-searing will result in a steak that's just as flavorful. If your skillet is too small to fit the entire skirt steak, you may need to slice it in half and cook one piece at a time, but the second steak will be done long before the first one grows cold.

In addition to skirt steak, you'll need some salt, pepper, and paprika for seasoning it, plus the ingredients for the marinade/sauce. This concoction is made with the herbs named earlier (basil, parsley, and mint), and it also involves olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, shallot, and crushed red pepper.

Mix the oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, shallot, herbs, and red pepper in a blender or food processor, seasoning this mixture with a pinch of salt and another one of black pepper. MacLean advises to "pulse until well blended, but not pureed," explaining that "you want some texture to the sauce."

Once you're done blending, measure out ½ cup of the stuff and set it aside for later as this will be used to make a sauce for the cooked steak. The rest will be used as a marinade.

Sprinkle the steak all over with the paprika plus some more salt and pepper. Once seasoned, put the steak in a Ziploc-type bag or a shallow pan and cover it with the marinade. Stick the bag or pan in the fridge (you might want to cover the latter or zip up the former), then let it sit for at least 2 hours. After 2 or more hours have passed, take the steak out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

If you're grilling, preheat the grill to medium, then remove the steak from the marinade. Once you do so, MacLean advises to "brush the excess marinade off of the steak to keep it from burning." Grill it for 6 minutes on one side, then flip and grill for another 4 to 6 minutes.

If you prefer to pan fry, heat the skillet on high for a few minutes until a drop of water sizzles, then add the steak to the pan. (You should still shake, scrape, or brush away the marinade.) Cook the steak for 2 to 4 minutes per side, depending on how well done you want it to be.

Whichever cooking method you choose, MacLean says to "allow [the steak] to rest for 7 [to] 10 minutes before slicing across the grain." You can then either drizzle it with the reserved herb mixture or serve this on the side.