Flank Steak with Chimichurri Sauce
Wednesday, July 8, 2009 by Pam
We're back from vacation. It took me a few days to get back into the swing of things but now I am feeling back to normal.
We had a wonderful trip to Idaho visiting all of our family and several friends. We did so many fun things like taking the kids for a paddle boat ride, we visited the old Idaho State Penitentiary, we hiked up to Balanced Rock, we checked out the magnificent Shoshone Falls, took the kids bowling (my 3 year old son bowled a 115), we took a long four wheeler adventure up in the mountains in Riggins (I didn't take pictures because I was too busy driving), we visited a fish hatchery, we rode the chair lift up to the top of Brundage mountain in McCall, went to a fun parade in Cascade and had a fantastic time lighting fireworks for the Fourth of July. We were able to spend quality time with our family as well as see some really good friends. It was a wonderful trip full of great memories.
One night in Boise we got a babysitter and my sister, her husband Brooks, Chad, and I went to my favorite restaurant called Barbacoa. We had a wonderful time eating several AMAZING appetizers and a few tasty cocktails. I was lucky enough to talk to the chef and he told how to make one of my favorite appetizers which was a barbacoa beef stuffed chile with sweet potatoes... I can't wait to re-create it. My sister also had one of her co-workers make us some authentic chile rellanos, refried beans and rice. I can't tell you how delicious it all was. The chile rellanos were, by far, the VERY BEST I've ever had. I am really hoping my sister will be able to get the recipe for me. Chad and I also went out to dinner in McCall before meeting up with friends for drinks. We ate at the Shore Lodge and I had the best bouillabaisse I've ever had. It was filled with lobster, shrimp, clams, mussels, halibut, salmon and fingerling potatoes. I can't wait to go back the next time we are in town.
Below are a few pictures from our trip:
Balanced Rock
Me with my two nephews and my children
The beautiful Shoshone Falls
Fish Hatchery 
Lovely flower from my mother in law's garden
The top of Brundage Mountain - McCall, Idaho
I have been wanting to try a chimichurri sauce for a long time and I keep seeing wonderful recipes for it. I came across a cilantro chimichurri sauce at Life's Ambrosia and knew instantly I would be making it for dinner. I love Mexican flavors and had a bunch of cilantro in the refrigerator that I needed to use up. The only problem with my sauce was the garlic cloves I used were very large so it made the sauce a bit spicy from the raw garlic. Luckily my family and our dinner guests all love garlic. Next time I will use 1 large clove or 2-3 small cloves. The sauce was perfect with the flank steak - we all really, really liked it. This steak paired nicely with my Southwestern Salad.Flank Steak:
Recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking
Recipe adapted from Life's Ambrosia
- Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper
- Garlic powder
- Ground cumin
- Cayenne pepper
- Chili powder
- Dried Oregano
- 1 1/2 lb flank steak
I didn't measure seasonings, I simply sprinkled a bit of each on both sides of the steak. Once you season, place on a plate and cover with saran wrap then place in the refrigerator for a few hours.
Chimichurri Sauce:
- 2-3 small cloves of garlic
- 1 cup lightly packed cilantro
- 1 cup packed Italian flat leaf parsley
- Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Place the cilantro, parsley, sea salt, black pepper, cumin, white wine vinegar and crushed red pepper in a food processor. Pulse ingredients a few times then while it is processing, slowly add the olive oil until the mixture emulsifies, about 1 minute. Sauce should be nice and smooth. Keep the sauce at room temperature until ready to serve.
Grill, pan fry or broil the steak to your desired degree of doneness. Make sure to let the meat "rest" for at least 5 minutes prior to slicing. Slice steak against the grain into thin slices. Drizzle the chimichurri sauce on top and serve. Enjoy.
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It sounds like you really did everything possible on your vacation, wow! I'm glad you were able to get out of town and have fun with your family. I am definitely trying out that restaurant when I go back to Boise next time.
Now for the steak and chimichurri sauce, amazing color and it looks so flavorful, I will have to give it a whirl.
Welcome back, Pam! Sounds like you guys had a wonderful summer adventure, and have lots of memories now to go with it. Love your family photos! I also love this recipe! I've seen this sauce before, but have not made it. It looks so amazingly good in you photos that I think it's time I give it a go! :-)
It's nice to hear you guys had such a good time on vacation! And I am glad you're back! :)
YAY! My girl is BACK! I am so happy you had a fabulous time, I was not able to fit the package into an EMS envelope, so we used a box, you are on the west and the post person told us 4 days... woot, I expressed it, plus I added a few more things... it went out late, his fault.. I swear... then my fault.
I was so angry with the Mr., not his style usually, ah well I should have did it myself... you know how you have someone in the fam that takes care of certain things... he is a wiz at labeling and mailing.. ha!
I'm e-mail you the tracking number = )
As for your lovely foodies... lush, lush, esp the Chimichurri sauce, your vaycay with the fam.... what fun was had, eh?
Welcome back ... nice to know you had a great time and please do share the recipe for your fave appetizer ... beef stuffed chile with sweet potatoes
AMAZING photos from your trip!! glad to see you back and full of great sounding ideas!
Welcome Back. Flank steak is one of my favorite cuts of meat, especially grilled and pair it with cilantro, forget it, they go perfect together.
So glad you are back, Ive missed you around these parts. Your vacation must have been wonderful, the pictures are lovely.
Your flank steak looks absolutely fantastic. Can not wait to see, fingers crossed, that you receive the chiles rellenos recipe:)
Made your white choc/macadamia cookies. Will be posting them soon, they were marvelous!
PS you look great!
Welcome back, Pam. It looks and sounds as though you had a wonderful time with family and friends. We are, selfishly, glad to have you back. The chimichurri sauce sounds really wonderful and it's on my hit-list.
SO happy I found your blog..Everything sounds so wonderful :)
Doreen
I have been making a chimichurri once a week w/ hanger steaks and it is our favorite, easy summer meal.
Cilantro is a must!
i've missed your posts, pam! beautiful pictures.
Hey Pam. Glad you guys had a great trip, I love those falls and rock pic... very cool.
And your 3 year old got a 115? That beats me sometimes :)
It's awesome to have you back, love the flank steak.
I have been wanting to try making this sauce - looks so tasty and colorful!
Sounds like you guys had a wonderful vacation. Oh, when you said two nephews, make me want to cry... I miss my two nephews so much.... they are so far away from, thousands miles across the ocean! Anyway, welcome back dear. Love chimichurri sauce, perfect for steak!
Grrr! Sometimes I don't even bowl as high as a 115 :/ Ha ha ha! Good for him! Is that a peony? It's lovely!
Also lovely? The steak with that vibrant sauce :)
welcome back, pam! great shots of the sights and of your family—thanks for sharing them! meanwhile, although steak isn’t my favorite of all meats, i can’t deny how appealing that sauce is. frankly, it makes me crave some good ol’ red meat.
Yay, you are back! Sounds like a lovely vacation with friends and family and lots of food.
You may have posted before, but it's nice to see a picture of your family!
Good for your son, sometimes I can't even break 100. =P
Those pictures are breathtaking!
I love the blend of spices in your chimichurri sauce!
The chimichurri sauce sounds interesting!!
Pam, welcome back! I was starting to miss your posts! This skirt steak looks great! I'm making my own skirt steak tonight :)
Great to see you had a nice getaway!
What ana amazing trip you had, you guys did a lot!
I have always wanted to go to Idaho, haven't made it yet.
The beef sounds divine and love the sauce.
Sounds like a fun vacation!
Your vacation AND your recipe look delicious!!!
You have a great blog too :)
What gorgeous scenery, you must have had a grand time.
The dinner with sauce looks so vibrant and tasty. I love cilantro.
Good vacation and good food. What else could you want?
You're back! Hooray! Your feature is on the 18th!
Here's your millionth welcome home! I love your pictures, especially of the balancing rock. Your family is so nice looking; the kids are adorable! I'm glad you're relaxed and ready to return to entertaining us!
Welcome back! I love me some flank steak!
Glad you back Pam and it looks like you and your family really made the most of your time together.
Your chimichurri sauce looks wonderful. I've been wanting to try my hand at it to and you have inspired me.
Welcome back! Sounds like a very fun time.
I haven't made chimichurri sauce yet, but I've it before. It looks very simple to make, I just need the ingredients.
Welcome back!!! Glad to hear & see that you and your family had such a wonderful time filled with yummy food, family, and good friends! :)
Yum, I 've been wanting to try a chimichurri sauce too. Love garlic...I'm going w/more is better!
~ingrid
looks and sounds like an amazing vacation!! And the steak looks delicious :)
welcome back! that steak looks amazing. Your vacation sound like it was a lot of fun too. I'm glad you are back more refreshed and relaxed.
Welcome home Pam; glad you had such a great time- you were missed though!
This steak is to die for- suddenly I'm very hungry!
Welcome back! Such gorgeous photos & steak :) I've never been to Idaho but it looks beautiful.
Terrific pics - love that rock! Sounds like you had lotsa fun - we missed you here in blogland!
Chimichurri looks faaab!!!
Hi Pam. Idaho is beautiful, isn't it! Great pictures of what looks like a grand family vacation. There's nothing better than some good family time.
I'm happy you are back. You were missed.
this was fun to read, i'm from idaho and your pictures made me happy!
this steak looks wonderful, the colors are lovely!
Pam, I am glad you had a good trip, I have never had Chimchurri sauce before, I guess I better make it!
Welcome back Pam! I am glad that I could be your inspiration, this chimichurri is one of our favorite go to meals at home. Your photos are lovely :)
Hello and welcome back Pam , nice photos !
The corn looks and sounds delicious. I love to add lime to things and lime and corn seem to work together pretty well.
First visit here,and just in time to hear about your wonderful vacation. I really like what you have here and I love snickerdoodles, and how exciting that must have been to watch a black vulture in flight! What a great blog you have here. I followed you from the foodieblog roll and I'd love to guide our readers to your site if you won't mind.Just add your choice of foodista widget to this post and it's all set to go, Thanks! - alisa@foodista
Welcome back! You've got such a cute family! I love that your 3 year old can beat me (and our President!) in bowling :)
You vacation pics are great.
And this chimichurri sauce is calling me for sure!
Welcome back.
LL
Welcome back! Looks like a great family trip.
I've been wanting to try a chimichurri sauce for a while now. Yours, of course, looks delicious.
First, glad you guys had such a great vacation! We did a quicky camp trip at Cades Cove this weekend, but no where near as much activity as you packed in your trip!
Love the chimichurri and dang you cooked that flank steak spot on perfect for our tastes!
It sounds like you had a fabulous vacation, great photos, I love the one of the waterfalls - spectacular.
That steak looks pretty spectacular too, some yummy flavours going on there. And there can never be too much garlic as far as I'm concerned.
Welcome back! I love this recipe and is one that I do more often that I like to admit! Yum.
Welcome back! I hope you're rested, recharged. That flank steak sounds like the perfect meal to serve your family after a vacation.
Hi Pam, I tried the Chimichurri...awesome!!! I even wrote about it http://heidi21678.blogspot.com/2009/07/chimichurri-i-cant-stop-saying.html.