When you want something delicious as it is easy then you have to try this chimichurri steak bowl. Flank steak, quick pickled onions, feta, cherry tomatoes, and homemade chimichurri top a bowl of quinoa for a healthy and crave worthy lunch or dinner.
I love using fresh herbs in cooking. Not only do I want to bury my face in their fresh fragrance but they add so much flavor. We grow fresh herbs in our garden but we have a never ending supply of parsley and basil.
When you're swimming in excess parsley what else is their to do but make chimichurri sauce? I can practically drink chimichurri it's so bright and delicious - not to mention gorgeously green.
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What is Chimichurri Sauce?
Chimichurri sauce is an herb based sauce from Argentina traditionally made with fresh herbs such as parsley and oregano, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar.
It is commonly served with grilled meat but tastes delicious slathered on bread, drizzled over vegetables or roasted potatoes, and brushed onto corn on the cob. It tastes so good on so many dishes! For this bright and simple version I use fresh parsley, cilantro, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and kosher salt.
How to Cook Flank Steak
I've always loved the beefy flavor of flank steak plus it's easy to cook and requires very little prep work since it's so lean. It is often marinated for additional flavor and tenderizing but I find if you season it properly and don't overcook it a marinade isn't necessary. Don't get me a wrong, I love a good marinade but since my brain is on a ten hour delay and downtime is a luxury one less step is A-Okay!
I love to cook flank steak under the broiler. It's quick, easy, and almost fool proof. Here's how:
How to Broil Flank Steak
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Move one of the oven wire racks to the highest spot. Let the oven come to temperature while you prep the other ingredients for this recipe.
- Rub both sides of the flank steak with olive oil and season liberally with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Place the flank steak on a sheet pan.
- Turn the oven to it's broil setting on high. Place the sheet pan under the broiler for 6 minutes and then carefully use tongs to flip the flank steak over and broil for 5 more minutes.
- This will cook the flank steak to medium with the thinner edges a little bit on the medium well side. If you prefer the meat to be cooked to medium rare lessen the time to only 4 minutes on each side. This will also depend on the thickness of your meat.
- Carefully but immediately transfer the meat to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing it against the grain.
How to Pickle the Onions
Pickled onions add a bright, acidic punch to a recipe and can really take an uninspired dish and make it exceptional. I quick-pickle red onions all the time and it's super simple. It's the first thing I do so the onions have time to pickle while I prep the rest of the meal. Here's how:
- Thinly slice the red onion and place it in a medium sized bowl.
- Combine the rest of the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Pour the hot mixture over the red onions and let it sit for at least 30 minutes while you prep your meal.
You can also try these quick pickled shallots to add that same brightness to tacos and more!
Assemble the Steak Bowls
- Divvy up the cooked quinoa into four bowls.
- Top with sliced flank steak, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, pickled onions, and a generous helping of chimichurri sauce.
- Enjoy an easy chimichurri steak bowl packed with lots of flavor!
Recipe Tips
- Make sure to let the flank steak rest when it comes out of the oven or it will lose all it's juices. It smells sooo good but I know you can wait 10 minutes - I believe in you!
- These bowls make an excellent next-day lunch. Just warm up the steak and quinoa in the microwave and then top with the rest of the ingredients.
- If you would like leftover chimichurri or would like to go heavy with it just double the recipe for the chimichurri sauce.
Can I Use Leftover Steak?
Yes! If you have leftover steak this is an excellent way to use it up! Thinly slice it against the grain and then make the bowls as directed. Simply skip broiling the flank steak and just reheat your leftover steak instead.
Other Dinner Recipes You Might Like
- Pistachio Crusted Salmon with Lemon Basil Sauce
- Salmon Quinoa Bowl with Chipotle Mayo
- Easy Homestyle Chili
- Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Chimichurri Steak Bowls
Equipment
- Sheet pan
- Saucepan
Ingredients
For the quinoa:
- 1 ½ cup uncooked quinoa
- 3 cups vegetable stock
- ½ t. kosher salt
For the pickled onions:
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup water
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 t. kosher salt
For the flank steak:
- 1.5 lb flank steak
- kosher salt
- black pepper
- onion powder
- garlic powder
For the chimichurri sauce:
- ¾ cup loosely packed cilantro
- ¾ cup loosely packed parsley
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 1 garlic clove
- 4 tbsp olive oil
To assemble the bowls:
- 6 oz. crumbled feta cheese
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
- cooked quinoa (see above)
- sliced flank steak (see above)
- chimichurri sauce (see above)
- pickled onions (see above)
Instructions
- Remove flank steak from the refrigerator and place on a sheet pan. Move one of the racks from the oven to the top position. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the red onions in a medium bowl and bring all the other ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan. Carefully pour mixture over onions and let sit for 30 minutes.
- In a small saucepan add the quinoa, vegetable stock, and kosher salt. Stir once and then bring to a boil. Once it reaches a boil turn heat down to medium low and let cook until all the liquid has been absorbed and quinoa is fluffy - around 18 to 22 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Meanwhile, make the chimichurri sauce. In a small food processor combine the parsley, cilantro, garlic, lemon, and half the olive oil. Process really well and then add the remaining 2 tbsp of olive oil and process until smooth and bright green. Set aside.
- Rub olive oil onto both sides of the flank steak and season liberally with kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Turn the broil setting on high and put the sheet pan with the steak on the top rack.
- For medium: Broil the first side for 6 minutes and then carefully remove the pan from the oven and use tongs to flip the steak over. Broil for 5 minutes on the other side. For medium rare: Broil the first side for 4 minutes and then carefully remove the pan from the oven and use tongs to flip the steak over. Broil for 4 minutes on the other side.
- Transfer the flank steak to a cutting board and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing it against the grain.
- Assemble the bowls: Divvy the quinoa up between four bowls. Top with quartered cherry tomatoes, pickled red onions, feta cheese, sliced flank steak and chimichurri sauce.
- Enjoy immediately.
Tess
This Chimichurri Steak Bowl is awesome! I will cook it again😍