The cooking technique known as sous vide circulates temperature-controlled water around food that is contained in a leak-proof plastic bag. Although the food eventually achieves the same temperature as the water since it isn’t exposed to direct heat, it doesn’t dry out and is far more difficult to overcook. In this dish, a flank steak is cooked using a sous vide circulator and a short sear is added after the water bath. Due of the controlled temperature, you can finish other duties during the 90-minute cook period.
| Prep Time: | 10 mins |
| Cook Time: | 1 hr 36 mins |
| Additional Time: | 5 mins |
| Total Time: | 1 hr 51 mins |
| Servings: | 4 |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon good quality balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, or to taste
- 1 (1 pound) flank steak, cut in half
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Fill the water bath container, position circulator, and preheat to 130 degrees F (54 degrees C) according to manufacturer recommendations.
- Combine onion, rosemary, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce in a blender or small food processor; pulse ingredients until smooth.
- Pat flank steak pieces dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Spread onion mixture on both sides of the flank steaks. Place each seasoned flank steak in a 2-quart zip-top freezer bag, squeeze out all the air, and seal the bags.
- When the bath has reached 130 degrees, place bags in the water bath. Secure bags to the side of the bath, so they will not overlap each other or come in contact with the circulator. Alternatively, use a rack in the bottom of the bath to hold the sealed bags. Bags should be in the circulating 130 degree F (54 degrees C) bath for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- About 5 minutes prior to the end of the cook time, set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven’s broiler.
- When the cook time is complete, remove flank steak from the bags and place on a broiler pan.
- Broil in the preheated oven until they reach the desired browning, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from oven and tent with aluminum foil for 5 to 10 minutes. The broiler and the foil tent will allow the internal temperature to rise to 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), or medium doneness, when tested with an instant read thermometer.
- Slice steak across the grain of the meat into thin slices for serving. Season with additional Worcestershire sauce, if desired.
- A kitchen torch or a very hot, oiled cast iron skillet may be used for browning, instead of the oven, if desired.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 152 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 5 g |
| Cholesterol | 25 mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 g |
| Protein | 14 g |
| Saturated Fat | 2 g |
| Sodium | 71 mg |
| Sugars | 2 g |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Unsaturated Fat | 0 g |