Grilled Flank Steak Summer Salad Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

Grilled Flank Steak Summer Salad Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette – the perfect meal that is healthy and bursting with flavor! Ready on your table in 30 minutes!

What is Flank Steak?

In the culinary arts, flank steak refers to a steak that has been cut from the beef flank primal cut.

Flank steak can be identified by the characteristic grain of the meat.

These long, stringy muscle fibers can be tough, which is why it’s important to either break them down through slow, moist cooking or by slicing it across this grain.

Flank Steak is sometimes called London Broil.

Hey, you guys!  It’s Erin from The Wooden Skillet and I am pumped to be back here on Oh Sweet Basil to share a new recipe with you!  This Grilled Flank Steak Salad + Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette is ridiculous and I can’t wait for you guys to try it!

A little backstory on where the recipe came from – as I write this, I am currently just starting my second week of the Whole30 program (which I LOVE, but you can head on over to The Wooden Skillet if you want to hear about my experience).  I also, generally, try to eat whole, simple and clean foods (because I always seem to feel the best and have the most energy that way).  Well, I was getting a little sick of hard-boiled eggs and chicken and I needed… something.  I needed colorful, flavorful food that didn’t leave me wanting….. more.  And then this salad was born.  It has bursts of sweet from the tomatoes and snap peas, creaminess from the avocado, a bite from the red onion, savoriness from the ah-mazing flank steak and then a huge burst of flavor from the homemade cilantro-lime vinaigrette.  It was perfection and exactly what I needed.  There is something about simple, clean food that just leaves you feeling satisfied in a completely different way.

 How do You Make a Great Green Salad?

Start with the freshest greens.

Tear large leaves like romaine and large oak leaf along the central rib; they’ll retain more of their character.

Wash greens gently.

Many greens grow in sandy soil.

If you don’t wash them well, you’ll end up with grit in your salad.

But simply rinsing your greens under running water won’t get rid of all of the dirt.

Instead, submerge them in a large bowl or in a sink full of cool water.

Dry greens completely.

Any excess water on the leaves will dilute the flavor of your dressing, which also won’t cling well to wet greens.

Dress greens simply.

I like a simple vinaigrette for my greens.

Traditional vinaigrettes consist of three parts oil to one part vinegar or lemon juice.

For the best flavor, use the highest-quality oils and vinegars you can find.

Toss gently but thoroughly.

Use your hands or two large spoons to gently turn the greens over in the bowl until they’re well coated.

Taste a leaf and add a little oil, vinegar, salt, or pepper until the salad is seasoned correctly.

Serve the salad immediately or the dressing will cause it to wilt.

Bottom line though, this salad is simply delicious.  It doesn’t matter if you are trying out Whole30 or not.  It is good food.  Real food.  And it would be perfect for that summer weekend dinner party or just a simple weeknight salad.  The vinaigrette can be made ahead of time and all of the veggies are raw.  All you really need to do is season your flank steak and pop it on the grill (if you need any tips on how to grill the perfect steak – check out this tutorial!).  Dinner will be on your table before you know it!

And if you are still hankering for something sweet after this, maybe give these Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies + Carrots, Zucchini and Spinach (yes, they actually taste amazing – I promise!). But either way, make sure you bust out this grilled flank steak summer salad cilantro lime vinaigrette before summer is over!

How do you Grill Flank Steak?

Flank steak is best for slicing; a marinade gives each slice more flavor.

Flank steak is also good without marinating: just coat it with curry powder, chili powder, or any other spice rub before cooking. After cooking, slice the meat against the “grain”—that is, across its natural striations.

Be sure that your grill is very hot so you get nice grill marks, and cook the meat no further than medium-rare; flank steak is a very lean cut, so it can be a bit tough if over-cooked.

More Delicious STEAK RECIPES:

• The BEST Fajita Marinade (for Steak!)
• Easy Garlic Butter Steak at Home
• Best Steak Marinade
• Easy Philly Cheesesteak Bread
• Healthy Thai Peanut Steak Salad
• Grilled Steak Burrito Bowls
• Porterhouse Steak with Mushrooms
• Spicy Steak and Shrimp Kabobs
• Steak Burrito with Grilled Zucchini
• Steak and Brussels Sprouts
• Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls
• All our Beef Recipes here!

grilled flank steak summer salad cilantro lime vinaigrette

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 If you are looking for other creative, fresh and healthy(ish) recipes – come visit me at The Wooden Skillet!

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And if you are diggin this salad, check out my Healthy Spring Green Salad + Turmeric Poached Egg!

Or maybe try this Farmer John Pesto Garden Salad!