Chile peppers adds warmth and aromatic contrast to deep beefy richness, giving the pairing more dimension.
beef, steak: flank
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A flat, coarsely grained cut from the abdominal muscles with bold, beefy flavor and long, pronounced fibers that must be sliced across the grain to achieve ten…
19 pairings
Editorial
Flavor profile
Flank steak comes from the abdominal flank — muscles that are heavily exercised with long, defined fiber alignment running the length of the cut. Cutting with the grain produces long, chewy strands; slicing across the grain shortens each fiber dramatically, transforming the texture from tough to tender. The intense beefy flavor makes flank steak excellent for marinades, which add flavor while the acid partially tenderizes the outer fibers — though extended marinating beyond 24 hours can make the surface mushy. Grilled or broiled at high heat to medium-rare, then thinly sliced against the grain, flank is the standard cut for fajitas, London broil, and steak salads. In Chinese cooking, flank is commonly cut thin and velvetted (marinated with cornstarch, soy, and baking soda) before stir-frying, the baking soda raising the pH to tenderize and the cornstarch protecting the meat from the wok's direct heat.
Pairings
Flavor relationships
Pairs well with
chile peppers
cilantro
cumin
garlic
hoisin sauce
honey
lime, juice
molasses
mustard, brown
oil, peanut
oil, sesame
olive oil
oregano
salsa
salt
soy sauce
sugar
thyme
vinegar, balsamic
chile peppers
Chile peppers adds warmth and aromatic contrast to deep beefy richness, giving the pairing more dimension.
cilantro
Cilantro gives deep beefy richness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
cumin
Cumin adds warmth and aromatic contrast to deep beefy richness, giving the pairing more dimension.
garlic
Garlic adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives deep beefy richness more structure and balance.
hoisin sauce
Hoisin sauce complements beef, steak: flank by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to deep beefy richness.
honey
Honey draws out the sweeter side of deep beefy richness while adding roundness and dessert-friendly depth.
lime, juice
Lime, juice brings acidity that cuts through deep beefy richness, making the pairing taste brighter and more focused.
molasses
Molasses draws out the sweeter side of deep beefy richness while adding roundness and dessert-friendly depth.
mustard, brown
Mustard, brown adds warmth and aromatic contrast to deep beefy richness, giving the pairing more dimension.
oil, peanut
Oil, peanut adds richness and carries the aromatic side of deep beefy richness, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
oil, sesame
Oil, sesame adds richness and carries the aromatic side of deep beefy richness, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
olive oil
Olive oil adds richness and carries the aromatic side of deep beefy richness, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
oregano
Oregano gives deep beefy richness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
salsa
Salsa complements beef, steak: flank by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to deep beefy richness.
salt
Salt complements beef, steak: flank by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to deep beefy richness.
soy sauce
Soy sauce complements beef, steak: flank by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to deep beefy richness.
sugar
Sugar draws out the sweeter side of deep beefy richness while adding roundness and dessert-friendly depth.
thyme
Thyme gives deep beefy richness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
vinegar, balsamic
Vinegar, balsamic brings acidity that cuts through deep beefy richness, making the pairing taste brighter and more focused.
Cilantro gives deep beefy richness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
Cumin adds warmth and aromatic contrast to deep beefy richness, giving the pairing more dimension.
Garlic adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives deep beefy richness more structure and balance.
hoisin sauce
Hoisin sauce complements beef, steak: flank by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to deep beefy richness.
Honey draws out the sweeter side of deep beefy richness while adding roundness and dessert-friendly depth.
lime, juice
Lime, juice brings acidity that cuts through deep beefy richness, making the pairing taste brighter and more focused.
Molasses draws out the sweeter side of deep beefy richness while adding roundness and dessert-friendly depth.
mustard, brown
Mustard, brown adds warmth and aromatic contrast to deep beefy richness, giving the pairing more dimension.
Oil, peanut adds richness and carries the aromatic side of deep beefy richness, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
Oil, sesame adds richness and carries the aromatic side of deep beefy richness, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
Olive oil adds richness and carries the aromatic side of deep beefy richness, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
Oregano gives deep beefy richness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
salsa
Salsa complements beef, steak: flank by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to deep beefy richness.
salt
Salt complements beef, steak: flank by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to deep beefy richness.
Soy sauce complements beef, steak: flank by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to deep beefy richness.
sugar
Sugar draws out the sweeter side of deep beefy richness while adding roundness and dessert-friendly depth.
Thyme gives deep beefy richness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
Vinegar, balsamic brings acidity that cuts through deep beefy richness, making the pairing taste brighter and more focused.