Grilled Hanger Steak with Bacon Chimichurri

By BobD

These herb-marinated steaks are accompanied by chimichurri, a South American sauce for grilled meats made with olive oil, parsley and garlic. E. Michael Reidt's chimichurri has an indulgent addition to the classic recipe: bacon.

Ingredients

• 8 garlic cloves, smashed
• 4 thyme sprigs, coarsely chopped
• 2 rosemary sprigs, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 1 medium red onion, minced
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Eight 6-ounce hanger steaks, trimmed
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 4 garlic cloves, quartered with germ removed
• 1/2 cup packed flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 1/4 cup packed oregano leaves
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 pound sliced bacon

Details

Servings 8
Cooking time 285mins
Adapted from foodandwine.com

Preparation

Step 1

In a large, shallow dish, combine the garlic, thyme, rosemary, wine, onion and olive oil. Add the hanger steaks and turn to coat thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

In a food processor, pulse the garlic, parsley, oregano, vinegar, lemon juice and olive oil until the herbs are pureed. Scrape into a bowl and season with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, cook the bacon in 2 batches over moderate heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels and let cool, then finely chop. Pour all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat from the skillet.

Light a grill. Scrape the marinade off the steaks and season them with salt and pepper. Grill the steaks over a hot fire until charred all over, about 10 minutes for medium-rare meat. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the bacon fat in the skillet. Add the chimichurri and bring to a simmer over high heat. Remove from the heat and stir in the bacon. Pour the sauce into a serving bowl. Carve the steaks crosswise into thick slices and serve immediately with the chimichurri.