Description

This Ultimate Steak Marinade recipe infuses your steak with rich, bold flavors from a blend of soy sauce, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, fresh herbs, and spices. Marinating enhances tenderness and juiciness, making your steak perfect for grilling or pan-searing. Ideal for a flavorful and succulent steak dinner, this marinade elevates any cut to restaurant quality.

Ingredients

Scale

Marinade Ingredients

1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1 to 1.5 pounds steak

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Instructions

Prepare Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard until smooth, creating a balanced and flavorful base for the marinade.
Add Seasonings: Stir in minced garlic, brown sugar, black pepper, smoked paprika, crushed red pepper flakes if using, fresh rosemary, and thyme to the marinade, ensuring all ingredients are well combined to enhance the steak’s flavor and aroma.
Marinate Steak: Place the steak in a large resealable plastic bag or shallow dish and pour the marinade over, making sure the meat is evenly coated on all sides for maximum absorption.
Refrigerate: Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. This allows the marinade to penetrate deeply, tenderizing the steak and intensifying its flavors.
Bring to Room Temperature: Remove the steak from the marinade and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before cooking. This step ensures even cooking throughout the steak.
Cook Steak: Grill or pan-sear the steak over medium-high heat for approximately 4-6 minutes per side, depending on thickness, aiming for medium-rare doneness for optimal juiciness and flavor.
Rest Steak: Let the cooked steak rest for 5 minutes before slicing to allow the juices to redistribute, ensuring a tender and juicy bite.

Notes

Marinate steak overnight for deeper flavor and better tenderness.
If you prefer less spice, omit the crushed red pepper flakes.
Use fresh herbs for the best aroma and taste; dried herbs can be substituted but reduce quantities by half.
Adjust cooking times based on steak thickness and preferred doneness.
Bring steak to room temperature before cooking to ensure even heat distribution.
Reserve leftover marinade to brush on steak during grilling, but do not use marinade that has touched raw meat as a sauce unless boiled first.