Homemade steak sauce makes the meal

Sometimes a sauce can make a meal. In the case of a steak dinner, which is already likely to be a good meal, the right sauce can make it much better.

When you hear the words "steak sauce," what often comes to mind is a tall, slim bottle, filled with a pungent Worcestershire-sauce-based liquid that usually overpowers the steak rather than enhancing it.

That needn't be the case. There are any number of sauces that can bring out the best in a grilled piece of meat. The best choices are usually sauces with a lot of flavor, ones that can hold their own with the smoky beefiness of the steak.

Of course, many of us think of a good red wine sauce when it comes to steak, and that works well if you're searing your steak in a pan, because the sauce itself is made in the same pan and picks up the flavors left behind by the steak. If you're grilling, though, there is no pan involved, so a pan sauce makes less sense. The good news is there are still lots of options.

Smoky Romesco sauce: This tomato, roasted pepper, almond and smoked paprika sauce brings out the flavors of the grill and lends a slight sweetness to the steak. Make sure you serve a good crusty bread with this meal as you'll want to soak up every drop on your plate.

Blue cheese butter: Not technically a sauce, this compound butter, a combination of unsalted butter, blue cheese, a touch of garlic and freshly ground black pepper, melts over the warm steak and adds a richness and earthy flavor to the dish. Any leftover butter can be smeared on a slice of baguette or added to a baked potato.

Chimichurri: An Argentine sauce — and they know steak — this parsley, cilantro, oregano, garlic, vinegar and olive oil sauce packs a serious flavor punch, so much so that it can be a little too much to taste right off the spoon. Ladled over a slab of grilled steak, though, it's heaven.

Meredith Deeds is a cookbook author and food writer from Edina. Reach her at meredith@meredithdeeds.com. Follow her on Twitter: @meredithdeeds.

Serves 4.

Note: Italian salsa verde, not to be confused with Mexican salsa verde, is a powerhouse of flavors that complements the beefy grilled flank steak perfectly. From Meredith Deeds.

• 1 c. packed, roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley

• 1/3 c. extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 anchovy fillets

• 1 tbsp. lemon juice

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 1/2 tsp. freshly grated lemon zest

• 3/4 tsp. salt, divided

• 1 1/4 lb. flank steak

Directions

In the bowl of a food processor, combine parsley, olive oil, capers, anchovies, lemon juice, garlic, lemon zest, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pulse until parsley is well chopped, but not completely puréed, about 8 quick pulses, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as necessary. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside while you prepare the steak. (If you prefer, you can mince the parsley, capers, anchovies, garlic and lemon zest finely with a knife and combine them with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl.)

Heat a grill to medium-high heat.

Season the steak with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place steak on the grill and cook to desired doneness, about 5 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer to cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Slice thinly against the grain on the diagonal. Serve steak with the sauce.

Calories355Fat23 g

Sodium700 mgCarbohydrates2 g

Saturated fat4 gTotal sugars0 g

Protein36 gCholesterol90 mg

Dietary fiber1 g