Recipe: Cilantro-Lime Marinated Steaks

"R" and I both absolutely love cilantro and lime, so when we saw a recipe in the June 2012 issue of Cuisine at Home for Cilantro-Lime Marinated Steaks, we knew that we had to try it.

Cilantro-Lime Marinated Steaks (makes 4 servings, Total Cook Time: 20 minutes plus marinating)

2 cups packed fresh cilantro, leaves and stems
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 cloves of garlic
4 scallions, chopped
1 Serrano chile, seeded if desired, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
4 New York strip steaks (1-inch thick, 10-12 oz. each)

1. Process cilantro, lime juice, oil, garlic, scallions, serrano, and salt in a food processor until smooth; reserve 1/2 cup marinade for the serving sauce. Place steaks in a large dish (use glass, if possible) and pour remaining marinade over the top. Turn steaks to coat both sides with marinade. Cover dish with plastic wrap and chill for 2-3 hours, flipping once.

2. Preheat grill to medium-high, brush grill grate with oil.
3. Wipe the marinade from the steaks to keep charring to a minimum.
4. Grill steaks, covered, 2-3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer steaks from the grill to a platter, tented with foil, and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve steaks with reserved sauce.

Now, "R" and I cut this recipe in half and only made one strip steak to share. We also ended up topping it with more sauce after I had snapped a picture. When we had tasted the marinade on its own, it was quite punchy and tart from the lime juice. The steak hadn't really absorbed that much during marinating time, so for our personal taste we could stand to top it with more sauce for additional flavor. I think this sauce would also be great on fish or chicken, but you must love cilantro and lime!