No one wants to labor in the kitchen on Labor Day—me included! Given that it’s the last day before summer unofficially ends, I plan to relax as much as possible and savor the last rays of summer sunshine. That means our dinner will be a super simple one: grilled flank steak, corn on the cob, green salad and angel food cake topped with strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream. Easy and delicious!
Did you know that flank steak is a lean cut of beef? A 3-ounce serving—about the size of a deck of cards—contains about 2.5 grams of saturated fat. That’s the same amount found in a 3-ounce serving of a skinless chicken thigh! Beef is also an excellent source of protein and a natural source of nine more essential nutrients, including iron, zinc and B vitamins.
If you avoid beef because of heart health concerns, it’s time to make room for beef on the grill next to that chicken! A study by researchers at The Pennsylvania State University found that substituting lean beef for white meat as part of a heart-healthy diet lowered LDL “bad” cholesterol by 10 percent, and improved other heart disease risk factors across the board. As always, you’ll find great steaks at a great price in our stores. Look for our Ranchers ReserveÒ beef—the most premium, tender beef available anywhere.
Here’s my favorite marinade recipe, good for a 1½ to 2 pound flank steak:
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup soy sauce
¼ cup honey
3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
1 Tablespoon minced ginger
Salt and pepper to taste
Whisk together ingredients in a small bowl. Place steak and marinade in a food-safe plastic bag; turn steak to coat. Seal bag and marinate in refrigerator at least 6 hours and as long as overnight, turning occasionally. When ready to grill, remove steak from bag and discard marinade.
In a rush? Marinate the steak in one of our great Safeway or Safeway SELECT marinades instead.
For more great grilling tips and recipe ideas, check out our Get Out & Grill website.
What’s on your menu for Labor Day?