Steak Marinade (Printable view)
Soy-balsamic blend with garlic, lemon and Dijon to tenderize and flavor steak before grilling or searing.
# What You'll Need:
→ Base
01 - 1/2 cup soy sauce
02 - 1/4 cup olive oil
03 - 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
04 - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
05 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
→ Aromatics and Flavorings
06 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
08 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
09 - 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
10 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary or 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
11 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
# Steps:
01 - In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, and lemon juice until smooth and emulsified.
02 - Add minced garlic, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, black pepper, rosemary, and onion powder to the bowl. Whisk thoroughly to blend all seasonings with the liquid base.
03 - Place steaks in a large resealable plastic bag or a wide shallow dish. Pour marinade over steaks, ensuring complete coverage on all sides.
04 - Seal the bag or cover the dish securely. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours, turning steaks occasionally to maximize flavor absorption and tenderness.
05 - Remove steaks from the marinade and pat them lightly dry with paper towels, discarding any used marinade. Proceed to cook steaks as desired using grilling, pan-searing, or broiling methods.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- This marinade transforms even budget steaks into something restaurant-worthy, and nobody will know how little effort it took.
- It became my go-to for cookouts when I realized guests asked for my “secret sauce” every time.
02 -
- If you don’t dry the steaks before cooking, you’ll miss out on that charred crust—it took a few lackluster dinners before I learned this.
- Letting the steak sit with the marinade even a couple extra hours makes a noticeable difference in tenderness—patience truly pays off here.
03 -
- Invest in a good meat thermometer—it removes all the guesswork and guarantees your steak’s perfect doneness.
- For an extra punch, add a teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the marinade when you’re feeling adventurous.