Chili and Cocoa Marinated Flank Steak with Chocolate Merlot Sauce

Ingredients:

Marinade Ingredients:

  • 2 – 2.5 lbs Flank Steak
  • 1.5 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1/2 bunch Fresh Cilantro
  • 3/4 cup Chipotle Pepper Powder
  • 3/4 cup Cocoa Powder
  • 4 cloves Fresh Garlic
  • 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder
  • 1.5 ounces Worcestershire Sauce
  • 3 Fresh Limes, Zested and Juiced                       

Sauce Ingredients:

  • 1 Medium Onion, Diced Small
  • 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 3 cloves Fresh Garlic, Peeled and Minced
  • 2 Fresh Jalapenos (Roasted, Peeled and Seeded)
  • 2 cups Merlot Wine
  • 1 Beef Bullion Cube
  • 1/3 cup Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

Directions:

Instructions - Marinade:

Place garlic and cilantro in food processor and puree, then add oil in a stream while blending, then add remaining ingredients and process until well blended, this mixture will be thick. Coat the Flank Steak with puree and marinate overnight. Scrape off excess marinade and grill on a hot grill to sear and then move to a medium heat to finish to desired doneness. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing (against the grain for the most tender eating).

Instructions - Sauce:

Sweat the onions over medium heat in the oil. Add the garlic and pepper and sauté for 1 minute, then add the wine and reduce by half. Off the heat, add the chocolate and bullion cube and stir until completely melted and absorbed (you can puree this sauce if you like with a blender). This sauce has very intense flavor and just a little on the flank is best and quite delicious.

Servings:

Serves 6 – 7

Source: Center Plate Catering, Roland Powell Convention Center, Ocean City, Md.