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Grilled "Barbecue" Beef

Barbecue sauce from the bottle pales beside the 15-minute stovetop version here. We've paired it with a tender flatiron steak that may just become your favorite new cut of beef.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    40 min

  • Yield

    Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

3

tablespoons packed dark brown sugar

2

teaspoons ground cumin

2

teaspoons chili powder

1

1/2 teaspoons salt

1

teaspoon black pepper

1

teaspoon dry mustard

1

(1 1/4 -pound) flatiron steak (1 inch thick; also called boneless chuck top blade steak)

1

medium onion, finely chopped

1

tablespoon vegetable oil

1

/2 cup ketchup

2

tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

5

tablespoons water

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Stir together brown sugar, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and mustard in a bowl. Pat steak dry and rub all over with 2 tablespoons spice mixture. Reserve remainder for sauce. Marinate steak at room temperature while making sauce.

    Step 2

    Cook onion in oil in a 1- to 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan over moderately high heat, stirring, until golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and reserved spice mixture and bring to a boil over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and cover, then simmer until onions are very tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a blender and purée with water (use caution with hot liquids) until very smooth (add additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if necessary), then transfer to a bowl.

    Step 3

    Meanwhile, preheat gas grill burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then reduce heat to moderately high.

    Step 4

    Oil grill rack, then grill steak, covered, 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare. Brush steak all over with some of sauce and grill 30 seconds per side.

    Step 5

    Transfer to a cutting board and let stand 5 minutes. Cut steak into thin slices and serve with remaining sauce.