Grilled Flank Steak on Ciabatta With Red Peppers

Consider making the immensely engaging Ribeira Sacra mencías your house wine. Yes, their rich earthiness may call for hefty slabs of meat, but they can also accompany a roast chicken or even broiled lobsters with grace. Steak was my call, grilled and done with echoes of Spain in the seasonings, olive notes and a red pepper topping.

Ingredients

• 1 13/4- to 2-pound flank steak
• 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons black olive tapenade
• ⅓ cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1 large red onion, coarsely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, slivered
• 2 large red bell peppers, cored and coarsely chopped
• ½ cup dry red wine
• 1 large ciabatta, halved horizontally

• Nutritional Information

  • Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

    390 calories; 24 grams fat; 6 grams saturated fat; 14 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 9 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 28 grams protein; 86 milligrams cholesterol; 145 milligrams sodium

  Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
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6 servings

Preparation

1. Smear flank steak with 2 tablespoons olive oil, massage with paprika and season with salt and pepper. Set aside. Combine 11/2 tablespoons of the tapenade with the parsley and 2 tablespoons of the oil. Set aside.
2. Heat remaining oil in a large skillet. Add onion and sauté on medium until soft. Add garlic, sauté briefly, then add peppers. Reduce heat to low and sauté gently until very tender, about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Stir in wine and remaining tapenade, cook briefly, then remove from heat.
3. Heat grill to hot. When peppers are done, put steak on grill and sear fairly close to the heat, 2 to 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Timing is tricky because it depends on the fire and the thickness of the meat, but you can make a diagonal cut at one end of the steak to gauge doneness.
4. Transfer steak to a cutting board and place ciabatta halves, cut side down, on the grill to toast. Watch closely. Smear toasted ciabatta with the reserved tapenade and parsley from Step 1. Slice steak thin on the bias and arrange slices on the ciabatta. Reheat peppers and spoon on top of the steak. Cut each ciabatta half in six pieces, arrange on a platter and serve.

1 hour