Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This dish hits all the right notes: hearty yet fresh, with juicy steak, crisp-sweet corn, and a creamy, herbaceous spinach sauce. It’s a complete meal that’s quick to prepare and feels gourmet perfect for sharing with family or friends.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- Corn
- 3 ears corn on the cob (or 2 cups cooked corn kernels)
- Spinach Sauce
- 5 oz fresh baby spinach
- 1 large clove garlic
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Steak
- 1 lb flank steak
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 4 oz crumbled feta cheese
- chopped fresh cilantro or parsley (for garnish)
Directions
- Prepare the corn: Boil the corn in a large pot of water for about 5–10 minutes, or grill for added flavor. Once cool enough to handle, slice off the kernels and set aside.
- Make the spinach sauce: In a food processor, blend spinach, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, cumin, chili powder, and salt until smooth.
- Cook the steak: Rub both sides of the flank steak with chili powder, salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat, add another tablespoon olive oil, and sear the steak about 5 minutes per side for medium-rare (130°F) to medium (145°F). .
- Rest and slice: Remove the steak and let it rest. Then slice against the grain into thin strips.
- Reheat and combine: Return the sliced steak to the empty skillet with remaining olive oil; warm through. Add the corn to reheat alongside.
- Assemble: Plate the steak and corn, drizzle generously with spinach sauce, sprinkle with feta, and garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley.
Servings and timing
- Servings: 4 people
- Prep time: ~30 minutes
- Cook time: ~20 minutes
- Total time: ~50 minutes
Variations
- Grill corn instead of boiling for a smoky char.
- Substitute greens: Use baby kale or mixed herbs in the sauce for a flavor twist.
- Cheese swap: Try goat cheese or a dairy-free crumble for a different tang.
Storage/Reheating
- Fridge: Store steak and corn in an airtight container up to 4 days. Sauce freezes well when stored separately.
- Microwave: Reheat gently for about 1 minute; stir and add another 30 seconds if needed. Keep sauce separate.
- Stovetop: Warm leftovers gently in a skillet with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking.
FAQs
1. What internal temperature should I aim for when cooking flank steak?
For medium-rare, target 130 °F; for medium, aim for 145 °F at the steak’s thickest point.
2. Can I use frozen corn instead of fresh?
Yes! Just thaw it and warm it briefly in the skillet char it lightly for extra flavor.
3. How far in advance can I prepare the spinach-sauce?
You can make the sauce up to 2 days ahead store it chilled and give it a stir before serving.
4. Should I slice the steak before or after resting?
Always let the steak rest before slicing it retains juices better and slice against the grain for tenderness.
5. Can I grill the steak instead of pan-searing?
Absolutely! Grill until your desired doneness, then rest and slice as usual.
6. What can I serve alongside this dish?
Garlic bread, mashed potatoes, wild rice, or roasted vegetables like asparagus or green beans pair beautifully.
7. Can I freeze leftovers?
Yes! Freeze steak and corn together; store the sauce separately for best texture later.
8. How do I reheat to preserve flavor and texture?
Warm gently on the stovetop with a splash of olive oil; reheat sauce separately at room temperature.
9. Can I make this gluten-free?
Yes from our ingredients, it is naturally gluten-free. Just ensure the feta and other components have no hidden gluten.
10. Is there a good vegetarian alternative?
Substitute the flank steak with grilled portobello mushrooms or tofu steaks; the sauce and corn still shine!
Conclusion
This Flank Steak with Corn, Feta, and Spinach Sauce is a summer winner colorful, flavorful, and elegantly simple. In under an hour, you can create a dish that feels special yet comes together effortlessly. It’s perfect for weeknight dinners or impressing company enjoy!
PrintFlank Steak with Corn, Feta, and Spinach Sauce
A vibrant summer dinner featuring juicy pan-seared flank steak, sweet corn, tangy feta, and a creamy spinach-based sauce, ready in under an hour.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Seared
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
3 ears corn on the cob (or 2 cups cooked corn kernels)
5 oz fresh baby spinach
1 large clove garlic
3 tablespoons olive oil (for sauce)
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
½ teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder (for sauce)
¼ teaspoon salt (for sauce)
1 lb flank steak
1 teaspoon chili powder (for steak)
½ teaspoon salt (for steak)
Black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided (1 tbsp for seasoning steak, 1 tbsp for cooking, 1 tbsp for reheating)
4 oz crumbled feta cheese
Chopped fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Boil the corn for 5–10 minutes or grill for added flavor. Slice off the kernels once cool.
- In a food processor, blend spinach, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, cumin, chili powder, and salt until smooth. Set aside.
- Rub steak with chili powder, salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, and sear steak for about 5 minutes per side for medium-rare (130°F) to medium (145°F).
- Let steak rest, then slice thinly against the grain.
- Return sliced steak to skillet with remaining olive oil; warm through. Add corn to reheat alongside.
- Plate steak and corn, drizzle with spinach sauce, sprinkle with feta, and garnish with cilantro or parsley.
Notes
Grilling the corn adds a smoky char for extra flavor.
You can substitute baby kale or mixed herbs for the spinach.
Goat cheese or dairy-free crumbles work well instead of feta.
Leftovers store up to 4 days in the fridge; sauce can be frozen separately.
Reheat gently to preserve tenderness and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (approx. 6 oz steak with corn, sauce, and feta)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 85mg