Name: Seared Steak-and-Field Pea Salad
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 180 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons light brown sugar; .5 cup plus 1 Tbsp. white balsamic or white wine vinegar, divided; .5 cup olive oil, divided; 1.5 pounds flank steak, halved crosswise; 2 cups fresh or frozen (not thawed) field peas; 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided; 3 ears (1 ½ lb. total) fresh yellow corn, husks removed; 1 large orange bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into large planks (1 cup); 1 large red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into large planks (1 cup); 1 teaspoon black pepper; 2 teaspoons thinly sliced fresh chives; 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt

Celebrate field peas in this hearty and delicious salad.

Marianne Williams

Published on April 9, 2021

Seared Steak-and-Field Pea Salad — Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Cook Time:

5 mins

Active Time:

35 mins

Marinate Time:

2 hrs

Cool Time:

5 mins

Rest Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

3 hrs

Servings:

Who said you need lettuce to make a salad? This Seared Steak-and-Field Pea Salad may not call for any greens, but it's loaded with layers of flavor.

A perfectly seared flank steak is the star of the show in this impressive, but achievable weeknight supper. While this meal doesn't take long to come together, it does require a bit of planning: You'll want to allow your steak sufficient time to marinate to soak up all the flavors. Flank steak can be a slightly tougher cut of meat, so this marinade—composed of brown sugar, white balsamic, and olive oil—also helps to tenderize the meat. A tip from the Test Kitchen: It's important to let your steak come to room temperature after marinating so that it cooks evenly; pat the steak dry to ensure a really nice sear. A cast-iron skillet is your best friend for this recipe—it does double-duty to sear the steak and char the vegetables.

A light, bright field pea salad, showcasing the season's best produce, is the ideal companion to a simple cut of steak. The lightly charred corn and bell peppers match the charred, savory notes of the steak to create a well-rounded dish that tastes like it's fresh from the grill, with half of the effort. Craving a little heat? Add a poblano or a jalapeño to the charred peppers. Want to save time? Cook the field peas up to two days ahead; cover and chill. Or substitute drained, rinsed canned ones.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons light brown sugar
½ cup plus 1 Tbsp. white balsamic or white wine vinegar, divided
½ cup olive oil, divided
1 ½ pounds flank steak, halved crosswise
2 cups fresh or frozen (not thawed) field peas
2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
3 ears (1 ½ lb. total) fresh yellow corn, husks removed
1 large orange bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into large planks (1 cup)
1 large red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into large planks (1 cup)
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons thinly sliced fresh chives
1 teaspoon flaky sea salt

Directions

Whisk together sugar, ½ cup of the vinegar, and ¼ cup of the oil in a small bowl. Transfer to a large ziplock plastic bag; add steak. Seal bag; massage steak and marinade to coat completely. Chill at least 2 hours or up to 12 hours.
Place peas in a large pot; add water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over high. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, undisturbed, until peas are tender and just cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Drain; set aside until ready to use.
Meanwhile, remove steak from refrigerator; let come to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
While peas cook and steak rests, whisk together 1 tablespoon of the oil, ½ teaspoon of the salt, and remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar in a small bowl. Set aside vinaigrette.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Add corn ears. Cook, turning corn often, until charred, about 5 minutes. Remove from skillet. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil to skillet, and add bell pepper planks. Cook over medium-high until starting to soften and charred on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove skillet from heat. Remove peppers from skillet; cool about 5 minutes.
Cut corn kernels from cobs; discard cobs. Chop pepper planks into ½-inch pieces. Place corn, peppers, and peas in a large bowl. Add reserved vinaigrette; toss to combine. Set aside until ready to serve.
Remove steak from marinade; discard marinade. Pat dry with paper towels; sprinkle evenly with black pepper and remaining 1 ½ teaspoons salt. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to skillet, and return to heat over high. Add steak; cook until charred on both sides and desired degree of doneness (2 to 3 minutes per side for medium-rare, 125°F). Remove from skillet; let rest 15 minutes.
Slice steak against the grain into ½-inch-thick strips. Spoon field pea mixture onto a platter, and top with sliced steak. Sprinkle with chives and flaky sea salt.