Cocoa-Coffee Steak Marinade for Grilling Recipe
[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]
Coffee and chocolate sound like strong flavors, but they take on a delightfully mild tone in this steak marinade. I combine them with some brown sugar, which helps the steak develop a deeper crust more quickly on the grill, and a pinch of chili powder for a subtle, spicy warmth. I go light on the chili heat, but you could add more if you want it to be more pronounced. Mostly, the coffee and chocolate add a slight bitterness that underscores that charred, grilled flavor; the chocolate contributes an additional round butteriness, presumably from the cocoa butter.
Why It Works
- Marinating is mostly a surface treatment, so even an hour is enough to get plenty of flavor onto the meat.
- Salt in the marinade helps the beef retain moisture during grilling.
Read more: 3 Steak Marinades to Jazz Up Your Grilling Routine
- Yield:Makes enough marinade for about 4 to 6 (8-ounce) steaks
- Active time: 10 minutes
- Total time:20 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup (235ml) hot, strong brewed coffee
- 1/2 ounce (15g) unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon (15g) dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon (5g) kosher salt
- Pinch chili powder or cayenne pepper
- About 2 to 3 pounds (900g to 1.4kg) steak of your choice
Directions
-
1.
Stir together coffee, chocolate, sugar, salt, and chili powder or cayenne, until chocolate is fully melted and sugar and salt are fully dissolved. Let cool.
-
2.
Transfer marinade to a large zipper-lock bag, add steak, press out air from bag, and seal. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours. When ready to cook, remove steak from marinade, blot dry with paper towels, and grill as desired.
This Recipe Appears In
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