Italian Party Flank Steak

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse black pepper
• 1 1/4 lbs flank steaks, butterflied
• 2 red bell peppers, fresh (from 2 whole peppers) or 2 pimentos (from 2 whole peppers)
• 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 6 -8 thin slices prosciutto
• 24 medium fresh basil leaves
• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• 1 bunch watercress (to garnish)

Recipe

• 1 to butterfly flank steak: with long end of the steak facing you, run a thin sharp knife through the middle thickness of meat, leaving about 1/2 inch at the long opposite end to make a "hinge." flip meat open to resemble a butterfly.
• 2 combine marinade ingredients (oil, vinegar, garlic, parsley, black pepper) in a zip-lock bag and add butterflied steak and marinate for 2 hours or overnight in refrigerator.
• 3 to make pimento if using fresh red bell peppers: preheat broiler. halve peppers lengthwise; remove seeds. place, skin-side up on a broiler tray, 4 inches from heat. broil until skins are charred black. seal peppers in a plastic bag for 15 minutes to steam. slip off skins.
• 4 once steak is done marinading, remove and scrape off any excess marinade. lay meat opened on a long piece of aluminum foil on a flat surface. reserve marinade. preheat oven to 350°f.
• 5 place the 4 pepper halves on top of steak to cover it. sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of parsley. cover with prosciutto slices. arrange basil leaves in a single layer over complete surface of prosciutto. sprinkle the surface with grated parmesan, the remaining 2 tablespoons parsley and black pepper.
• 6 with the long side of the layered steak facing you, lift it from the foil and roll it tightly away from you. it should look like a jelly roll.
• 7 with 6 pieces of kitchen string, 8 inches long, tie the steak at 2 to 3 inch intervals. slip the strings under and around the roll.
• 8 place steak in shallow baking dish and pour marinade over the top. bake for 30 minutes, basting twice. let rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
• 9 carefully cut into 1/2 in slices, discarding string. arrange on a serving platter garnished with watercress.