Grilled Korean-Style Skirt Steak

• Recipe by Steven Raichlen

This recipe is a twist on a traditional Korean short-rib dish called kalbi kui. I prefer using skirt steak because it is much easier than butterflying short ribs. The sweet Korean chili paste, called kochujang, is available at Asian markets.

Ingredients

1. 1/4 cup soy sauce
2. 3 tablespoons Asian sesame oil
3. 3 tablespoons sugar
4. 3 tablespoons sake or dry sherry
5. 3 medium garlic cloves, minced
6. 2 scallions, chopped
7. 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
8. 2 1/2 pounds skirt steak, cut into 4-inch pieces
9. Vegetable oil
10. 1 head of romaine lettuce, separated into leaves, and kochujang, for serving

Directions

1. In a large glass baking dish, mix the soy sauce with the sesame oil, sugar, sake, minced garlic, chopped scallions and pepper. Add the skirt steak and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
2. Light a grill. Lightly oil the grate. Grill the steak over a medium-hot fire for about 6 minutes for medium-rare meat, turning occasionally.
3. Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes, then slice across the grain. Serve the steak with lettuce leaves and chili paste and let diners wrap their own beef rolls.