Pirate Steak (Beer-Basted Grilled Sirloin)
A thick sirloin steak grilled over medium coals and basted with a simmered sauce of beer, chili sauce, onion, garlic, soy sauce, Dijon mustard and a touch of liquid smoke. Serves 8.
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Pirate Steak is a big-crowd grilling recipe: one thick sirloin steak, 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick, basted again and again with a bold beer-based sauce. The sauce simmers for half an hour first, which mellows the beer and concentrates the chili sauce, garlic, soy and mustard.
Grilling a steak this thick over medium coals lets the outside caramelize without burning while the center cooks. Slice it thin for serving and pass the extra sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 can (12 ounces) beer
- 1/2 cup chili sauce
- 1/2 cup coarsely chopped onion
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper sauce
- 3 pound beef sirloin steak, 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Simmer the sauce. In a saucepan, combine everything except the steak, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.
- Set aside serving sauce. Pour some of the sauce into a separate bowl to serve at the table. Use the rest for basting.
- Prepare the grill. Prepare a charcoal grill with medium coals, or heat a gas grill to medium.
- Baste and grill. Brush the steak with sauce. Place it on the grill 4 inches from the coals and cook for about 15 minutes on each side, basting frequently.
- Season. Season with salt and pepper after turning the steak and again when it comes off the grill.
- Check doneness. Use an instant-read thermometer in the center: about 130°F to 135°F for medium-rare or 140°F to 145°F for medium.
- Rest and serve. Let the steak rest for 10 minutes, slice it thinly across the grain and serve with the reserved sauce.
Tips
- Setting aside the serving sauce before basting keeps it from coming into contact with a brush that touched raw meat.
- Any medium-bodied lager works. Use a nonalcoholic beer if you prefer.
- A thick steak needs time. If the outside is getting too dark, move it to a cooler part of the grill.
Questions about this recipe
- How long do you grill a 2-inch sirloin steak?
- Over medium coals, about 15 minutes per side gets a 1 1/2 to 2-inch sirloin to medium-rare to medium. A thermometer is the most reliable guide.
- Does the alcohol cook out of the sauce?
- Simmering for 30 minutes removes much of the alcohol, but not all of it.
- Can I use a different cut?
- A thick top round or tri-tip can be cooked the same way. Adjust the time based on thickness.
More beef and steak recipes
Cooking a different size or thickness? See steak cooking times by thickness.
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