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5 from 1 vote

Steak and Chimichurri Crostini

Grilled crostini topped with thinly sliced grilled tenderloin steak and homemade Argentinian chimichurri sauce.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Servings: 2

Ingredients

  • 1 10 ounce thick tenderloin beef filet roughly 2 inches thick
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Italian or French baguette cut diagonally into 1/2-inch slices
  • Olive oil

Chimichurri sauce

  • 1 cup packed fresh Italian parsley
  • 1/4 cup packed fresh cilantro
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled
  • 3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

For the chimichurri sauce

  • Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth, but still a little gritty. Set aside. You can alternatively finely chop herbs by hand and mix manually.

For the filets

  • Season both sides of the filet generously with salt and pepper. Let rest for 30 minutes before cooking, this is to bring the steak to room temperature and ensure your cooking times are more accurate.
  • Preheat the grill to high heat and clean the grates well. Keep the lid closed and let the internal temp get up to around 500°F.
  • Place the filets face down and sear undisturbed for 5 minutes with the cover up. Flip the filets and sear for an additional 5 minutes. This is ideal for medium-rare.
  • For rare, sear for 4 minutes a side. Medium rare, 5 minutes. Medium, 6-7 minutes. Medium well, 8+ minutes. Depending on the size of the steak, the more or less time it will take. This recipe is ideal for an 8-10 ounce portion, roughly 2 inches thick. Note: If your steak still needs more time, lower the heat to medium and put the cover down. This will take advantage of the ambient heat to finish the steak. Remember, the steak will continue to cook after it's been removed from the heat. More notes below.
  • Remove filets from the grill and let rest for 7-10 minutes before serving. This is important to bring your steak to its final serving temperature.
  • As the steaks are resting, drizzle/brush the oil (about 2 teaspoons per side) on both sides of each slice of bread. Grill for 1-2 minutes per side over medium heat or until golden and toasted.
  • Thinly slice tenderloin into 1/4-inch thick strips. Layer over bread slices and season with sea salt. Top with a few spoonfuls of chimichurri. Eat with a fork and knife or with your hands. See notes on serving size/quantities.

Notes

If serving as an appetizer, a smaller baguette is best as you will be able to make 4-6 smaller crostinis with 1 tenderloin steak. If served as a meal or entre, 1 steak will feed two people. Larger bread slices are best.
Tenderloin can be substituted for ribeye, sirloin, flank, or skirt steak.
Grilling with the cover up versus down is largely dependent on outdoor conditions. If it’s cold and windy then leaving the cover up will take much longer to cook your steak. In these conditions, you should likely cook with the cover down to retain heat.
Temperatures for steak
Rare: 120°F to 125°F
Medium rare: 125°F to 130°F
Medium: 135°F to 140°F
Medium well: 145°F to 150°F
Well done: 160°F and above

Nutrition

Calories: 919kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 88g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 54g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 94mg | Potassium: 522mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 229IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 5mg