Balsamic Steak Salad with Feta

Summer cooking is a bit of a love-hate relationship for me, I gotta be honest. I mean there is nothing I love more than firing up the BBQ, and so many things just taste SO MUCH better on the grill, but not everything is easy. Some things are just simpler to do in the trusty oven or on the stovetop. But there are so many days you can't. Because it's just. so. damn. hot. 

Salads and soups are a lunch staple loved by many people; but I'm not one of them. Neither of them fill me up good enough. I'm always left feeling snacky a few hours after, so I tend to just avoid them. With a few exceptions. 

And steak salad is one of those exceptions! Yes it's still a salad, but it is absolutely loaded with protein, so I feel fuller longer. And less likely to be sneaking a bag of chips for a bedtime snack... 

So how to make a killer steak salad? Well the beauty of this is you can make endless variations of it. Switch up the type of dressing, add in different vegetables, use a different cut of steak. Run wild! 

First, let's talk about the best types of steak to use. You want to go for one that's a bit leaner and will marinate well, and is easy to slice. I wouldn't use the ultra-premium steaks in a salad - those should be the star of the show, served with a SIDE salad and some potatoes. 

Here are some steaks we'd recommend using in a steak salad: 

• sirloin steak (or slice your own picanha!) 
• round steak
• flat iron steak (just cut out the centre sinew before serving)
• skirt steak
• flank steak
• hanger steak
• New York strip steak

Bonus: all the steaks above are pretty affordable too. 

For extra flavour, it's also great to marinate the steak before grilling. You can find our favourite marinade recipe here. 

I find a balsamic vinaigrette works perfectly with steak salad, but don't be afraid to mix it up! Homemade salad dressing is actually quite a simple formula: oil, vinegar, and an emulsifier to hold it all together. You'll want to keep the ratio at about three parts oil to one part vinegar, enough emulsifier to hold it together. From there, add in any spices or other seasonings you like! 

And as with any salad, add any other toppings you like, and enjoy a delicious, light and filling supper!