This Sweet Garlic Soy Tri-Tip Marinade makes the most tender and flavorful steak. It's perfect for barbecues, cookouts, & family dinners. Let it change your world today!

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Sweet and salty, garlicky and full of umami, this Tri-Tip Steak Marinade is a balanced and flavorful marinade that may just change the way you think of marinated steak!

The timing of this tri-tip marinade post is uncanny.

Even though I scheduled it in a few months ago, I don't think I could have scheduled it at a more apropos time if I tried.

You see because I first tried tri-tip was with my cousin Kirk. I had just moved to the Bay Area and was down with my brother Kirk and my aunt Lea in San Luis Obispo for the weekend. He had some friends over as well and grilled us up some of the most delicious steak I had ever had: tri-tip.

He topped it with a chimichurri sauce (also a first!) that blew my mind. Never had I had either growing up in the Midwest.

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Kirk was so generous -- always -- with his time, himself, his attention, cooking, and other little things he did to show he cared. He just made you feel known without even having to entirely explain yourself. And he was so. much. fun. to be around.

This particular trip, he made a special point to encourage me in my career and personal life. Coming out of college into the real world was jolting and somehow he knew I needed a little support.

And this meant a lot coming from a man who achieved as much as he did. It gave me perspective and the long game to remember. And it always helps to have someone else believe in us, even when we don't believe in ourselves, doesn't it?

This Monday morning, I was rocked with the news that Kirk had suddenly, yet peacefully, passed over the weekend.

It had been a bit over 4 years since I had last seen him -- losing that proximity with a cross country move made it that much harder to meet up -- but he had been on my mind a lot these past few weeks.

Most frequently, I thought of the good times we had together, how he knew how to make the most of any situation, his sincerity and freedom in being 100% himself, the way he always encouraged me, and of course -- the tri-tip.

I've now learned that I need to reach out to someone whenever they're on my mind that persistently. The energy I'm picking up is certainly a sign, an indicator, that I need to respond to.

Because I can't go back, and because Kirk deserves this and so much more, I'm dedicating this post to him. May we all seek to live life and love other people to the fullest like he did. To say "buzz off" to fear and live our full selves, because that's what the world needs the most from us.

Love you, 'Cuz! 💗

This grilled steak marinade is...

• Soy sauce based
• Naturally sweet
• Salty
• Garlicky
• Full of umami
• Good enough for seconds
• Tenderizing
• Perfect for many other cuts of steak, too
• Most likely, your new go-to steak marinade 😉

This marinade is the best of both worlds: flavorful enough for 4th of July barbecues and other get-togethers while being easy enough to throw together on a weeknight.

Ingredients:

This marinade is made primarily of pantry staples, albeit the sherry vinegar can, admittedly, be a bit tricky to find in some parts of the country. Read below for where to find sherry vinegar and for easy-to-find substitutes!

• Sherry vinegar
• Low-sodium soy sauce -- full-sodium soy sauce will also work, but omit the pinch of salt from the recipe
• Honey
• Olive oil
• Black pepper
• Salt -- just a pinch of sea salt will do
• Ginger powder -- or fresh, if you have that on hand
• Onion powder
• Minced garlic

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Substitutions:

Oil -- avocado oil or even sesame oil will work in place of the olive oil, though the sesame oil will add a nutty flavor to the marinade.

Soy sauce -- liquid coconut aminos or gluten-free soy sauce also work in place of the soy sauce if you want to make this recipe gluten-free!

Honey -- maple syrup or raw agave syrup can work in this recipe as well, but the honey will add a unique depth to the marinade.

Shallot -- don't have onion powder? A small diced shallot will also work in its place.

What is tri-tip?

Tri-tip is a triangular cut of beef that comes from the bottom portion of the sirloin. It's generally a thicker cut of meat that's moderately marbled.

Where do you find tri-tip?

You can find tri-tip at Whole Foods across the United States. It's also at some major grocery stores, but is most commonly found in the American West and Texas here in the States.

What other cuts of steak work in this marinade recipe?

Not to worry if you can't find tri-tip near you! I couldn't find it growing up, either. Flank steak, sirloin steak, or even flat iron steak would also be delicious in this marinade.

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How do marinades work?

Marinades penetrate meat with flavor in a few different ways:

• Salt -- the salt acts almost as a brine, infusing juiciness and moisture into the meat.
• Fat -- adds flavor to the meat while also protecting the juiciness and helping prevent the chicken from sticking to the grill.
• Acid -- breaks down the meat proteins, making the steak more tender.
• Seasonings -- bring the flavor.

How long do you need to marinate the steak?

Different marinades can differ, but with this recipe you will need to marinate the steak for 30 minutes up to 24 hours (or overnight). The longer on this spectrum, the better, as it will add more flavor.

Don't marinate your meat longer than 24 hours, however, as it will break down the steak fibers too much, making it mushy and inedible.

Tips for grilling the best steak every time:

1. Let the grill come to full heat before adding the steak.
2. Clean the grill off with a grill brush before cooking your meat.
3. Keep an eye on the meat as it cooks -- if the meat is cooking faster, flip it more frequently, if it is cooking slower, flip it less frequently and consider turning the heat up a bit.
4. Keep an eye out for grill hotspots -- most grills have hotspots, or spots on the grill that run warmer than others. If you find that one area is hotter than the others, move the meat to other areas that have similar temperatures.
5. Use a meat thermometer to check the meat temperature -- it's the most accurate way to gauge how done (or not) your steak is.
6. Let your steak rest before slicing -- this lets the meat juices settle and stay in the steak, instead of on your cutting board.

Can you also grill this steak on the stovetop?

Yes, you certainly can grill this steak on the stovetop. A grilling pan would be perfect for this.

Preheat the non-stick pan to medium-high heat and turn the steak every 3-4.5 minutes, or until sear marks start to form. Cook for 10-13 minutes, or until the steak is cooked through to your desired degree of doneness.

How to slice tri-tip:

You generally want to slice tri-tip against the grain-- or the way that the muscle fibers flow. For most of the steak, this will be perpendicular.

The tri-tip is interesting, however, because it actually has two grains. If you want to slice accordingly, follow this infographic, or you can just slice the whole steak perpendicular to the length of the cut of meat.

How to make this steak marinade and grill the steak:

1. In a medium or large-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the vinegar, soy sauce, honey, olive oil, pepper, salt, ginger, onion, and garlic until combined.
2. Add the steak to the bowl and turn until covered in the marinade or move the steak to a resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade over. Seal the bag and move the steak around in the bag until it's covered with the marinade. Marinate the steak in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 24 hours.
3. 10 minutes before grilling, preheat the grill to 375 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Brush off the grill and add the steak to the grill, reserving the marinade. Cook the steak for 10-15 minutes, turning it every 3-4 minutes, or until the steak is cooked through to your desired degree of doneness.
5. Move the steak to a clean dinner plate or cutting board. Let it rest for 5 minutes.
6. While the steak rests: move the reserved marinade to a microwave-safe bowl. Whisk together the cornstarch and 1 teaspoon cold water in a small mixing dish or cup. Whisk the cornstarch slurry into the marinade and microwave the marinade for 3-4 minutes, serving every minute or so, or until the marinade has reduced down and thickened up.
7. Slice the steak into 1/2 inch thick pieces and serve with the marinade sauce with any desired garnishings.

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What tools do you need to make this marinade?

Here are all the tools you'll need to make this marinade:

• Medium-sized & microwave-safe mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Measuring spoons
• Ziploc bags (optional)
• Meat cutting board (or a cutting board with wells for the juices)
• Slicing Knife
• Grill or grill pan
• Grilling tongs or heat-safe spatula
• Food or meat thermometer

A note on cooking the used marinade before serving:

In this recipe, we will be reusing the marinade as a finishing sauce for the steak, but we will need to cook it before to make it safe for consumption. So, make sure to reserve your marinade after putting the steak on the grill and cook it down before serving it again.

Why do you need to let steak rest?

We need to let steak rest because it allows the steak the chance to redistribute its juices.

If we cut the steak immediately after coming off of the grill, all of those delicious juices will end up on our cutting boards and plates, not in the steak.

Can you use this recipe for meal prep?

Yep, this grilled steak is perfect for meal prep! Here are some of the ways I like to enjoy the steak leftovers throughout the week:

• Over rice and quinoa bowls
• In wraps
• On salads
• With stir-fried veggies
• Over cauliflower rice
• With roasted vegetables

Can you double or triple this recipe?

Yep, you can easily double or triple this recipe. Just multiple all the ingredients by your desired amount and follow the rest of the recipe as directed.

Can you freeze this marinade?

Yes, you definitely can freeze this marinade. For best results, add the steak and the marinade to a freezer-safe bag, seal, and freeze for up to 2 months. Then defrost the frozen steak in the refrigerator 24-36 hours before grilling.

Pro-tip: buy a few tri-tips when they're on sale and freeze them with the marinade so you have easy freezer meals on the ready!

What do you serve this grilled steak with?

There are so many delicious sides and drinks you can serve this juicy grilled steak with. Here are some of my favorites:

• Grilled corn
• Mashed potatoes
• Roasted broccoli with lemon
• House special fried rice
• Steamed brown rice
• Quinoa pilaf
• Stir-fried vegetables
• A glass of Pino Gris or Pinot Blanc
• An Asian lager, like Sapporo, Singha, or Asahi beer

More delicious steak and cookout recipes you'll love!

• Grilled Garlic Steak with Cream Chimichurri Pasta
• The Juiciest Hamburgers
• Spicy Honey Chicken Marinade
• Mexican Chicken Marinade
• Grilled Sesame Chicken Thighs
• 5 Bean Salad
• Blueberry and Avocado Spinach Salad

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