Recipe for guys: Stuffed Flank Steak

Stuffed Flank Steak

Serves 4

Olive oil, for greasing pan

Butcher's twine

1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach

¼ cup grated Parmesan

¼ cup bread crumbs

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 large egg

1 jar (4 ounces) roasted red peppers

1 flank steak (about 1 ½ to 2 pounds), butterflied by the butcher

Salt and fresh ground black pepper

2 ounces sliced prosciutto or Black Forest ham

2 cups bottled tomato sauce

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-by-16-inch roasting pan with olive oil. Cut five 8-inch pieces of butcher's twine. Set aside.

2. In a small saucepan, boil spinach in 2 inches of water until cooked through. Transfer to a colander and rinse with cold water. Take a small clump of spinach and squeeze out the water. Transfer to a bowl and repeat with rest of spinach. Add Parmesan, bread crumbs, garlic and egg to spinach and mix well.

3. Drain roasted peppers and cut into ½-inch strips. Lay flank steak on a work surface and open it up. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Arrange a row of prosciutto or ham lengthwise down the center. Spread spinach mixture in an even layer over the meat; arrange pepper strips down the center of the spinach.

4. Roll meat lengthwise into a long log. Slip a piece of string under the center of the meat and tie it relatively tightly in a knot. Repeat down the length of the roll, tying the remaining 4 pieces of string at equal intervals.

5. Place rolled meat in the roasting pan, season with salt and pepper, and roast on the center oven rack 45 minutes or until the meat is browned and cooked through but still pink in the center (145-150 degrees on an instant-read thermometer.) Remove from oven and let sit 5 minutes before slicing.

6. While the meat is resting, heat tomato sauce in a medium saucepan over medium heat until hot. Cut meat into 1 ½-inch thick slices, arrange on a platter and spoon a stream of tomato sauce down the center of the slices. Serve remaining sauce on the side.

From "Dad's Own Cookbook" by Bob Sloan