This Grilled Steak, Zucchini, and Pesto Salad isn't your average salad! With no lettuce in sight, this summer salad recipe instead relies on zucchini and grape tomatoes for a nutritious, veggielicious base.
And then there's pesto. I knew I couldn't let a summer go by without a pesto recipe! Is there any other sauce that radiates summer more than pesto?!
Quick Look: Steak, Zucchini, and Pesto Salad
⏲️Ready In: 5 Hours, 30 Minutes (30 minutes active, 5 hours marinating)
🍽Servings: 4
🥗Nutrition: 521 Calories / 39g Protein
🥘Main Ingredients: Flank steak, Olive oil, Red wine vinegar, Zucchini, Grape tomatoes, Pine nuts, Basil
📋Dietary Notes: Gluten free, Grain free, Dairy free
⭐Why You'll Love It: This lettuce-free high protein dinner makes a fantastic summertime meal with lots of flavor!
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Easy AF lettuce-free salad
I already mentioned that this gluten free salad recipe is devoid of lettuce or leafy greens.
I know that someone out there is going to scoff at that. It's not really a salad without leafy greens. What the heck is this chick talking about?
The certainty comes from someone graciously informing me that my Mushroom, Bacon, and Cauliflower Casserole isn't really a casserole because the finished product doesn't bind together. So I let them know that nowhere in the definition of a casserole can you find a specification that the casserole has to keep form as it's served.
So in case you disagree that this steak salad is a salad, here's the definition of a salad, according to Google:
"a cold dish of various mixtures of raw or cooked vegetables, usually seasoned with oil, vinegar, or other dressing and sometimes accompanied by meat, fish, or other ingredients."
-Google
Hello, easy summer meals!
Semantics aside, let's just agree that this dish has all the ingredients for an awesome meal. We've got a red wine vinegar-marinated steak. Grilled zucchini. Perfectly ripe grape tomatoes. And a fresh summer pesto to bring the whole thing together!
This steak salad recipe makes a wonderful, oven-free dinner on hot summer nights. Save the leftovers for lunch the next day, or share with enough people that you don't have to worry about your pesto losing its vibrant color.
I love this combo of foods. I initially thought about adding a few more veggies, some arugula, or a couple add-ins like nuts or herbs.
But I came to the conclusion that adding anything more would simply overcomplicate things. This grilled steak zucchini, and pesto salad is completely fine without any of that!
Yes, certain recipes definitely require more ingredients and more steps to create a truly epic finished product, but more often than not keeping it simple is the way to go.
Plus, the last thing you want to do in the dog days of summer is slog through dozens of steps for one meal.
Ready for this? Grab a handful of basil and let's get grilling!
More lettuce-free salad recipes
Did you try this Steak, Zucchini, and Pesto Salad recipe? I'd love to hear what you think! Please leave a comment and rating or tag me on Instagram - I appreciate your feedback.
📖 Recipe
Grilled Steak, Zucchini, and Pesto Salad
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Marinade: 5 hours
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: grilled
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
An easy, oven-free summer salad with grilled steak, grilled zucchini, grape tomatoes, and fresh pesto! This flavorful salad recipe is paleo, gluten free, keto, and Whole30.
Ingredients
- 1.5 pound flank steak
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
- 1 large zucchini, sliced diagonally
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup packed basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, chopped parsley, and crushed red pepper in a shallow dish or zip-top bag. Add flank steak and coat. Marinate for at least 5 hours to overnight.
- Once steak has marinated and you're ready to make the salad, turn on and heat a gas grill, with two burners on medium-high heat and two on low heat. Add the steak to the hot side of the grill, cooking for two minutes on each side. Transfer to the cooler side of the grill for an additional 2 minutes (or longer, depending on how well done you like your steak). Remove from the grill and place on a cutting board to rest while you prep the rest of the salad.
- Toss the zucchini slices in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the zucchini slices to the hot side of the grill and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate and turn off the grill.
- Next, make the pesto. Add the basil leaves, pine nuts, lemon juice, and remaining tablespoon extra virgin olive oil to a food processor or blender. Process until almost smooth.
- Now put it all together. Thinly slice the steak. Add the grilled zucchini, halved tomatoes, steak slices, and pesto to a large bowl. Toss to combine and serve immediately! Will keep in the fridge for a couple days, but the pesto may discolor.
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