Eye of round is a fairly tough cut of beef from the bottom round. The good news about tough cuts of beef is that they are lean, due to a higher muscle content and lower fat content than present in prime, fatty cuts. An overnight marinade followed by a quick stint on the grill until medium-rare doneness transforms eye of round to tenderness. Eye of round is one the leanest cuts of beef, according to the book "Secrets of Fat-Free Chinese Cooking," with just 143 calories and 4.2 g of fat per 3-ounce serving.
Step 1
Pound the eye of round steaks gently with a meat mallet to tenderize them. Flip them over and gently pound the other sides of the steaks. Place the steaks in a large freezer bag.
Step 2
Add the olive oil, wine, garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, oregano and onion powder to the bag and seal it tightly. Squeeze the bag gently and turn it a few times to distribute the marinade.
Step 3
Place the bag of steaks in a refrigerator. Marinate the steaks overnight.
Step 4
Preheat an outdoor gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat. Remove the steaks from the marinade and place them in a single layer on the grill grate.
Step 5
Cover the grill and cook for 12 minutes for medium rare, turning the steaks once halfway through the cooking process. Check for an internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. For medium doneness, cook for a total of 15 minutes, turning the steaks once halfway through the cooking process. Check for an internal temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 6
Remove the steaks from the grill. To lock in the juices, allow the steaks to rest for 10 minutes before serving them.
Tips and Warnings
- Well done is not recommended if you desire a tender eye of round steak. Serve steaks with baked sweet potatoes and steamed spinach for a complete meal.
Things You'll Need
- 4 eye of round steaks, 4 ounces each
- Meat mallet
- Large freezer bag with zipper
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- Outdoor grill
References
- "Field Guide to Meat"; Aliza Green; 2005
- TheMeatSource.com: Eye of Round Steak
- Epicurious: Grilled Eye Of Round Steak
- "Canadian Living"; Five-Spice Round Steak
- "Secrets of Fat-Free Chinese Cooking"; Ying Chang Compestine; 1997
- "Grilling for Dummies"; Marie Rama, et al.; 2009
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