Soy Garlic Steak Marinade
This easy three-ingredient Soy Garlic Steak Marinade adds big flavor with minimal effort!
Grilled to perfection and served with a pat of Wasabi Butter, this is my favorite way to cook steaks when I only have a few minutes to prep them.
Key ingredients
Soy sauce: There are so many types of soy sauce! For this recipe, I recommend using a Japanese soy sauce, such as Kikkoman. I’ve also tested this recipe with Golden Mountain Seasoning Sauce, which is a seasoned Thai soy sauce and it was excellent. It brings a touch of extra flavor and the added sugar contributes to more caramelization.
Garlic: I prefer grating to mincing for this recipe, as small garlic pieces can burn and turn bitter on the grill. Grated garlic almost dissolves into the marinade, ensuring it’s evenly distributed.
Olive oil: Olive oil helps the marinade coat the steak evenly and allows the garlic to adhere to the meat.
Steak: New York strip steak is my go to for this flavorful marinade, but T-bone and Porterhouse cuts work well too.
Step by step photos
Step 1: Gather your marinade ingredients: just garlic, soy sauce and olive oil.
Step 2: Grate the garlic on a microplane. Mix with the soy sauce and olive oil.
Step 3: Coat the steaks in the marinade and let sit 15 minutes. Grill to perfection.
Step 4: Let the steaks rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Storage
This marinade comes together in just minutes so there’s generally no need to prep in advance. If you’d like you can mix up the marinade a few hours ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
Leftover cooked steak can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. My favorite way to reheat steak is in the oven at 250°F (120°C) for about 30 minutes.
FAQs
There’s no need to salt your steaks at all with this recipe! Soy sauce contains enough salt to season the meat.
I highly recommend grating the garlic on a microplane for this recipe. This ensures even distribution in the soy sauce and prevents burning on the grill.
I like NY strip steak for this recipe. It’s also great on Porterhouse and T-bone cuts.
Soy Garlic Steak Marinade Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: Japanese
Description
This Soy Garlic Steak Marinade is my go-to for busy evenings. So much flavor and just a few minutes of prep!
Ingredients
- 2 thick-cut steaks, about 1 pound each (I recommend New York strip)
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) soy sauce*
- 2–3 cloves garlic, grated on a microplane
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Wasabi butter for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk together the soy sauce, grated garlic and olive oil in a small dish.
- Pour the marinade into a shallow dish and add the steaks. Turn several times to coat well. Marinate for 15-30 minutes.
- Set up grill for two-zone cooking*. Preheat grill for at least 5 minutes to high (500°F / 260°C).
- Remove steak from marinade and pat dry with paper towels.
- Clean and lightly oil the grill grates. Place the steaks over direct heat and cook until deeply charred, about 3 minutes depending on thickness. Flip and cook the second side until charred, about 3 minutes more. Move the steak to indirect heat, cover the grill, and continue cooking until the center reaches 125°F (52°C) for medium-rare.
- Transfer to a cutting board, loosely tent with foil and let rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with wasabi butter if desired.
Notes
Soy sauce: I’ve tested this marinade with both Japanese soy sauce, such as Kikkoman, and Thai seasoning soy sauce, which adds extra flavor.
Two-Zone Grilling: This simply means dividing your grill into a hot side (direct heat) and a cool side (indirect heat). For Gas: Light the burners on one half of the grill to high; leave the other half off. For Charcoal: Pile all your lit coals onto one side of the grill, leaving the other side empty.
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