Recipe: Stuffed Flank Steak Brazil

STUFFED FLANK STEAK BRAZIL

1 (2 pound) beef flank steak, butterflied*
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoon salt
Black Bean Filling (recipe follows)
2 cups loosely packed spinach leaves
4 whole thin carrots, cooked
3 hard-boiled eggs, quartered
4 cups reduced-sodium fat-free beef broth

Lay meat flat on counter; cover with waxed paper and pound to an even thickness, using flat side of meat mallet. Sprinkle all surfaces of meat with vinegar, garlic, thyme and salt. Let stand while preparing filling, or transfer to jelly roll pan and refrigerate, covered, up to 12 hours.

Spread Black Bean Filling over meat; cover with spinach leaves. Place carrots about 3 inches apart on spinach, parallel to grain of meat; place egg quarters between carrots. Roll meat, starting from the short end, to form a thick roll; tie with kitchen string at 2-inch intervals.

Place meat in roasting pan; pour broth around meat, adding water if necessary to come 1/3 of the way up the side of the meat. Cover tightly with lid or foil.

Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour, or until meat reaches internal temperature of 130 degrees. Place meat on platter and let stand 5 minutes before slicing. Or, chill, slice and serve cold.

*If you wish, ask your butcher to butterfly the flank steak. Or, to do it yourself: place it on the cutting board; with sharp knife, cut in half, horizontally, to within 1/2 inch of one long side.

---

BLACK BEAN FILLING
Makes about 3 cups

1 cup boiling water
1 ancho chili
2 cans (15-ounce each) black beans, rinsed, drained
1/4 cup chopped onions
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 teaspoon ground cumin

Pour water over ancho chili in small bowl, and let stand until softened, about 10 minutes; drain and remove stems from chili. Puree chili in blender with a small amount of soaking water until smooth. Coarsely mash beans in medium bowl; stir in chili puree, onion, parsley and cumin.

Servings: 8
Source: 1,001 Low Fat Recipes by Sue Spitler