Playdate Special: Marinated Tri-Tip

Few foods satisfy me more than red meat. I wish it weren’t so, but it is. Red meat makes me happy. There. I said it. Luckily, one of my kids is a serious meat eater. He actually says: “I want to go home and have meat.”
One of my favorite food discoveries since moving to California was tri-tip. I had never encountered it growing up. My love affair began at a barbecue, on a day that seemed impossibly warm for that early in the year, with scores of people enjoying the park and slice after slice of tender tri-tip coming off the grill. My favorite recipe requires some advance preparation — at least four hours to marinate — but it’s simple, makes use of pantry staples, and always comes out beautifully. This is especially satisfying paired with beef's classic partner, potatoes. The leftovers are easily reinvented: toss strips of beef with salad greens or tuck them into a sandwich.

Marinated Tri-Tip

I top the grilled slices with sliced scallions from the garden. A little green decoration on top makes me think it’s healthier than it is.

2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon water
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
black pepper
2 pounds beef tri-tip, cut into 1/2-inch slices

Stir together the soy sauce, olive oil, water, garlic, and pepper in a bowl. Add the tri-tip slices, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator at least four hours.

These are best grilled, but firing up the charcoal grill when the kids outnumber adults two to one isn't always a good idea. Grill or broil the slices 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until they’re done to your liking.