Carne Asada

When we talk South American grilled meat, Carne Asada is the first thing that pops into most people’s minds – I think. Maybe I’m wrong. Well, it’s the first thing that pops into my mind. 🙂 “Carne Asada” means “grilled beef” in Spanish, but the dish we know as Carne Asada is so much more than just a plain grilled beef. Marinated in a wicked citrusy, garlicky, coriander/cilantro mixture, it infuses beef with flavour and tenderises it too, making it perfect to use for secondary beef cuts like skirt and flank. Mind you, I say secondary cuts – and they are still considered secondary cuts here in Australia (we’re a bit slow on the Latin American / Mexican front) – but they are as pricey as prime cuts in some parts of the world. Skirt and flank, the two most common cuts used for Carne Asada, have a stronger beef flavour than mainstream steaks like rump and scotch. Hence becoming increasingly popular around the world = hiked up prices.

Fellow Australians, get your fill of skirt and flank steak before the trend catches on like it has in the US and the prices get jacked up. It will be just like beef cheeks – 10 years ago, they were an undiscovered gem that was incredible value. I blame shows like Masterchef and My Kitchen Rules for making beef cheeks trendy – now they cost as much as some steaks! Having said that though, the marinade for this recipe is brilliant for any type of quick cooking cut of beef – though it seems a waste to use on expensive aged steaks. 🙂 What to use Carne Asada for? Think: Tacos, burritos, salads (sub the chicken in this Mexican Salad!), with rice. Anything that doesn’t require cooking – like quesadillas, enchiladas – because otherwise the beef will be overcooked by the time you’re done. Because that’s the #1 rule with Carne Asada – don’t overcook the beef!!!! – Nagi xx PS If you’re worried about overcooking the beef, err on the side of caution and uncook it. You can always slap it back on for a bit but you can’t undo overcooking! PPS When I’m unsure, I don’t hesitate to cut an incision in the middle of the beef. And remember that it will cook a bit more while it rests so take it off before it is cooked to your taste. PPPS LOOK HOW JUICY IT IS!!!! ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓