Hola everyone!
Happy Sunday morning and all of that good shit.
Despite the weather playing the part of a gloomy, misty dickhead the last, say 8 months or so I figured it was about goddamn time we fired up that grill!
We are once again making some carne asada today. Mainly because it’s fucking delicious and secondly because it’s been almost 8 months since I’ve had something cooked on a grill.
If you remember back in the deep, dark, ugly depths of the early part of the pandemic we made carne asada then too.
While that recipe was fantastic, I mean fucking SERIOUSLY fantastic, I thought I could make it even better with a couple of quick tweaks to the recipe. You’ll see.
Call this shit “Carne 2.0.”
These will be some interesting tweaks too I promise.
Shall we get started then?
GOOD!
For a side dish instead of making the standard pinto beans for this meal I thought we could do some black beans.
You know how this bean story goes.
Score some beans.
Standard rinse and sort process next.
Go ahead and give these an overnight soak in a pot full of water. Why the hell not? Sometimes I do this other times I don’t. Ain’t no rhyme or reason. I did notice that you need a lot less water to finish cooking the beans if you give them the overnight soak. Adjust accordingly.
Now we procure the meat for our carne asada but UNSEASONED this time.
Yes, this stuff has gotten stupid expensive lately. Back when I got into the carne asada game this meal was known for being very inexpensive and was perfect for feeding a large crowd at an outdoor cookout but at 13 bucks a goddamn pound?!? I like you folks and all but Jesus Christ!
Let’s see what we’re working with for that 13 fucking dollars a pound.
That’s some bloody goodness alright. Again, this is boneless beef flap meat sometimes designated as “For carne asada” and it’s becoming much easier to find in the big basic grocery stores. No shit it’s easier to find when they can foist a cheap cut of meat on your ass for 13 fucking bucks a pound.
Grab a one gallon freezer bag and let’s get to marinating.
Toss your meat in the bag first then chop up an entire bunch of cilantro and add it in.
An entire thinly sliced onion next right on top there. While you’re at it mince up 4-5 cloves of garlic and add them too.
Mince up a jalapeno or two then toss it in next.
Now we get to work on the “secret” ingredients.
First? A little of this.
Yes, those are chipotles in adobo. Grab one big fat one and mince it up. Get into the bag damn you!
Then the seasonings.
This would include:
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Now you’re probably going to think I’m losing it here with these next ingredients but stay with me.
Half a cup each of cooking oil and soy sauce.
Yes. Soy sauce or “salsa de soya”.
Now here’s the part where you’re going to say “Motherfucker finally went off the goddamn deep end.”
Sunny Delight, I says.
You’ll probably need between one to two cups.
See if you can find a smaller bottle, I only used a couple of cups and I sure as SHIT ain’t drinking the rest of this nastiness. It’s motherfucking TANG! That’s all it is.
Any of the rest of you older folks remember Tang? That powdered shit that “The astronauts drank?” Yes it was nasty but there’s something about using it in this marinade that just fucking WORKS!
A few years back we had a favorite carneceria and I swear one time I was at the butcher counter watching one of the butchers prepare a batch of carne asada and he was pouring this shit right on top just like we’re doing. I used to drive like 20 miles round trip just for their carne asada too so that had to be the answer.
Anyway seal that baggie thing tight and bag this shit up.
Into the fridge for an overnight nap.
Next day let’s get them beans started.
I know I don’t have to give out the bean recipe again. Only difference is these will be vegan because I’m using half of this pot of beans in my southwest vegan soup which was the soup currently in my work week vegetarian soup rotation.
Time to take the marinating meat out of the fridge to take the chill off.
Notice how the marinade has been fully absorbed into the meat? This shit is going to kick some righteous ass.
Time to meet a new player in our Mexican food cocina.
These are fresh raw tortillas. Perfect for when you want a homemade type taste but don’t feel like making your own tortillas from scratch. Very tasty indeed. You can find these – sometimes – in your refrigerated dairy section at your neighborhood supermarket. Although if we’re being honest this availability might just be because I live in Southern California too.
Start yourself up a charcoal fire. FIRST OF THE SEASON! Get that fucker good and hot.
Then slap some meat on there.
See the difference in the color and texture when compared to the raw meat? That’s one marinated motherfucker right there.
Just a couple of quick minutes per side is all.
Sorry about the amateur hour photo there with the goddamn finger in the way.
When all of the meat has been grilled you have yourself a proper pile of carnage.
You can certainly start chowing down immediately if you like but we like to finish the meat with a quick sear in a skillet. This comes from eating a ton of carne asada at the killer taco shops in San Diego county. If they can turn out meat that delicious using this technique then dammit it’s good enough for me.
Here, I’ll show you. You’re going to need to slice up all of that lovely grilled steak. Go thin cut and be sure to slice against the grain.
Like this here.
Then into the skillet it goes over a medium heat.
Proceed to cook until about a medium done-ness. Just a couple of minutes here.
Kind of makes you want to just dive in face first doesn’t it?
Let’s go ahead and warm up the tortillas.
Dry clean skillet. No oil needed.
Warm until it starts to puff up a bit.
Turn them over and repeat
The tortillas will be done when they get the familiar light brown or golden toasted spots on them.
Get that thing on a plate. Fucking starving over here!
I think I’ve mentioned this before but the very reason that I created this lovely concoction…
was specifically for carne asada. More specifically to try to mimic the hot sauce served at the aforementioned San Diego county taco shops. If I’m being completely honest? This shit is so much better than their hot sauce now it’s almost criminal to compare the two.
I’ll show you how I build my carnage plate.
I take a tortilla, pile on a good bit of the meat, top with some chile tepin, a little sprinkling of cheese, get a scoop of beans on there and repeat with the “chile tepin then cheese” thing.
Hell yes.
Brother TAJ has his own method with the tortilla then some grilled meat and a little fresh homemade pico de gallo that he makes himself.
Then a scoop of beans and more pico.
This meal will require basically an entire vat of beer.
Dear savory Jesus is this delicious. FUCK! It’s got all of the savory, spicy, smoky, salty, juicy elements of your standard carne asada but that damn Sunny Delight trick just does something to the meat. This is quite possibly the best carne asada I’ve ever had. I think it’s because using fresh fruit juices alters the texture of the meat a little too much.
This is perfect. You add in those delicious black beans and that kick ass chile tepin on top?
Hold me.
Carne asada Valhalla over here!
I’m sure that having my first taste of charcoal grilled tastiness in almost a goddamn year contributed too but DAMN!
You really need to try this and I ain’t just throwing bullshit around. Please give this a taste. You’ll be very happy with the results.
We’re closing in on July folks. Pushing our way through the long NFL offseason just fine.
Glad to have you people here. Truly. I appreciate every one of you.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and let’s do this again next week.
Alright?
It’s a date.
PEACE!
Tobias Fünke is a grade A character.
Grabbed a dutch oven cookbook at the library this week. We’re a out 80mins into these asian ribs things.
I did all the prep — wife does the actual assembly/cooking. I am all about this set up. I even mopped before so she can “quickly throw together” this saucey recipe.
Really I’ve just been craving some real meat. Burgers didn’t even cut it. Oxtail was my first choice but we’ve never done it so that’s fair.
This one’s a beauty, YR. Feels like carme asada should get a throw away week every season.
Like support the troops or breast cancer awareness.
Turned my son onto The Pretenders by reccing this tune.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlOV6ywJt7s&ab_channel=Pretenders
The whole first album is banging.
I literally just listened to this song on First Wave driving back from the Big Brick and Balls Summit!
Talk to me darling!
Now that’s “Dadding” done right.
That time your old ass rec’ed a certain band or genre of music that your kid/niece/nephew/friend thought that they hated and ended up embracing.
Me: “You have to listen to Bob Marley.”
Son: “I’ve tried reggae and it is repetitive and dumb.”
Me: “Marley is different-he transcends the genre.”
Son: [later on] “Holy Shit!”
Let’s have some!
https://youtu.be/bDnNqsy7rYE
Physically tenderizing it by putting the flap or skirt steak in the bag and whacking it with a rolling pin (insert beating your meat joke here) before adding the marinate can help with the tenderness. (& it might be the citric & ascorbic acid in sunny D that makes it work so well)
You can get those tortillas at Costco.
The most southern California comment I’ve ever read.
Flap meat. Hehehehe.
I mean, you can tell that (about to make a sweeping generalization that is correct) butchers way back in the day didn’t have marketing degrees.
See also “pork butt”
“Yeah, I’ve got yer flap meat right HERE in my PANTS, like a FOOKIN’ LADY!!!!”
-GG
With a headline like “carne asada from scratch” I was pretty disappointed not to learn anything about cattle rustling.
“Oh, so that’s why he was asking if anyone knew where his assless chaps were.” – a dwarf, breathing a sigh of relief
Balls and Brick’s summit at The House of Pies this morning. What could possibly go wrong?
That is real coffee in those cups, not brown liquor.
Allegedly
I’m in.
They give you butter with the cinnamon rolls? Intense!
Those were French Toast Cinnamon Rolls!
Ooooooooooooh! There is a place in Bozeman that makes that, a hole in the wall jernt called the Western Cafe. Diabeetus on a plate, but so good!
I presume for the next summit, Balls will take you to House of Creampies
A ‘Summit” huh? So, what is the true valuation of our shares?
Whoever got the strawberry pie should also get Alsace-Lorraine. That looks high-quality.
What is the pie without the strawberries?
Looks like a custard pie. Almost grabbed a slice at Marie Callenders this morning.
Went with French apple instead.
I could go for a coconut cream pie. Your carne asada looks amazing. The picture with everything in the baggie belongs in a museum. Just beyootiful!
It is really good. Get that touch of smokiness from the charcoal. Yes indeed.
It’s too windy here for a charcoal grill, I would burn down the neighborhood.
That’s the part of the desert I definitely don’t miss. When I lived in Ridgecrest/ China Lake we had winds over 100 mph a couple of times each year. Spring and fall. We got snow in the winter and in the summer I’ve seen 123 degrees.
There’s a reason I’ve lived by the beach since 1986.
Correct. Egg Custard pie for Ballsy.
Yum.
Love some custard pie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRXACrjcdwI
Cinnamon rolls French toast with a side of butter and bacon followed by strawberry pie with whipped cream. What could go wrong?
Balls didn’t mention that his pancakes were “cheesy corn flakes and green onion pancakes.” About halfway through all this the waiter brought some syrup to the table.
There’s a fire about an hour away just outside Sudbury and the wind happens to be blowing in the wrong direction. The smoke is so thick that I can only see the outlines of the houses across the lake.
I guess the boys got a little carried away when they got stinko last night:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl751CDdRZI
He had to rhyme ‘Bingo’ and ‘Inco’ (the main employer at the time) with something. For his tune about my old town (A Damn Good Song For a Miner) he mentioned The Algoden Hotel which was owned by a guy that I knew as a kid.
/many years later when he was dementia-addled, his son took him out for lunch at the same place and after the waitress left with the order he leaned over to his son and asked, “When is she going to take her clothes off?”
I’m doing some grilling today and thought I might give a shot at making some homemade hamburger buns (I’ve got storebought for backup). Would this recipe work with whole wheat flour?
I guess really, half whole wheat flour and half all-purpose — that seems to be the standard recommendation
That would be a better idea with the half and half. I would worry that all wheat might be a little too dense.
And now I sit, waiting and hoping for something to increase in size, like Deanna Favre.
You lost me at cilantro
Trust me, I’m not a big fan either as you can see by my lack of use but like the Sunny D it works here.
Yeah, I’ve got the gene that makes it taste like soap. Yucko.
I’ve found that subbing in parsley for cilantro in this as well as for pico, etc. works pretty well.
Looks like it’s off to Molokai Island for you, mudblood.
yr’s culinary magnificence has even stirred the tired hearts of the #BFIB this morning. Cheerio!
I almost dropped my Davidoff maduro at the sight of SunnyD, being an urbane gourmand and all [scratches crotch, burns boxers].
But will deffo try as-is. Looks 😛
Mid growing season update. Two things I do around this time. Start tieing plants off to poles as they get top heavy. And put up a hail protection net. We get some wicked sporadic but strong hail storms during the summer. The net also fucks with the birds who will start showing up in ernest when your veggies turn bright colors. Right now about 6 weeks in I have been getting (for a couple weeks at this point) strawberries, cucumbers, zucchini, parsley, sage, chives and rosemary. Peppers, eggplant and tomatos have a bit to go. The mild peppers are ready this week.
My backyard “garden”, (two boxes and some corn I stuck in the ground this year), is absolutely taking off this year. like yours I’m about to have to start tying up the tomatoes to keep them upright, the corn is nearly knee-high, (about a week early for that), and the peppers and basil are going nuts.
Must be all that good Canadian ash acting as a fertilizer because I do not have green thumb.
That’s an old farmers saying when I lived in Iowa. The corn is supposed to be “Knee high by the 4th of July.”
Same here. Currently just below my knee on 6/25.
I’ve never tried to plant corn. I’m already pretty happy it didn’t just fall over and die.
Well it’s not like your corn is Ashlii Babbit after declaring, “nothing will stop us!” and attempting to save democracy.
But you do have a fella that cosplays as Tom Thumb, so you’re golden.
I’d say that was low-hanging fruit but I think we all know where that would wind up going.
Are homegrown eggplants special? That veggie has never impressed me — but i felt the same way amount tomoatoes until i had a blt at my uncle’s in iowa.
I’ve never tried to grow them, but in my experience people who do grow them cannot give them away fast enough. I think if you’re any good at it they take over your entire yard, like kudzu.
And they don’t cook up any better than storebought?
I’m disgusted how wasteful you people who cab just growv stuff easily are.
I would try V8 mango/peach varietal, and skip the onion (migraine trigger). Otherwise, I really want this in my belly asap.
“Motherfucking tang….slap some meat on there…”
When did Balls start ghostwriting Sunday Gravy?
You HAVE to get your meat in some Tang for a good long time before it softens up. But the end result is that the juices will intermix and it will be quite lovely.
“This tastes like shit!”
Balls: “Well, yeah, you have to wash it before you put it in your mouth.”
“Mmmmm. Flap meat.”
-Larry Fortensky, about to go down on Liz Taylor
Thank you. I’d forgotten just how painful Coca-Cola going out through my nose was.
Sunny Delight… Who wudda thunk? This looks great and is going on the list. Your meat prices are wicked high there Buddy. The best butcher shops here don’t change anywhere near that. I hope you all get some price release soon.
It’s really gotten out of hand. I make two grocery store trips a week, one on Thursday and one on Sunday. The first is usually around 200 bucks and the second is about 65. Granted the first trip has beer and wine but still. I need to do the two trips because I use a lot of fresh produce.
Feeding 4 I’m spending about 75 less without paying attention to prices.
Exhibit “Q” for why I’m considering retirement in Europe.
Is sunnyD maybe a bit less acidic? I kinda wonder what would happen if you used different flavors of Hi-C or something?
That or just the way it absorbs and blends with the other ingredients. These pro tips are what keep YR’s fans coming back. I would have never thought of that.
I appreciate you being here.
That’s a good idea. I just use it because I witnessed it with my own eyes. This is a really wonderful dish. This alone would justify a taco shop. Imagine going to a taco joint that always has a charcoal grill going. That fucker would be consistently packed.
If you open one I will race everyone else here to be your first customer!