We are big fans of good carne asada. If we want to get Mexican food, we make sure to go where the best carne asada's at. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but after years of loving them, I'm new to making carne asada tacos! I think I was intimidated to make it and fall short of the authentic stuff we eat on a weekly basis, but I finally tried it and am shocked at how easy it was and how amazing it turned out! I guess you can't go wrong with the combination of fresh vegetables and spices thrown into a delicious marinade and slow-cooked for the best flavor. This recipe and method were a conglomeration of a few I've read through, and I'm quite pleased with the outcome. It's got a kick of spice, which balances nicely with some diced sweet potatoes added in. It makes for amazing tacos, but could also make great burritos, egg scramble, salad, nachos or as-is with some beans and rice.
You'll need:
1.5 lb lean beef (I used a flat iron cut)
1/2 large white onion, chopped into large chunks
1 jalapeño, seeded
1 small handful cilantro
4 large cloves garlic, minced
3-4 Tb olive oil
1 lime, juiced
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1/2 tsp fresh pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp red chili flakes
2 medium sweet potatoes, diced
First, prepare your marinade. Add onion pieces, jalapeño, cilantro and garlic to a Vitamix or food processor. In a small bowl, combine paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, cayenne, and red chili flakes, then add lime juice and olive oil and whisk together. Pour into Vitamix and turn on low speed until a coarse paste is formed and all ingredients are finely chopped, but not pureed.
Heat a cast iron skillet on medium-high, add a little olive oil, and throw steak on, just searing each side until slightly browned (about 30 seconds per side). Remove from heat and place steak into a slow cooker. Pour marinade over meat and add diced sweet potatoes over and all around cooker. Cover and let cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Take steak out on a cutting board and slice thinly into bite-sized pieces, then add them back in to your slow cooker and mix everything together, letting the beef soak in the juices.
For my very favorite tacos, I like to lightly sear some white corn tortillas on each side, and top with carne asada mixture, some heated black beans, fresh white onion, fresh cilantro, crumbled goat cheese, a slice of avocado and a squeeze of lime. A pinch of salt and a dash of hot sauce, and there you have it.
Since I had dinner already cooking early in the day, I decided some spicy red meat would pair so perfectly with fresh sangria on a nice summer evening. With some fresh fruit, essential oils and a cheap bottle of red wine, I whipped together this recipe so quickly, it was really hard to wait the rest of the afternoon!
For this sangria, you'll need:
1 bottle of red wine (a cabernet, merlot, or red blend works!)
2 shots of triple sec
1 lime, juiced
1 naval orange (I juiced one half and sliced the other)
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1 peach, sliced thinly
2 drops orange essential oil* (optional)
3 drops lemon essential oil* + 3 Tb sugar (for simple syrup)
Directions:
In a half gallon glass pitcher or jar, add in triple sec. Throw in prepared fruit, fruit juices and orange oil. Now make your simple syrup by boiling a little water and pouring it over 3 Tb sugar, stirring and letting it dissolve until you have 5-6 Tb of syrup, then add 3 drops of lemon essential oil and stir. Pour syrup over fruit and juices, then pour the whole bottle of wine over the mixture, stirring well with a wooden spoon. Let sangria refrigerate for a few hours for maximum flavor. When you're ready to serve, pour into glasses and top with some of the fruit. This stuff is so delicious!!
Now grab some friends, drink some sangria and eat some delicious carne asada tacos and you won't be mad.
*Always make sure you are using therapeutic grade essential oils when using for consumption! 100% pure oil is the only oil that is safe to ingest, and store-bought oils, though labeled "pure," still have additives and harmful ingredients that are not safe for consumption. If you don't have therapeutic grade oils, just use some fresh fruit juice instead.