This Mexican main features Beef skirt steak* 1 tablespoon Soy sauce (opt’l, Beer pn Cumin, Liquid smoke pn Mexican oregano, Lime’s juice Pepper; black or lemon, Worcestershire sauce Garlic powder. It delivers hearty, protein-packed satisfaction, aromatic, well-seasoned taste. Great for weeknight dinners or when you want something satisfying for the whole family. Simple to make with ingredients you likely already have on hand, this is a recipe you will come back to again and again.
Kathy Pitts Fajitas
Description
This Mexican main features Beef skirt steak* 1 tablespoon Soy sauce (opt'l, Beer pn Cumin, Liquid smoke pn Mexican oregano, Lime's juice Pepper; black or lemon, Worcestershire sauce Garlic powder. It delivers hearty, protein-packed satisfaction, aromatic, well-seasoned taste. Great for weeknight dinners or when you want something satisfying for the whole family. Simple to make with ingredients you likely already have on hand, this is a recipe you will come back to again and again.Ingredients
Directions
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This Tex-Mex favorite was around LONG before the yuppiefood industry snagged it, and turned it into a cliche.
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This is our version of the dish, which is (I think) pretty close to the original.
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Our marinade for this changes from time to time, depending on the mood of the
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cook , the contents of the pantry, and perhaps the phases of the moon, so feel free to fuss with it.
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Skirt steak is the diaphragm of the beef, a long very stringy
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cut of meat that accounts for the name of the dish (trans.
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"sashes").
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It used to be dirt cheap, and was poor folks fare until the food faddists discovered it.
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(Depending on where you live, this
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cut may either be easily found at your market, or require a special order with the butcher.
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In a pinch, you could substitute flank steak, just don't tell me about it :-) ) To be tender, the meat demands VERY careful handling.
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Arm yourself with a small, sharp knife, and obsessively trim off ALL the fat, and as much of the silvery membrane surrounding the exterior of the meat as you can manage.
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This can take a while, but be persistant.
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The more you trim, the better the finished product.
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Place the meat in a deep non-metallic pan, and cover with a mixture of the remaining ingredients.
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Marinate the meat, turning occasionally for at least 2 hours (overnight is better).
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When the exterior of the meat is grey, it's ready to cook.
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The soy is NOT authentic, but since Ninfa's, the Tex-Mex restaurant chain that originally popularized the dish uses it in THEIR marinade, I sometimes do, too.
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It gives the finished dish a nice shiny glaze.
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To cook, fish the meat out of the marinade, and dry well.
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Season the exterior with a liberal quantity of cracked black pepper (lemon pepper is good, too), and garlic powder (not salt).
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Grill over a medium-hot charcoal fire (best), or broil or grill indoors.
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Either way, be VERY careful not to overcook the meat.
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If you cook skirt steak beyond medium rare, it will be the toughest cut of meat imaginable.
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Since the steak itself is quite thin, cooking time will be brief.
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To serve, cut into thin, slanting slices, carving against the grain of the meat.
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The Accompaniments Fajitas are generally accompanied by sauteed or grilled onions and sweet green peppers (you can saute the onions and peppers well in advance, and re-
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heat on the
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grill if you are doing the dish outdoors).
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Also served is Pico de Gallo, a fresh tomato based salsa.
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You will also need a stack of the best flour tortillas you can find.
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Some refried beans on the side would be nice, too.
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Other possible accompaniments include guacamole or sliced avocados, lime wedges to squeeze over everything, shredded cheddar cheese, sour
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cream .
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To eat, take a few slices of meat, and lay on a tortilla.
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Top with the sauteed onions and peppers, pico de gallo, and whatever else suits you.
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Fold into a soft taco, and enjoy.
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Kathy in Bryan, TX
Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 491.5kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 27.2g42%
- Saturated Fat 11.4g58%
- Cholesterol 139.6mg47%
- Sodium 664.7mg28%
- Total Carbohydrate 2.9g1%
- Dietary Fiber 0.0g0%
- Sugars 0.3g
- Protein 49.9g100%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.