carne asada fries

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I figured I would share one of my favorite Southern Californian Mexican-inspired dishes, carne asada fries. I'm not sure if a dish with fries and beef could ever be considered healthy, but I tried my best to make it healthier.

Click below the break to find the recipe!

The basic premise of carne asada fries is exactly what it sounds like, carne asada and fries. A combo so delicious yet kinda unexpected. Traditionally the dish is topped with pico de gallo (tomatoes, onions, and lime juice), sour cream, guacamole, and loads of cheese. In an effort to make this recipe a bit less heart-attack inducing, I topped it with some sour cream-free guacamole, caramelized onions and green peppers, a light sprinkling of pepperjack cheese, and cilantro.

You can buy beef or chicken already marinated in this style at the grocery store, or of course marinate it yourself. Similarly, you can also buy your own guacamole (which is never quite as good IMO) or make it yourself.

The carne asada marinade recipe provided is from allrecipes, with very slight adaptations.

Makes 2 servings

Carne Asada Marinade
1/2 pound beef cut of your choosing (flank stank was recommended in the original recipe, I used some lean pre-cut stir fry pieces)
1 teaspoon white vinegar
3/4 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
1 clove minced garlic
1/2 lime, juiced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon cumin
1/8 teaspoon paprika

Guacamole
1 ripe haas avocado
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 tablespoons lime juice
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 tablespoon plain non-fat yogurt
(I don't really like tomatoes so I left them out, but you can add in half a roma tomato)

Everything else
2 servings of french fries
1/2 onion
1 green bell pepper
2 tablespoons cilantro
4 tablespoons pepper jack cheese

So a simplified order of things:
1) Marinate carne asada overnight
2) Make guacamole
3) Put fries in the oven
4) Cook carne asada
5) Assemble!

Instructions
1. Cut your beef into strips to allow the marinade to really be soaked up. Mix all the ingredients for your marinade, and pour over the beef. Toss it around to make sure all the pieces are coated.
2. Marinate overnight.

Guacamole instructions
1. Cut your avocado in half and remove the inside of the avocado. Chop it up and mash in a bowl.
2. Add in your salt, pepper, cilantro, and onion. Mix.
3. Add in your lime juice. Mix.
4. If you would like a creamier texture, add in the plain yogurt. I find it to be a great alternative to sour cream!
5. Let sit while you prepare the rest of your meal.

Before you cook your carne asada, put your fries in the oven. If you make your own fries, all the power to you. Personally, I like the Alexia's yukon cut so that's what I used. Make two servings of whatever fries you decide to use.

Carne asada instructions continued
3. Heat oil on pan in medium heat. Cook beef, stirring continuously, until you get your desired tenderness.
4. Remove from pan and set aside to assemble.
5. Lower the heat.
6. Toss in chopped strips of onion and green pepper onto the pan. Cook between 5-10 minutes for the them to caramelize.
7. Assemble!! Fries on the bottom. Then the onions + green peppers. Then beef + cheese. Then the guacamole. And finally the cilantro.
8. Serve with Mexican coke if you can get your hands on some, because it's freakin delicious.

Happy Eating!