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Big Taste Small Budget – Carne Asada and Cilantro Lime Corn

August 30, 2010 By 2 Comments
PinExt Big Taste Small Budget Carne Asada and Cilantro Lime Corn

With Labor Day around the corner and summer coming to an end, the days of grilling and eating outside will soon end as well.  So I’m making the most of it with this dinner.  A big Mexican themed meal is so much fun with friends, and so easy to pull off.  The carne asada needs nothing more than a few fresh ingredients tossed into a big ziploc bag and some time to soak up the flavor.  It comes out tasting just like the marinade smells – delicious.  Then just cook it on a hot grill along with all your favorite fajita fixin’s and the meal is done.  Even the side dish is cooked on the grill.  Grilling the corn gives it a sweet yet charred flavor that I am just wild about.  And the ingredients are almost identical to the carne asada, so there will be very few items to add to the grocery list.  This is such an easy meal to make for company because it doesn’t need a lot of attention while it cooks, which leaves you free for conversation. This menu would be perfect to substitute on Labor Day in place of burgers.  It’s so full of all the great warm weather flavors, it’s the perfect way to mark the end of summer.

One thing to note, don’t let the meat marinate longer than about 3 hours, otherwise the acid from the lime juice and vinegar will start to break down the beef.  I marinated mine about 2 1/2 hours, and it was perfect.

carne+asada+and+corn Big Taste Small Budget Carne Asada and Cilantro Lime Corn
Carne Asada
serves 4
Flank Steak, about 2 pounds
Juice of 2 limes, plus zest from one of the limes
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 of an onion, chopped
1/4 cup of cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons white vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon chili powder
To make fajitas:
3 large bell peppers, any color, halved and seeded
1 large onion cut into large slices
12 fajita sized flour tortillas
Place flank steak into a gallon size ziploc bag.  
In a medium size bowl mix together all other ingredients.  Pour over the steak.  Close bag and  shake well to distribute well over the steak.  Place in refrigerator, flat side down.  Refrigerate 1-3 hours, turning once.  
Heat grill and place steak in center.  Surround with peppers and onions.  (If making the corn below, put it on now too.)  Grill until you get a nice sear on each side of steak.  Don’t cook the steak longer than medium or it will be dry and tough.  When steak is done remove from grill along with the vegetables.  Let meat rest 5 minutes.  While steak is resting, slice vegetables into strips.  Place tortillas on grill for about 2 minutes on each side.  Slice steak into strips and pile onto heated tortillas along with vegetables.  (Always slice perpendicular to the grain of steak.)  
Other great additions: sour cream, homemade salsa, jalapenos, and shredded cheese. 
Cilantro Lime Grilled Corn 
3 ears of corn
1 poblano pepper, halved
1 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
Husk the corn and place on hot grill along with the poblano pepper halves, turning occasionally.   Cook until done, about 8 minutes.
Remove from grill.  Place pepper in a plastic bag for 10 minutes.  When corn is cool enough to handle cut the kernels from cob into a medium bowl.  Add butter and stir well to melt.  Remove peppers from bag and peel off the charred skins.  Chop into small pieces and add to corn.  Add cilantro, garlic, lime juice, salt and pepper.  Stir to combine.  
cilantro+lime+corn Big Taste Small Budget Carne Asada and Cilantro Lime Corn
carne asada adapted from Eclectic Recipes
grilled corn adapted from Liv Life
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Comments

  1. Dawn says:
    August 31, 2010 at 9:39 pm

    I just saw your bio. I'm a married mom of a 2 yr old and work full time. Great blog! This looks delish with the grilled corn. I can't get enough of the stuff.

    Reply
  2. ab10db6a-481f-11e0-9af1-000bcdcb5194 says:
    March 6, 2011 at 6:29 pm

    I made this last night, along with the homemade salsa. Overall, I was very happy with the results. The corn side was very good and all the elements came together for a very nice meal. If I were to change anything, I'd like the meat to be a little more flavorful. I will definitely do this again, though and add my own touches next time.

    Reply