Carne Asada Fries

You know how it is when you think one of

your favorite little dives has the corner

on something unique, and then you find out

this yummy dish is famous elsewhere?

That's how I felt about my new favorite

craving - 

CARNE ASADA FRIES!

Our little local dive, Betos Burritos, which is famous

for its breakfast burritos, featured a foodie picture

in it's window, and being a fry lover, I had to go 

over and give it a try.  Now I am hooked!  Juicy

carne asada steak, atop crispy fries smothered

in melted cheese

 and finished off with pico de gallo, guacamole,

and sour cream!  What's not to love right?

Well, wasn't I surprised when I looked up 

Carne Asada Fries and found they were a very

popular dish all over San Diego.  Who knew?  I

just thought someone at Betos was being creative!!!

Well, you know me, I had to give it a try at home.

Now we can have them anytime!  (And the family loves

them just as much as I do!)

Beware - these are highly addictive!

Start with a layer of french fries.  I like to use

frozen fries cooked at 375 degrees until crispy.  Drain.

 After the fries have been cooked until crispy and drained,

sprinkle a generous amount of cheese on top and

place in a 300 degree oven until the cheese melts.

Meanwhile, cook up some marinated carne asada.  You 

can make your own marinade and place some flank

steak in it, or we found this at Costco, already marinated

and ready to grill.  It is yummy, if you store has it,

or HEB in Texas has it too (I even brought some

home from Texas.)

Remove it from the grill and chop it up.

This is all a bit tricky to have going on at the same

time, so if you can get someone to help with the fries

while you do the carne asada, that helps a lot.  You want both

of them hot and ready at the same time.

Now smother those cheese topped fries with juicy, warm,

carne asada.  And I mean really cover them!  People

will be fighting over the carne asada.

Garnish with homemade pico de gallo,

homemade guacamole,

and fresh sour cream.  Finish

 with a sprinkling of chopped cilantro.

Carne Asada Fries Recipe

1 package frozen french fries 

Oil for frying

2-3 C. shredded cheddar cheese or cheddar blend

Pre-marinated Carne Asada meat

(you can make your own, but there is

just something about the pre-marinated

that permeates the beef - it is amazing!)

Pico de Gallo

Fresh Guacamole

Sour Cream

Cilantro

Fry and drain the french fries.  Cover with

cheese and melt in a 300 degree oven.  Grill

and chop the carne asada.  Pile the chopped

beef on the cheese covered fries.  Garnish with

pico, guacamole, sour cream and cilantro.

Pico de Gallo Recipe

6 Roma tomatoes, chopped finely

1/2 large sweet onion, chopped finely

1/2 fresh jalapeno pepper, chopped super finely

1/3 bunch cilantro, chopped finely

Juice of 2 limes

1 tsp. garlic salt

Mix everything together in a non-metal bowl.

Let sit for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors

blend.  Refrigerate any unused pico.

Purist Guacamole Recipe

4 ripe avocados

Juice of 1 1/2 - 2 limes 

3/4 - 1 tsp. garlic salt

Peel and mash the avocados in a bowl.

Stir in the lime juice and garlic salt.

Taste to adjust seasoning, depending upon

the size of the avocados.  We don't like anything

additional in our guacamole.  This way you

taste the pure avocado.

 Have everyone gather around and dig in!

Spoon a generous portion out on your plate,

and you will be in love with Carne Asada Fries, just like

we, and all of San Diego are.

Hurry up, because this yummy dish goes quickly!

I will be posting with 

Foodie Friday