Name of Spanish Food Beef Skirt Steak

It is madness how quickly summer is flying by.  I mean how is it August already? I won't panic quite yet and trust that there are still plenty of sunny, long, breezy summer days ahead to enjoy. As the days are still searing hot, no one wants to spend time indoors fussing with pots and pans to make dinner. Though I typically take real pleasure in home cooking, the goal for now is to spend less time in the kitchen and more in a lounge chair. Simple and indulgent, this grilled skirt steak encebollado, which cooks in 6 minutes or less, allows you to do just that.

WHAT IS SKIRT STEAK ENCEBOLLADO

This recipe is inspired by the bistec encebollado (marinated beef with onions) I grew up eating and most Latin American countries have some version of it. The word Bistec in Spanish commonly refers to a beef filet or tenderloin. Encebollado means cooked, and topped, with onions. To make bistec encebollado,the meat is typically pounded thin, marinated with vinegar and spices, then quickly seared in a pan along with sliced onions. Other versions will stew the meat with the onions for about 1 hour. I adore every single version of bistec encebollado.

In this recipe, however, I like to use skirt steaks which are nice and thin and cook really fast. I also eliminate the step of marinating the meat, opting instead for aggressively seasoning it just prior to grilling it over very high heat. This method -- grilling without marinating -- likely leans more towards the Argentinian way of cooking skirt steak. I love it because it makes for a very quick and delightful dinner you can throw together in a flash. The steaks will still be extraordinarily tender and flavourful with the addition of the onions and punchy lime juice once the steaks are cooked.

A bit about the onions. The onions play a very important role in this recipe so do not leave them out. It is the onions that add a bold and fantastic flavour to the steaks once sliced. If you are cooking the steak in a pan, use the same pan to cook the onions while the steak rest. The onions will take only 6-7 minutes to cook, they should be soft but retain a bit of crispiness.

WHAT IS SKIRT STEAK

Skirt steak is a long, thin, flat steak that is relatively lean and deeply full-flavoured. This cut of beef is the most popular in Hispanic countries, especially in Argentina. It is also the classic cut of meat for fajitas at most restaurants.

Skirt steak is a relatively inexpensive cut and when cooked properly it is downright delicious. Unfortunately, it is not as readily available as flank steak so you have to seek it out a bit. A lot of butchers will keep it in the back so you have to ask for it. In my area I find really great skirt steak here. Most Whole Food Markets also stock it.

HOW TO COOK SKIRT STEAK

TIPS FOR COOKING SKIRT STEAK

• Always let the skirt steak come to room temperature before cooking it. Because skirt steak is so thin this should only take about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Pat the skirt steak dry with a paper towel, this allows the steak to nicely crisp and brown on the outside.
• Oil the steaks, not the pan, to avoid excessive splatters and smoke.
• As with any steak, once you lay it down on the grill or pan you do not want to disturb it so you get a nice sear.
• Do not overcook the skirt steak or it will be too tough. I have never cooked a skirt steak longer than 3 minutes a side and it is perfect every time.
• Let it rest 5-10 minutes before slicing so the juices have time to redistribute.
• Skirt steaks are sold really long, as seen in the grilling photo above. Before cooking the steaks, feel free to cut them down to more manageable pieces, especially if pan-searing.

This recipe requires no expertise and will have you in and out of the kitchen in less than half an hour -- perfect to embark on at the end of a long working day or for a weekend when that lounge chair is calling. Summer, and life in general, is too short to be fiddling with complicated recipes. With a long weekend ahead, I hope you grab some skirt steaks, cook only a little, lounge a lot, and stay safe my friends.

Grilled Skirt Steak Encebollado

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Servings: 4 - 6

• 2 pounds skirt steaks cut into 3 equal pieces, if necessary*
• 2 - 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 large red onion or white, cut into ¼-inch slices
• 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 large lime juiced

• Pat the steaks dry with paper towels and heat grill to high. Rub both sides of steaks with olive oil, and season generously with salt and pepper.

• Place steaks on hot grill and leave undisturbed for 3 minutes. Flip steaks to other side and cook an additional 2-3 minutes for medium-rare. Remove steaks to cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes.

• While steaks rest, place a large a skillet over medium-high heat. Drizzle onion slices with 2 tablespoons olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Add the onions to the skillet turning occasionally until slightly softened and browned about 6-7 minutes. (See notes to cook onions on grill**).

• Thinly slice meat across the grain and place on a large platter. Top the steak slices with onions and drizzle with lime juice over top. Serve immediately.

*Skirt steaks are sold really long. Before cooking the steaks, feel free to cut them down to more manageable pieces, especially if pan-searing.

**Alternatively, you can cook the onions on the grill; while the steaks rest, place onions on hot grill, until just slightly charred and softened, 2-3 minutes per side.

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Source: https://www.sandravalvassori.com/grilled-skirt-steak-encebollado/

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