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4.8 from 18 votes

Short Ribs Carne Asada

I used boneless short ribs to make an awesome batch of Carne Asada -- then served it up in a quesadilla with Pico de Gallo and cheese -- yum!! 

Prep Time
1 hr
Cook Time
mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 448 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. boneless short ribs
  • 4 flour tortillas, burrito-sized
  • cheese (I used Jack)
  • olive oil
  • salt
For the marinade:
  • juice of 1 lime
  • juice of 1 orange
  • 4 peeled garlic cloves
  • 8-10 prigs cilantro (optional)
  • 2 de-stemmed jalapeños
  • 2 tablespoons Mexican oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • freshly cracked black pepper
For the Pico de Gallo (optional):
  • 4 plum tomatoes
  • 1 small onion
  • 2 jalapeños
  • 20-25 prigs cilantro
  • juice of 2 limes
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Give the boneless short ribs a sprinkling of salt on both sides.
  2. For the marinade, add the listed ingredients to a blender and combine well.
  3. Create a single layer of the meat in a casserole dish. Cover with the marinade and be sure to get some underneath as well. Cover with plastic and marinate in the fridge for an hour or so. 
  4. For the Pico de Gallo (optional), start by giving the tomatoes, jalapeno, and cilantro a good rinse. Peel the onion and de-stem the tomatoes and jalapenos. I usually twist off and discard the bottom, thicker portions of the cilantro stems, but keep the upper portion of the stems that hold the leaves together.
  5. Finely chop the tomatoes, onion, and jalapeno into 1/4" sized chunks. Finely dice the cilantro. For a milder version you can start by using only 1 of the jalapenos and adding more incrementally if you want more heat. Combine everything in a mixing bowl along with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and the juice of two limes. Mix together well and taste for seasoning. Add additional salt and lime if necessary (I added more salt to this batch).
  6. Preheat a grill or cast iron pan.  I used cast iron at just over medium heat and added a glug of oil to it.  Once the pan is piping hot, pat dry the meat and cook each piece for 2-3 minutes per side or to your desired temp.  Medium rare will be 130-135F but I cooked this batch towards well done to crisp up the edges.
  7. Let the cooked meat rest for a few minutes before slicing.  I usually cover it in some foil.  Cut against the grain into thin strips.   I cut these strips even further into bite-sized pieces. 
  8. To make a quesadilla, warm up a tortilla in a large, dry skillet over medium heat.  Add the chopped Carne Asada, some Pico de Gallo (but not too much liquid), and plenty of cheese to only half of the tortilla.  Fold onto itself and cook each side until crispy and golden brown.  Cut in half and serve immediately. 

Notes

  • I usually pat dry the cuts of meat after marinating.  Less moisture on the surface will help them char up quicker.
  • There is some leeway on the marinade, so if you don't have all the ingredients just go for it!  Alternatively, you can use this Express Carne Asada that relies on pure chile powders. 

Nutrition Information

Calories 448kcal (22%) Carbohydrates 24g (8%) Protein 26g (52%) Fat 28g (43%) Saturated Fat 7g (35%) Cholesterol 67mg (22%) Sodium 833mg (35%) Potassium 775mg (22%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 1384IU (28%) Vitamin C 23mg (26%) Calcium 111mg (11%) Iron 5mg (28%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 448

% Daily Value*

Calories 448kcal 22%
Carbohydrates 24g 8%
Protein 26g 52%
Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 67mg 22%
Sodium 833mg 35%
Potassium 775mg 16%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 1384IU 28%
Vitamin C 23mg 26%
Calcium 111mg 11%
Iron 5mg 28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.