Carne Asada Loaded Fries

French fries are the classic American side-dish. In the Southwest, there's not much better than carne asada fresh off the grill. In this recipe, we bring these two comfort foods together and IT IS AMAZING!

Casa M Spice Co® Cattle Drive® lends its flavors to the carne asada with black pepper, hints of garlic, paprika and dried chilies. Casa M Spice Co® Chain Reaction® adds bright spicy flavor to the fresh cut fries. Layered on top is just about anything you like! We layered cheese, fresh pico de gallo, plenty of lime juice, and our homemade Chimichurri sauce. Add sour cream and guacamole and you have a serious winner.

Carne asada originates from Mexico but the loaded fries version comes from California. Chimichurri sauce is common in Argentina where it is hugely popular served over beef. These carne asada loaded fries bring you flavors from all over!

We made the fries for this recipe from scratch because once you learn to make them exactly how you like them, there’s just no going back! Of course, feel free to get frozen ones at your local grocery store, it’s definitely a time saver!

As always, from our table to yours... #SpiceConfidently #EssenceOfFlavor #ChemistryInTheKitchen #CasaMSpice

ingredients

FOR THE FRIES

3 Pounds russet potatoes (or store-bought French fries)
Oil for frying, enough to have about 1 inch in a skillet
1/4 Tablespoon Casa M Spice Co® Chain Reaction®
Salt to taste

FOR THE STEAK

1 Pound sirloin steak, thin cut
1 Tablespoon Casa M Spice Co® Cattle Drive®

CHIMICHURRI SAUCE

1 ½ Bunches of fresh cilantro
1 Bunch of curly leaf parsley
1/2 Teaspoon dried oregano
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
1/3 cup olive oil
1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 Teaspoon fresh lime juice; more to taste
1/2 Teaspoon Casa M Spice Co® Chain Reaction®

EXTRA TOPPINGS

Mexican blend shredded cheese
Cojita cheese, grated
Pico de gallo
Sour cream
Guacamole
Fresh lime juice
Onion, chopped
Green chiles, dices
Cilantro, chopped

Any toppings you like to make it your own!

FEATURED QUOTE

- Mike Hernandez

LET’S GET COOKING

Preparing the fries:
We opted to make our own fries by hand, but if you prefer, frozen fries from the grocery store work fine.
1.
Start by peeling the potatoes. Quarter the potatoes lengthwise, this helps by giving you nice flat sides that are easier to handle. Slice the quarters to your preferred thickness, then turn the quarter onto its other flat side and do the same again.
2.
Place your fresh cut fries in a bowl with water and refrigerate. Why? Soaking your fries in water removes excess starch, which helps keep fries from sticking together. Dropping the temperature allows the inside to cook more slowly, allowing the outside to cook longer for maximum crispness.
For the Chimichurri sauce:
3.
Combine the cilantro, parsley, oregano, and garlic in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
4.
Scrape the mixture into a bowl and stir in the olive oil, vinegar, lime juice, and Casa M Spice Co® Chain Reaction®.
For the Carne Asada:
5.
Season beef with 1 tablespoon Casa M Spice Co® Cattle Drive® on each side and salt to taste.
6.
Lightly oil a skillet with olive oil. Sear beef for about 4 minutes on each side.
7.
Let beef sit for about 7 minutes. Chop into small pieces right before serving. These steak bites will top the fries.
Frying the fries:
If you opted for store-bought fries, skip this section and follow the steps on the package.
8.
When taking the fries out of the water, be sure to place them on a paper towel lined plate and pat as dry as you can. This help prevent splatter while cooking.
9.
Set a deep skillet with about 1 inch of oil over medium heat.
10.
Heat oil to 325° degrees. Test by adding one fry to the oil, it should sizzle and begin to fry when oil is hot enough.
11.
Add the fries slowly, move them around so that they lay in a single layer as much as possible. Try not to move fries until you see that there is a bit of gold starting to show.
12.
After that, you can stir them around until they are as golden as you’d like and cooked through. If you like EXTRA crisp fries, take them out when they just start to turn golden and allow them to cool. After the initial fry, turn your heat up to medium-high and fry them a second time until golden brown.
Assembling the Carne Asada loaded fries:
13.
Arrange the French fries in a serving dish. Sprinkle with Casa M Spice Co® Chain Reaction® and salt to taste. Top with the carne asada and grated cheese.
14.
If your fries or steak have cooled, place in oven at 350° degrees for 5 to 10 minutes until cheese begins to melt.
15.
Add any other toppings you like.
16.
Top with the Chimichurri sauce last. Enjoy!