Description
A flavorful Carne Asada Fries recipe featuring marinated skirt steak, crispy baked fries topped with melted cheddar cheese, fresh tomato, jalapeños, red onion, and a creamy sour cream finish. Perfect for a satisfying meal with a delicious Mexican-inspired twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade and Steak
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice (from about 3 limes)
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice (from ½ orange)
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 1½ tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- 1 pound skirt steak (trimmed)
Fries and Toppings
- 26 ounces frozen french fries (1 bag)
- 2 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 roma tomato (diced)
- 1-2 jalapeños (sliced)
- ¼ red onion (chopped)
- ½ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Prepare Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, lime juice, orange juice, canola oil, brown sugar, minced garlic, cumin, and black pepper. Season the mixture with kosher salt to taste to balance the flavors.
- Marinate Steak: Place the skirt steak in a gallon-sized Ziplock bag and pour the marinade over it. Squeeze out the excess air and seal the bag tightly. Massage the marinade into the meat ensuring full coverage. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 10 hours, flipping the bag occasionally to redistribute marinade.
- Prepare Steak for Cooking: Remove the marinated steak from the refrigerator 15-30 minutes before cooking to bring it to room temperature. Pat the steak dry with paper towels to remove excess marinade which helps achieve a better sear.
- Cook Steak: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and brush it with 1 teaspoon of canola oil until it is sizzling hot. Place the steak carefully in the pan and cook for 6-8 minutes total, flipping once after about 3 minutes or when the meat naturally releases from the pan. The steak should develop a char on both sides and reach an internal temperature of 128-130°F for medium-rare.
- Rest and Slice Steak: Transfer the cooked steak to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes to retain juices. Slice the steak thinly against the grain into strips and set aside.
- Bake Fries: Preheat the oven and arrange frozen fries evenly on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Bake according to package instructions, usually about 10-15 minutes, until crisp and golden.
- Add Cheese and Melt: Remove the fries from the oven and sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Assemble Carne Asada Fries: Top the cheesy fries with sliced carne asada, diced tomato, sliced jalapeños, chopped red onion, and dollops of sour cream. Serve immediately for a delicious and hearty meal.
Notes
- Using low-sodium soy sauce helps control the overall saltiness of the dish.
- Allowing the steak to marinate longer intensifies the flavor but a minimum of 2 hours is sufficient.
- Patting the steak dry before cooking ensures a better sear and prevents steaming.
- You can adjust jalapeño quantity based on your spice preference.
- For crispier fries, ensure they are spread evenly and not crowded on the baking sheet.
