Description
Carne en Palito is a flavorful Latin American street food featuring tender beef strips marinated in orange juice, garlic, and achiote, then grilled to perfection.
Ingredients
Units
- 1 lb (450 g) beef skirt, cut into long strips
- 2 tbsps (70ml) fresh orange juice
- 3 tbsps (105ml) vegetable oil
- 6 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tsps (5g) achiote (annatto) seeds
- 1 tsp (2.5g) ground cumin
- A pinch of salt
- Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
Instructions
- In a small frying pan, heat the vegetable oil over low heat for a couple of minutes. Add the achiote seeds and let them infuse the oil for 5 minutes, ensuring the heat remains low to avoid burning the seeds.
- Strain the oil to remove the seeds and let it cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, combine the beef strips with the infused oil, orange juice, crushed garlic, ground cumin, and a pinch of salt. Mix well to ensure the beef is evenly coated. Allow the beef to marinate for at least 30 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Thread the marinated beef strips onto the soaked wooden skewers.
- Grill the skewers for about 2 minutes on each side, or until the beef is cooked to your desired level of doneness and has a nice charred appearance.
- Serve immediately, garnished with additional orange slices or fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- For best results, soak the wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent them from burning on the grill.
- The achiote seeds give the oil a vibrant color and a subtle smoky flavor, essential for authentic taste.
- If you can’t find achiote seeds, you can substitute with paprika for color, though the flavor will differ.
- Serve with a side of fresh salad or grilled vegetables for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg