Fajitas | FerrariChat

Fajitas

Discussion in 'Drink, Smoke, and Fine Dining' started by GatorFL, Feb 4, 2012.

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  1. GatorFL

    GatorFL Moderator
    Moderator Owner

    Nov 18, 2005
    16,965
    Wellington, FL
    Full Name:
    Duane
    Hopefully some FChatters can chime in with some wisdom. I make steak or chicken fajitas once a month or so. I buy a pouch of powdered marinade from Whole Foods and marinate a 1-lbish skirt steak or a bnoeless chicken breast for a few hours. I grill it over charcoal with some mesquite chunks thrown on the coals. While that is grilling I saute up some sliced red and green bell peppers and a sliced red onion. Served with good flour tortillas. It comes out as good or better than fajitas you'd get at any Mexican restaurant around here. I've got a few questions.

    1. Are fajitas even real Mexican? I've been to Cali a bunch and the "real" tacos out there are loads better than the stuff we have here for the most part.

    2. Does anybody have any good homemade marinade recipes? The stuff I buy is good and I usually use cheap white wine as the liquid to mix up the spice packet.

    3. Any other suggestions? Is grilling ok or should I be using the flat top?

    Any suggestions would be appreciated. I like what I eat now but am looking to step it up a notch or two.
     
  2. powerpig

    powerpig F1 World Champ

    Oct 12, 2008
    11,078
    Huntsville, AL
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    Marinade: Squeeze a couple of limes into a blender. Add a small can of chipotle peppers with adobo sauce and some fresh chopped cilantro. Blend and marinade the meat for about one to four hours.

    Remove the meat and pat dry. Grill on high heat until done. A flat top won't give you the grilled flavor you want.

    I would also cut the mesquite with a bit of oak or hickory depending on the meat. Maybe a bit of apple for pork or fruitwood for chicken.
     
  3. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 15, 2006
    28,633
    Phoenix
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    AG
    1. I would say it's more Tex-Mex than traditional.

    In Austin, I could go to the store and buy pre-marinated fajita with chicken or beef. I haven't seen fajitas on the menus in AZ for a while though.
     
  4. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 20, 2003
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    Dirty Harry
    Gotta start with skirt steak. Just gotta.
     
  5. texasmr2

    texasmr2 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Oct 22, 2007
    22,232
    Houston
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    Gregg
    From all the info I have heard through the years of watching cooking shows and on the 'puter is that the fajita is Texas based from what the Vaqueros from the early 1900's in deep south Texas.

    As mentioned for 15yrs+ I have bought the pre-seasoned/marinated fajitas from the grocery store. Back in highschool though I worked at a place where we make everything fresh ie no packets and the marinated was the same for both beef and chicken (it was back in the late '70s and early '80s so...;) ) but fresh juices such as orange and pineapple were used along with 'Worstershistersherstershister' and basic spices.

    I have found that my fajitas never taste the same as a restaurants yet I have come too the conclusion it has all been about the cooking technique which MUST be a very hot charbroiler for a good crispy/dark cut.
     
  6. konatown

    konatown F1 Rookie

    Jul 16, 2009
    3,182
    Evansville, IN
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    Kyle Swickard
    Wtf mate, no garlic? His marinade plus 4-5 garlic cloves.
     
  7. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 11, 2008
    106,145
    Vegas baby
    The Fajita is as "Mexican" as the Burrito! :)

    I love both BTW but my waistline doesn't!
     
  8. joker57676

    joker57676 Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 12, 2005
    23,767
    Sin City
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    Deplorie McDeplorableface
    Actually, chicken fajitas can be done without many calories, but still a lot of flavor. Just don't use much oil when doing the peppers/onions and you'll cut out a lot of excess calories.

    Mark
     
  9. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 15, 2006
    28,633
    Phoenix
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    AG
    The burrito is Mexican. It's not the same ingredients, but it originated in Mexico.
     
  10. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

    Jun 4, 2008
    33,571
    NJ
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    Rich
    Correct. And the Fajita is (by all accounts) Tex-Mex - estimated to exist as far back as the 30's originating in Texas.
     
  11. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Feb 2, 2004
    72,452
    Cloud-9
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    Jason
    That sounds good!
     
  12. texasmr2

    texasmr2 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Oct 22, 2007
    22,232
    Houston
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    Gregg
    +1

    Jason,
    Maybe not this weekend but the next we should try that recipe?

    Gregg

    ps, We could envite a few Fchat friends and of course any single women you or they may know ;) !!
     

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