Carne Asada
Carne Asada
Serves 6
Gluten-Free and Free From the Top 8 Allergens
This versatile and flavorful Latin American dish literally translates to “grilled meat”. We like it cooked medium-rare and served with my Grilled Corn and Avocado Salad (recipe coming) or cooked medium for soft tacos (see note below).
For tender results, look for flap steak in Latino markets or request it from your butcher. As an alternate, skirt steak is an excellent thin cut that comes in strips, which marinate easily and are perfect for searing over the barbecue.
4 garlic cloves
1 jalapeno or serrano chili pepper, roughly chopped
½ cup firmly-packed fresh cilantro leaves
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp chili powder
½ tsp salt, plus additional as needed
freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup fresh-squeezed lime juice (2 limes)
¼ cup fresh-squeezed orange juice (1 orange)
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp honey
½ cup olive oil
2 lbs flap steak or skirt steak
1. For the marinade, turn food processor on and drop in garlic then chili pepper to finely chop. Turn processor off, add cilantro and pulse a few times until chopped. Add cumin, oregano, chili powder, ½ teaspoon salt and a few turns of pepper and turn processor on. With machine running pour in juices, vinegar and honey. Slowly add oil in a steady stream until pureed.
2. Put steak in a shallow ceramic or glass baking dish. Add marinade and turn steak to evenly coat on all sides. Cover and refrigerate 1-8 hours.
3. Heat grill to high and brush grates with oil.
4. Remove meat from marinade letting excess drip off. Lightly season both sides of meat with salt and pepper. Grill 3-4 minutes per side, lid closed, for medium rare. A thermometer inserted horizontally into the steak should read 140ºF and it will have a deep pink center. For medium, cook 1-2 minutes more, lid closed, to obtain a light pink center.
5. Remove meat to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes. Thinly slice against the grain.
Soft Tacos: Heat 12 gluten-free soft corn tortillas on grill, 30 seconds per side. Double up tortillas on 6 plates and top with cooked Carne Asada strips. Garnish with condiments of choice, such as minced white onion, dairy-free cheese alternative shreds, pico de gallo or salsa, shredded lettuce, guacamole or diced avocado and coarsely chopped cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
Carne Asada © 2014 by Cybele Pascal
This recipe first appeared in the Summer 2014 issue of Allergic Living Magazine
Maple Berry Gluten Free Crisp
This allergy free old-fashioned favorite is the perfect red white and blue dessert for your Memorial Day BBQ, or your 4th of July picnic! It’s seasonal and colorful, and good for you too. Not only is it free of all top 8 allergens, making it safe for most everyone, it’s also gluten-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free. But as my friend Rach once said after baking one of my crisps, “Who needs gluten?” You won’t miss out on anything with this healthful indulgence. It’s perfect for breakfast, snack, teatime, or dessert. Dig in!
Allergy Free Maple Berry Crisp
Make 8 Servings
6 cups fresh berries (I use half blueberries, half strawberries)
½ cup maple syrup
2 Tablespoons cornstarch or tapioca starch
2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 ¼ cups Authentic Foods GF Classical Blend, or my Basic Gluten-Free Flour Mix
¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
pinch of salt
¾ cup maple sugar
1 cup gluten-free old-fashioned oats
½ cup plus 2 Tablespoons dairy-free, soy-free vegetable shortening
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 11×7-inch baking dish.
Combine berries, cutting strawberries in half if large.
Drizzle berries with maple syrup, toss gently, and then sprinkle with cornstarch and lemon juice. Toss gently to combine. Transfer to baking dish.
Combine flour mix, xanthan gum, salt and maple sugar. Whisk together. Toss in oats.
Melt the shortening (about 30 seconds in the microwave does it) and drizzle into the flour mixture, stirring gently to combine until the consistency of a course granola. Use your fingers to clump it together. Spread the crumble topping evenly over the fruit.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes until topping is golden and fruit is bubbling up around the edges. Transfer to a cooling rack and let rest at least 30 minutes before serving. Store any leftovers (as if!) covered at room temperature.
Allergy-Free Maple Berry Crisp © 2011 by Cybele Pascal
(Please note that all my recipes are completely free of all top allergens (wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, fish, shellfish, and gluten), so as many people as possible can enjoy them. Additionally, all the ingredients are available at Whole Foods, and online at Amazon.com. If you have trouble finding something, let me know and I’ll help you find it.)
SAFETY NOTE: Because each person’s food sensitivity and reaction is unique, ranging from mild intolerance to life-threatening and severe food allergies, it is up to the consumer to monitor ingredients and manufacturing conditions. If manufacturing conditions, potential cross contact between foods, and ingredient derivatives pose a risk for you, please re-read all food labels and call the manufacturer to confirm potential allergen concerns before consumption. Ingredients and manufacturing practices can change overnight and without warning.
Allergy Friendly Friday Memorial Day BBQ
First of all, I’d like to give a big shout out to my brother Dylan and sister-in-law Thanya who welcomed their second son, Bodhi Zeppelin Chivian two days ago! He was born almost a month early, but is as handsome as can be!
I don’t think my parents understand that this child’s middle name comes from a rock band, not something that flies in the air. Will have to clarify! At least I think that’s what he’s named after… Further investigation required.
Well, we all know what’s coming next weekend, right? Memorial Day! Yay, fire up those grills, people, it’s time for our Allergy-Friendly BBQ! Come share your allergy-friendly and/or gluten-free picnic and BBQ recipes here on Allergy-Friendly Friday. We will be running our Allergy Friendly Memorial Day BBQ linky party for TWO WEEKS, since it’s a three day weekend, and there’s a lot more time for cooking. So feel free to share two recipes. Come back for highlights on June 1st!
Thanks again for sharing your recipe links here. Some highlights from last week’s Allergy-Friendly Friday Mother’s Day roundup were:
- Modern Day Milk and Cookies from Fresh4Five
- Laureen’s Fabulous Fresh Fruit Salad from Fox in the Kitchen
- Protein Waffles from Sweetly Raw
- Khandvi Chickpea Flour Rollups from Hobby and More (more…)