Carne Asada Tortas

White bun piled with grilled flap meat, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and jalapeno slices

Carne asada is a delicious sliced grilled beef made with spices to marinate the meat before grilling. A torta is a Mexican sandwich usually served on a bolillo roll, a savory white roll that is crusty on the outside (we used a softer sandwich bun when we made our tortas).

Servings per Recipe: 6 sandwiches

Calories per Serving: 580

Prep Time: 25

Cook Time: 20

Marinating Time: 12

Total Time: 12 45

Ingredients

2 pounds beef flap meat

Marinade:

2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons paprika
1 ½ teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon ground ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ cup lime juice
3 tablespoons oil

For the sandwiches:

6 sandwich rolls, bolillo or French are most authentic
½ head shredded iceberg lettuce
½ recipe homemade guacamole
1 large tomato, sliced
8 ounces cotija cheese, crumbled (or shredded colby jack)
½ cup jalapeno slices
hot sauce, to taste

Instructions

Mince 2 garlic cloves.
Combine 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 ½ teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ½ cup lime juice, and minced garlic and mix well.
Place 2 pounds beef flap meat in a marinating dish. Pour marinade over meat, toss to coat, and let marinate overnight.
Grill meat until cooked to your preference. Let rest for ten minutes, then slice against the grain.
To assemble: Spread guacamole on the tops and bottoms of the rolls. Top bottom buns with meat followed by tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, jalapenos, and hot sauce. Gently press the top buns over the sandwich. Serve.

Notes

Flap meat is another name for a sirloin tip steak, and may also be referred to as “faux hanger.” It is an inexpensive cut of meat that is perfect for grilling, but if you can’t find flap meat you can substitute flank steak.

We used sandwich rolls for our tortas, but if you can find French rolls or bolillo, they are a more authentic style torta.

Nutrition