Homemade Carne Asada Fries

What are Carne Asada Fries?

Basically the world’s best nachos on french fries. They are a local specialty found on menus in restaurants in the American Southwest and originating in San Diego. We served homemade cane asada fries at all of my launch parties because Lucy, Marco and Mollie order some one evening after hacking into the mayor’s memories.

“While they gorged on fries with grilled steak chunks smothered with with guacamole, sour cream and cheese, Phil came home from his lecture. Mollie still hadn’t told him about her new hacking hobby so they talked about everything but what they were most interested in.” —Deleted

Carne asada fries are easy to make. The passage above is almost recipe enough. But I’m going to give you a few more details so you can make this San Diego specialty at home. At the party and for family dinner I like to serve this buffet style, that way people can choose how spicy they want their fries and vegetarians can make their own meatless version. Depending on your dicing skills you should be able to prep this meal in about 30 minutes.

Super Easy Homemade Carne Asada Fries

1 pound Carne Asada Meat from Trader Joe’s*

1 package Frozen French Fries from Trader Joe’s

2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded

2 tomatoes diced

1/2 cup onion diced

2 Tablespoons cilantro diced

1 lime

pinch sugar

Kosher salt

Pickled jalapeños

sour cream

Hot sauce of your choice

Bake the fries according to package directions plus five minutes longer. (I like them extra crispy so they don’t get too soggy when you pile on all the good stuff.)

While fries bake cook the meat according to the package instructions. While the meat cooks prepare a mild pico de gallo by combining the tomatoes, cilantro and tomatoes and the juice of a half a lime, add a pinch of salt and pinch of sugar.

Next, prep a basic guacamole by mashing up two perfect** avocados adding the juice of 1/2 a lime and seasoning with kosher salt.

Cut cooked meat up into bite size bits. When the fries are done. Add the shredded cheese and cook for another five minutes.

To serve set up a buffet with cheese fries, steak, pico de gallo, guacamole, jalapeños, sour cream, and hot sauce. Let each person assemble their own carne asada fries. Enjoy!

*Other grocery stores sell pre-marinated carne asada meat. I just like Trader Joe’s and after doing a taste taste I found Trader Joe’s fries were the best with this recipe. (Okay, homemade fries are even better but we can’t always be fancy like that.) Obviously, this recipe would work with other fries and other carne asada meat.

**An avocado is ripe when you gently press on its skin and your finger leaves a slight indent. No indent means not quite ready; deep indent means its mucky and brown inside.