Beef Fajitas
In short: Skirt steak marinated in lime, garlic and cumin, seared hot and sliced thin, served with charred peppers and onions in warm tortillas. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 660 kcal
Fajitas are a Tex-Mex favorite built around skirt steak, a flavorful cut that responds well to a quick marinade and a very hot fire. Here the meat soaks in lime, garlic and cumin for a few hours, then sears briefly on a grill or in a cast-iron skillet. Slice it thin against the grain and pile it into warm tortillas with charred peppers and onions. Set out the toppings and let everyone build their own.
Instructions
- Whisk the lime juice, oil, garlic, cumin, chili powder, paprika, oregano, salt and pepper in a dish. Add the steak, turn to coat and refrigerate for 2 to 6 hours. Longer than that and the lime starts to soften the meat.
- Heat a grill to high, or heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat until it just starts to smoke.
- Lift the steak out of the marinade and let the excess drip off. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until a thermometer reads 63°C (145°F). Move it to a board and rest for 10 minutes.
- Toss the peppers and onion with the oil and salt. Cook them over high heat for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring, until charred at the edges but still a little crisp.
- Slice the steak thinly across the grain, cutting at a slight angle.
- Warm the tortillas in a dry skillet for 20 seconds per side. Serve the steak and vegetables in the tortillas with the toppings.
Tips
- Skirt steak has a long, visible grain, so cut across it or the meat will be chewy. Flank steak is a good substitute and needs 1 to 2 minutes longer per side.
- Chicken thighs or large shrimp take the same marinade. Cook chicken until it reaches 74°C (165°F). Shrimp need only 30 minutes in the marinade and about 2 minutes per side on the heat.
Questions and answers
Can I marinate fajita steak overnight?
It is better not to. Lime juice starts to break down the meat's texture after 6 to 8 hours, so marinate for 2 to 6 hours for the best result.
What does the word fajita mean?
Fajita is Spanish for a little belt or strip, a nickname for skirt steak. Today the word is used for any grilled strips served in tortillas.
How do I get a good sear on fajitas at home?
Heat a cast-iron skillet until it is nearly smoking, cook in batches so the pan stays hot, and pat the steak lightly dry before it goes in.
How long does it take to make Beef Fajitas?
About 45 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Beef Fajitas?
About 660 kcal per serving, with 42 g of protein, 52 g of carbohydrates and 32 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 660 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 42 g |
| Carbohydrates | 52 g |
| Fat | 32 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 1300 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
