Carne Asada

I found this recipe because I needed a way to revive about 5 pounds of grilled chicken that was so dry - it was like swallowing sandpaper.  This is spicy hot but oh so good.  It reminded me of food on the River Walk in San Antonio.


Carne Asada
4 strips bacon
4-5 pounds chuck roast
14 1/2 ounces diced tomatoes
1 can chipotle chile's in adobo sauce
1 onion, finely minced
1 jalapeno - seeded and minced
3 Tablespoons chili powder
3-4 teaspoons cumin
4 garlic cloves, grated fine
4 cups water
4 teaspoons brown sugar


Fry the bacon strips until crisp.  Drain on paper towels and reserve the bacon fat.  Cut the chuck roast into 1 inch pieces.  Add 1 Tablespoon bacon fat back into the dutch oven and brown the chuck roast cubes in batches - so each piece is browned on all sides.  This will take 10-15 minutes.  In the meantime in a food processor or blender combine the diced tomatoes and chipotle chili's together until it is smooth.  


Remove the meat and add the 2 more Tablespoons of the bacon fat and soften the onion and jalapeno pepper.  When the onion is completely softened and starting to brown, add the chili powder and cumin.  Add the grated garlic cloves.  Cook just until you smell the garlic.  Add 4 cups of water and the brown sugar.  Add the meat back in and cut the bacon up into small pieces.  Add it back into the pot.  Add the diced tomato and chipotle mixture, stirring well.  Simmer for 1 hour with a lid on.  Remove the lid and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour more until thickened and the meat is tender.  If it is not to the thickness you want, then add 2 Tablespoons Jiffy corn muffin mix to some of the broth, blend it will and then add it back into to the pot.  Serve in bowls like chile or serve on tortillas.  


Note:  I made this with the leftover chicken breast instead of beef and I intended to make taco salads with it.  The dry chicken breast soaked up the juice of this and it came out moist and delicious but really just a shredded spicy chicken.  However since I put out the salad fixings with tortilla chips - what happened on many of the mens plates were what I would call Super Nachos.  They were meat, refried beans, cheese and guacamole on each chip with salad on the side.  It was a hit no matter how you looked at it.