Asado
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Asado is cuts of meat, usually beef, which are cooked on a grill (parrilla) or open fire. Asado is quite popular in the Pampa region of South America, and it is the traditional dish of Argentina, Uruguay and the Southern States of Brazil.
An Argentine asado typically has a sequence of meats presented by the asadero, or man making the asado. First are the chorizo, morcilla, chinchulines, mollejas and other organs. Sometimes these are served on a coal heated brasero. Then costillas or ribs are served. Next comes vacio (flank steak) and possibly pollo and chivito. An asado also includes bread, a simple salad of lettuce, tomato and onion and is accompanied by beer, wine and other beverages. Dessert is usually fresh fruit.
An asado can be made al asador, or a la parrilla. In the first case a fire is made on the ground or in a fire pit and is surrounded by metal crosses (asadors) which hold the entire carcass of an animal splayed open to receive the heat from the fire. In the second case, a fire is made and after the coals have formed, a grill (parrilla) is placed over with the meat to be cooked.
The meat for an asado is not marinated, the only preparation being the application of salt before and/or during the cooking period. Also, the heat and distance from the coals are controlled to provide a slow cooking. Further, grease from the meat is not encouraged to fall on the coals and create smoke which would adversely flavor the meat, indeed in some asados the area directly under the meat is kept clear of coals.
Chimichurri, a sauce of oregano, parsley and chilli, is the common accompaniment to an asado.
In Brazil, Asado is called Churrasco, and although the method of cooking is similar, charcoal is predominantly used instead of embers of wood, and Brazilians tend to cook the meat on skewers.
External link
- Sample recipe from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (http://abc.net.au/secretrecipes/families/argent4p.htm)
- Dinner at La Porteña, near Bs. As. (http://orbita.starmedia.com/~recipes_to_collect/articles/)
- The Carnivorous Country (http://www.affbrainwash.com/archives/007989.php)
- Café Columbus (http://www.pasqualinonet.com.ar/sobre_asado.htm) This article is half in Spanish, half in English.Template:Food-stub