Photo Credit: jorono/Pixabay
As a kid, I was fortunate enough to get to know my Ecuadorian roots through food. One dish I’ve always treasured is churrasco. While originally from Brazil, it would come to be loved across South America and in Ecuador we give it our own special twist as you’ll see below. We also serve it with sides like rice, avocado, potatoes and plantains.
My parents come from the town of Pindilig in the mountainous region of Canar, south of Quito. The mountains nearby are famous for producing potatoes, which is around a 30 minute walk from town.
Growing up, my dad would make churrasco we like to call “the best carne asada” in our household. Its been a must-have whenever we bring out the grill, especially during summer cookouts. No wonder then, that for me the taste of churrasco is forever linked to family and Ecuador.
This is more than just a recipe. Even though i was born and raised in Hackensack, New Jersey, its a dish that links me to my roots. I will take it with me to share with future generations so they can have a part of Ecuadorian culture too. Its hard being American-Ecuadorian because of the language barrier and other differences. But food helps tie me to Ecuador and ensure I don’t feel any less Ecuadorian.
The ingredients to making this savory dish includes the following:
1 pound of beef rib short ribs or skirt steak
1 tablespoon of Salt
1 tablespoon of Goya’s perfect seasoning
1 tablespoon of seasoned salt
1/8 cup of lemon juice
1/8 cup of Goya’s Naranja agría- Bitter Orange Marinade
½ cup of Long Grain white rice
Potatoes
2 Gold potatoes
1/16 cup of diced tomatoes
1/16 of diced onions
1 tablespoon of Sazón Goya with coriander & annatto
Preparation:
Step 1: Combine all the seasonings to create a sort of marinade for the steak
Step 2: Get the grill started by creating a fire with hardwood and hardwood lump charcoal
Step 3: Place the steak on the grill and let it char for at least 1-3 minutes and then let it cook for another two minutes or it will burn
Step 4: Remove steak from the grill and enjoy!!
When it comes to churrasco, there are sides such as rice and potatoes that are must haves to every Ecuadorian dish. After, you can pour yourself a beverage of your choice, which in my case is Pepsi and washes down the churrasco perfectly.
Before:
After:
Katie Quintuna, Social Media Coordinator