My Favorite Food

My Favorite Food

Food is more than just nutrients we consume for energy, rather it’s what cheers us up on our sad days, it’s what we use to socialize, and it’s what we use to express ourselves. There are millions of types of foods, but we all have that one specific meal that stands above the rest. It’s a source of joy and happiness that satisfies every ounce of our body and makes us feel whole. We don’t alter this meal in any way because it’s perfect just the way it is and any adjustment would be an injustice. My favorite food and source of happiness is a traditional carne asada taco.

Carne Asada is the centerpiece to this masterpiece; without the meat, these are just plain, old tacos. It needs to be a skirt steak marinated with smoked chipotle peppers, lime juice, onions, cilantro, garlic, orange zest, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika to develop the perfect, savory flavors to star in the taco. You can’t just throw this taco on a grill and call it a day. It must be cooked perfectly in order to reach the perfect tenderness and harness all the flavors within. The carne asada must be cooked on a searing hot cast iron skillet or charcoal barbeque for two minutes on each side, in order to develop the perfect crust with a medium inside. It’s important to let the meat rest for five minutes after cooking so that the meat fibers can rest and reabsorb all the juices. Once the meat has rested, it’s time to chop the meat into small half-inch cubes. Now that you have the perfect carne asada for your taco, it’s time to worry about all the other components of this masterpiece.

Every part of this taco plays a crucial role and surrounding pieces are just as important, if not more important than the carne asada.  A white corn tortilla crisped on a plancha or griddle serves as the perfect tortilla to encase all the fillings of the taco. Diced white onions are the most important textural component of taco because without them the taco wouldn’t have a crunchy component. On top of the onions, chopped cilantro serves as the perfect flavor enhancer, as it brings the steak and onions together. The taco still needs a source of acidity, therefore it’s crucial to squeeze a little bit of fresh lime juice on top to cut through the fattiness of the carne asada. The final component is optional, but I highly recommend a few drops of Marie Sharpe’s Habanero Hot Sauce. This hot sauce serves as the perfect condiment and marries all the parts of the taco. There are no words to explain the beauty, simplicity, and taste of this taco. This taco is by far my favorite food in the entire world.