Pro Tips

**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**

- Brush the grill grates with oil before cooking to prevent the meat from sticking.

- Let grilled meat rest for 3-5 minutes after cooking so the juices redistribute evenly.

- Baste the meat with oil or marinade while grilling to keep it moist and flavorful.

- Skim excess fat from the surface of beef broth using a ladle or paper towel.

Cooking Tips

Slice beef against the grain for the most tender bite every time. Look for the long muscle fibers and cut perpendicular to them. For tough cuts like chuck or brisket, cook low and slow — low heat over a longer time breaks down collagen into rich, silky gelatin.

Ingredient Substitutions

Beef alternatives: For stews, pork shoulder or oxtail provide similar richness. For steaks, try portobello mushrooms or cauliflower steaks for a vegetarian twist. Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.

Storage & Reheating

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.

Carne Asada

Carne Asada

Metro Manila, International

Grilled marinated beef steak, charred on the outside and tender inside. A Latin-American-inspired dish popular in the Philippines.

Prep: 30 min Cook: 20 min Total: 50 min Medium Serves 12

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, garlic, cumin, cilantro, lime juice, salt, sugar, and pepper. Mix well.
  2. Add the skirt steak and coat with the mixture. Let it stay overnight.
  3. Heat-up your grill and then grill both sides of the steak until it turns medium rare. Do not grill for a long time so that the meat will not get tough.
  4. Remove the steak from the grill and then let it rest. Slice the Carne Asada into desired size.
  5. Serve as an ingredient of quesadilla, tacos, or burritos. You can even eat this with rice.

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Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**
- Brush the grill grates with oil before cooking to prevent the meat from sticking.
- Let grilled meat rest for 3-5 minutes after cooking so the juices redistribute evenly.
- Baste the meat with oil or marinade while grilling to keep it moist and flavorful.
- Skim excess fat from the surface of beef broth using a ladle or paper towel.

Cooking Tips

Slice beef against the grain for the most tender bite every time. Look for the long muscle fibers and cut perpendicular to them.
For tough cuts like chuck or brisket, cook low and slow — low heat over a longer time breaks down collagen into rich, silky gelatin.

Substitutions

Beef alternatives: For stews, pork shoulder or oxtail provide similar richness. For steaks, try portobello mushrooms or cauliflower steaks for a vegetarian twist.
Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.

Storage & Reheating

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious.
Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.
M

Chef Jun Mercado

Seafood, Grilling & Filipino Fusion

Chef Jun Mercado is a contributor to the UlamDaily editorial team. Trained at the Center for Culinary Arts in Manila, he spent a decade working in resort kitchens across Cebu, Palawan, and Boracay before joining our team to share seafood, grilling, and Filipino fusion recipes.

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