How Chipotle's Carne Asada Differs From Its Normal Steak (2024)

FAQs

How Chipotle's Carne Asada Differs From Its Normal Steak? ›

Ultimately, both Chipotle's steak option and its carne asada come from its hormone and antibiotic-free beef. The cut and seasonings are what set the two apart. The carne asada is seasoned with spices like cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper, as well as lime juice and finely chopped cilantro.

The classic Chipotle steak additionally features chipotle pepper, which consists of fully ripened jalapeños that are smoked and dried. On the other hand, the carne asada introduces a zestier taste from a squeeze of lime, fresh cilantro, and coriander.

The steak gets its flavor from a combination of chipotle chili, black pepper, cumin, garlic, and oregano, which form an adobo sauce, a self-identified former Chipotle employee revealed on a Reddit thread.

WHAT IS CARNE ASADA? This tender steak is hand-seasoned with our signature blend of spices, finished with fresh lime juice and cilantro, hand-sliced before serving, and grilled fresh every day in small batches. Our steak has high standards—in how it's raised, prepared, and served.

Carne asada literally translates to "grilled beef," and, at its simplest, it can be no more than a steak, seasoned with salt and pepper, cooked over a hot fire.

How is chipotle steak so tender? Chipotle tenderizes their steak by cooking it sous vide. The steak is vacuum-sealed in a bag and cooked in a water bath at a consistent temperature to lock in moisture. Then it's marinated overnight.

Our steak, meanwhile, comes from all over: bottom rounds, top rounds, eye of rounds, inside round, outside round, sirloin, knuckle, ball tip, and sirloin top. You get the picture. Lots of rounds. These cuts hold up to the heat of the grill, giving each bite a nicely charred outside and a perfect medium-rare inside.

A 4-ounce serving of carne asada nets 250 calories, 14 grams of total fat, 90 milligrams of cholesterol, 740 milligrams of sodium, and contains 1 gram of carbs. The same serving size accounts for 29 grams of protein, and it is a good source of vitamin A, accounting for 60% of a recommended daily diet.

The marinade ingredients are fresh orange and lime juice, chipotle peppers, onion, garlic, and spices. The longest part is waiting for the steak to marinate, but the results it worth it.

Skirt steak is the cut of choice for carne asada throughout Southern California and it's my favorite too. But if you can't find it, you can substitute flap, flank, hanger, or top round (London broil). Skirt is the flattest of the cuts, so it doesn't take long to marinate or cook.

Why is carne asada special? ›

Think of it as like how Americans refer to chicken cooked on the grill as grilled or barbecued chicken. Before and after grilling, the beef is marinated in traditional Mexican spices like jalapeno, garlic, and cilantro plus lime juice and salt, creating the flavor that everyone knows and loves today.

“Carne” means meat in Spanish and usually refers to beef. “Carne asada” means grilled meat and it can really be any cut of beef you prefer. It is marinated in citrus and Mexican spices, and can be used for a wide range of Mexican dishes!

Their key flavor differences come from the type of meat they're made with, and the spices and seasonings Chipotle uses to jazz them up. Both types offer slowly braised and shredded meat, but carnitas are made from pork and a bit sweeter while barbacoa is made from beef and is spicier.

"Add your choice of meat, preferably chicken or steak, as these are the leanest options. Top with more lettuce, salsa, and guacamole," she suggests. The result: a tasty yet healthy Chipotle bowl that checks off all your dietary requirements.

Chipotle has earned “A” grades in each of the three years the study has been conducted. “We began serving meat from animals raised without antibiotics in 1999 and continue to be a leader in this area today,” said Steve Ells , founder, chairman and CEO at Chipotle.

Both of these are more like traditional steak, but “Asada” will be grilled, served as a whole steak or sliced for fajitas. Picada will be cooked into something a little saucier. Carne asada is also a more common dish with lots of recipes to choose from.