We’re lucky enough to live in Southern California and Carnicerias are everywhere. These Mexican style butcher shops have fantastic deals on meat and in particular, carne asada and pollo asada (chicken).  Our local shop has our meat preseasoned and ready for the grill.  $2.99/lb.  Now that’s what I call EZ!

Carne Asada:

Marinated Carne Asada meat (1.5 lbs) – $4.48
1 package corn tortillas – $.99

COST: $5.47

With BBQ grill on medium heat, lay meat flat and grill it up! Don’t over cook. It’s cut pretty thin. Once cooked, remove from grill and place on cutting board. Rock your knife over meat to chop up into small pieces. How small is your choice. Think of what would be good in a taco. You can warm your tortillas on the grill as well and place in a tortilla warmer or in a clean dish towel. They’ll stay moist and warm. Serve your asada on your warm tortilla with salsa fresca (see below for recipe)

Salsa Fresca:

4 Roma Tomato – 1.00
1 Yellow Onion – .35
1 Lemon – .25
1 Lime – .20
1-2 serrano chile or jalepeno – .10
Handful Cilantro (if you like it) – .25
Salt, Pepper & garlic powder to taste

COST: $2.15

Chop tomato and onion into small dices. Toss in medium glass bowl. Add all the juice of the lemons and lime to mixture. Dice up fresh chile pepper and add to bowl. Clean and chop a handful of Cilantro, toss it in and stir everything together. Be gentle. Add salt, pepper and maybe a little garlic powder to taste. Wow!

BONUS: Since avocado has been on sale in San Diego, 4 for $1! I mashed one up with some salt and added as a delicious and healthy side for the tacos.  A little tomato and lettuce garnish and there you have it.  Carne Asada tacos with all the fixings!

BONUS COST: $.75

Spanish Rice:

1 cup white rice – $.40
1 small can tomato sauce – $.33
1/4 diced onion – save some from your salsa
1 heaping Tbsp New Mexico Red Chile Powder – $.50
1 tsp Garlic Powder – pantry
1/2 tsp dried Oregano flake – pantry
1 Tbsp oil – pantry
2 cups water

COST: $1.23

Add dry rice to medium temp fry pan (make sure it’s one with a good lid). Add oil and brown rice.  Turn pan to medium high and brown your rice. See picture below for proper coloring. Make sure you are constantly stirring rice as it will burn if left unattended.

When rice is browned, add diced onion and stir. Remove from heat and add tomato sauce and water, stir and season with salt, garlic, pepper and oregano. Turn heat back up to high and bring to boil. Once boiling, stir and reduce to simmer for 5 mins or until water has reduced and you can see the tips of rice showing. Cover and turn to low simmer. Set timer for 20 mins and DO NOT lift lid till done. That’s it. Spanish Rice! Easy and yummy!

GRAND TOTAL: $9.55