Hello, my friends! And welcome to another post about Argentinian culture. Today, we’ll learn How to do a perfect Asado . Fasten (or unfasten) your belts, because this will make you mouth-watering. Let’s get started!
What is the Asado?
Firstly, let’s define the word. Asado means grilled. So, indeed, everything can be grilled, but when in Argentina people says Asado, it means, almost always, grilled beef. Listen to this song to get into the Asado mood.
So, now you know what Asado means as a word. But what Asado means as a ritual it’s very different. “Hacer un Asado” means not only to cook the beef with a specific method. It means to get together with people you like and spend the greatest time. It means to eat, but also to drink and to share and of course, to grill.
Having said this, you can perfectly go to a restaurant and order Asado, but what Asado means as an event it’s very different than just grilled beef.
Step-by-Step Guide to a Perfect Asado
So, let’s number the steps to have the perfect Asado!
- But the beef! You have to calculate 500 grams of beef per person. These are the more common beef cuts: Tira de Asado, Vacío, Entraña, Bondiola (this is pork!), Lomo, Ojo de Bife. And for the achuras (offal), most common are: Riñón, Chinchulín, Salchicha Parrillera, Molleja, Chorizo y Morcilla.
- Buy the charcoal. If it’s a big Asado you will need an entire pack. When you buy this you also need to ask for some wood. Usually, in vegetable shops, you can ask for a fruit drawer, you don’t to pay for this in most places. And you also need some newspaper!
- Okay, this step is the more important. “Hacer el fuego” (make fire). There are many ways, methods, so, you have to find your own. But, I’ll tell you the more popular. You have to know we DON’T use any kind of fuel, or alcohol, or anything. That it’s rated as a SIN. So, just put some small pieces of charcoal in the bottom. Then, add some pieces of wood around (make the shape of a teepee) and some newspaper among the wood. This way, you can start the fire with the newspaper and everything will light slowly. Don’t forget to generate some wind to fan the flames. And when you are sure that you have a good amount of burning charcoal, you add some more. When you see ember, you can move it under the grill.
- Okay, now you can relax. Have the fire burning is everything. A good method to see if you can actually put the beef on the grill is to put your hands on top (not touch the grill, of course, just 10 cm. above) and if your hands can’t bear the warmth, it’s because the grill is properly hot to receive the meat. When you put the meat, you can relax even more and wait for that smell and the colour of grilled meat and you will know (how cooked is the meat for eat it it’s a very personal perspective).
Okay, my friends, I hope you enjoyed this little guide to know how to do Asado. If you want to learn more about Argentinian Culture, you can check this post too. Don’t forget to contact us to have your trial class and start learning Spanish today! See you in the next post! Bye!
