Asado uruguayo
Uruguayan wood-fire beef short ribs and chorizo with chimichurri
Sunday in Uruguay means asado: in Montevideo backyards and the cattle towns of the interior, beef ribs (asado de tira), chorizo and morcilla cook slowly over the embers of a wood fire, with only coarse salt, while the family waits. The parrillero rakes coals under the grill and keeps the heat low and even. This recipe includes pork chorizo. The mistake is cooking over flames; the fire should burn down to embers you can hold your hand above for 6–8 seconds. Chef's tip: salt the meat only when it goes on the grill, with coarse salt, never fine.
- Total time
- 140 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the meat
For the chimichurri
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix 1 oz flat-leaf parsley, 3 garlic cloves, 2 tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp chilli flakes, ¼ cup red wine vinegar, ½ cup olive oil and ½ tsp salt. Leave for at least 30 minutes for the flavours to blend.
30 minStep 2: Light a wood or charcoal fire and let it burn down to glowing embers, about 45 minutes. Spread a layer of embers under the grill; keep a fire going at the side to make more.
45 minStep 3: Put 4 ⅜ lb beef short ribs (asado de tira) on the grill bone side down and sprinkle with 1 tbsp coarse salt. Cook for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, adding embers underneath every 20 minutes, until the bones show through and the meat is tender.
90 minStep 4: Add 6 fresh pork chorizo sausages for the last 25 minutes, turning, until browned and cooked through to 160°F.
25 minStep 5: Turn the ribs meat side down for the last 10 minutes to brown. They should be well done and tender, well above 160°F. Rest 5 minutes.
10 minStep 6: Serve with chimichurri, bread and salad.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 760 kcal
- Protein
- 48 g
- Carbs
- 2 g
- Fat
- 62 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does asado uruguayo take?
- About 140 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 120 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of flat-leaf parsley?
- Curly parsley or coriander, same amount.
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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