Carne Asada. Cheese fries

Carne Asada. Cheese Fries

I really liked the look of this dish, I found it on the Epicurious Website
Basically it is Nachos but using French Fries instead of Taco Chips
Maybe a few more calories...but I can assure you, it was excellent
Better than a burger or fish and chips
Got loads of vegetables
Isn’t that what we want
You can play with the ingredients
I have made this twice now
First time I used Hamburger Mince and the next time I had a piece of Rump Steak
You need to make a cheese sauce, I have made it both in the microwave and on the stove top
you can use either kind of meat and cook the cheese sauce in the Microwave, or on the stove top
Both work
Feeds 4-6 depending on the hunger

First you put together a spicy salt, to season the French Fries and The Meat
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon sugar

For the fries and steak:
1 500 gm package frozen French fries
400 gms Rump steak, trimmed if necessary
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the cheese sauce and assembly:
1 packed cup  sharp cheddar
2 teaspoons cornflour
1/2 cup evaporated milk
3–5 dashes hot sauce,  (optional)

Cubed avocado, 
Sour cream, or cream cheese
Handful Coriander leaves and stalks, chopped
2 x Spring onions
2 x Corn cobs cooked and shucked

12-14 cherry tomatoes,  chopped in half
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper  
Good Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Make the seasoned salt:
Whisk salt, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, oregano, and sugar in a small bowl.

Lay the french fries on a baking tray, season with 1-2 teaspoons of the salt mix
and bake to Manufacturers instructions, till crisp and golden
Tossing about halfway through

Transfer fries to a large platter

Get the BBQ on
Season the Steak with 2-3 teaspoons of the seasoning
Cook the steak to your required "doneness"
Set aside and rest for at l;east 10 minutes and slice against the grain then into strips


Meanwhile make the cheese sauce 
Toss cheese and cornflour in a medium heatproof bowl.
Pour evaporated milk over and cook in microwave on high 40 seconds. 
Whisk and continue to cook in 20-second increments,
whisking in between, until melted and smooth (about 2 minutes total).
Stir in hot sauce, if using.

Or just cook slowly on stove top until it all blends together (microwave is easier)

Toss the chopped tomatoes with olive oil, (about 2 tablespoons) season with sea salt and pepper
Now to assemble

Lay the sliced steak over the fries

 Spoon the cheese sauce over the steak

Mix the cooked corn with the chopped herbs
Season with some salt and pepper

Throw over the steak
Then the tomatoes and the corn

Dob the cream cheese over it all
and top with chopped avocado and the tomato

Serve

 This was the first one I made using Hamburger mince equally good

In the 90s, a book that was on everyone must read list, was called "Fried Green Tomatoes at The Whistle Stop Cafe" by Fannie Flagg
The thought of Fried Green Tomatoes fascinated me. I thought they meant unripe tomatoes

but as my food knowledge grew, I understood that they are a special breed of Tomato
Now in New Zealand, as all over the world we can now access almost every food available...
and YES we can buy Green Tomatoes
Found some at the local shop and decided to make these little delights
Can’t get much easier

Slice the tomatoes
Dip in seasoned flour

Dip in beaten egg

Finally into breadcrumbs

Set aside In the fridge to settle and when ready
Just fry in mix of butter and olive oil
Fry in batches. Don’t overcrowd the pan

Delicious with the leg of lamb we cooked this evening


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