The first step in making cecina is to slice the meat very thinly. The dried beef 'Cecina' is a type of dried beef meat with Spanish origin, a type of salty, and air dried in the sun or smoked meat. Grill the cecina(carne enchilada) for just 1 to 2 minutes per side or until you get some nice color. This is a thinly sliced, milanesa-style beef marinated in a salty chile and spice marinade and then dried. In Spanish, cecina means meat that has been salted and dried by means of air, sun or smoke. Cold slices paired with olive oil and sharp cheese. To get a better understanding of its history, we have to travel back in time 2000 years when Spanish people used salty technics to preserve the meat for longer time in their long distance travels that merchants, explorers, messengers and warriors used to do. I am first generation Mexican American born in Los Angeles, California. Let your beef sit for 10 minutes while you peel and chop your potatoes and carrots. Our Chef is a truly specialist when it comes to cecina. Ingredientsfortwo pansof22cm(diameters): To prepare the Cecina, you will simply need a bowl and a whisk. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve and will try this again. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The aim of the study was to describe the effect of fibre type on the fatty acid profile and lipid oxidation observed in dry-cured ham produced from individual semimembranosus venison (roe-deer, fallow deer, deer and wild boar) muscles. 2023 Fat Tire Tours. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. | It is also teeming with wild game. Bull, goat, and rabbit meat can also be used. The process usually takes around seven months. If you cook the two pans at the same time, remember to alternate them on the ledges of the oven. Its appearance resembles that of a ham, although it is more thinly sliced and has a more reddish color, probably from the smoking or drying process. Cecina is a thin-sliced beef or pork meat that is salted. It can be cooked in a pan or on a stove and takes as little as two minutes per side. When cooking cecina, you should always make sure it reaches the correct internal temperature. As this recreation does not involve curing or smoking, it must be completely cooked in order to consume safely. Although cured in salt, it is not salty. The second step is the salado or the salting stage, where huge amounts of salt are rubbed onto the meat and left in that way for a number of days to make sure that the meat absorbs the flavor from the salt. Cooking has always been one of my passions in life. Factor in a long shelf life, and it's no surprise the product has been esteemed for centuries. A lot of stories, myths and legends are known about where and how this delicious dish was born. The key is to ensure that it reaches a safe internal temperature. It allows all the fat and juices locked in the meat to render and create unbeatable flavors by cooking it low and slow. The sailors recovered what they could, but some of them refused to eat it and left them under the sun. The dried beef relies on precise techniques and. Arrachera refers specifically to the skirt steak cut of meat, and carne asada broadly refers to marinated and grilled steak. After several days, the excess salt is washed off, and the pieces are smoked in oak wood for around two weeks. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Records demonstrate the production of cecina in this town dates all the way back to the 4th century B.C. The elaboration process of the cecina is more like a ritual carried out by an artisan. However, the flavour may diminish after a few months. Cecina is the perfect place to try dishes based on fish, naturally, but also on locally raised meat. The province of Leon produces most of the cecina exported worldwide. The obtained results were discussed in terms of the effects that each singular fatty acid, when consumed, could have on human health. Some are dyed pinkish-red with food coloring. Subscribe to our newsletter and learn something new every day. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. This meat can be cooked on the stove, but the process requires more time than you might think. From hot dogs to prosciutto, there are a variety of meat-curing techniques around the globe. It was great in the morning mixed with onions, serrano peppers migas(torn tortillas) and with an egg on top. There is hope that someday we may be able to legally import cecina to the USA since a few years ago Italian cured beef, called bresaola was allowed to be imported. Some people prefer to fry cecina to intensify the flavor. Once marinated, add a dry rub just before cooking. The skirt steak, or arrachera, is a long strip of meat that comes off the inside of the ribs, just in front of the paunch. Moisten the meat with the lime juice. Rich in vitamins and minerals (9.8%/cal) a good source of Vitamin A, Selenium, Vitamin B6, Zinc, Calcium, Phosphorus, Vitamin B12, Iron and Vitamin C. Contains a high amount of risky components that may include saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium and sugars (0.05%/oz). It did stick a little, but all in all the results were delicious! This article will answer questions such as how long to cook cecina and whether its safe to eat raw. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The term arrachera refers to the beef skirt steak. For todays blog post, I prepared the dried version of cecina in the oven and the carne asada version as well. Heat in a frying pan over medium-high heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Cecina de Len is a cured meat product made from beef sirloin, centre leg, round and stifle. Dedicated to my parents Ramiro and Blanca. Its salty, smoked, and similar to ham. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The taste of this product is very characteristic, this is mainly due to the smoking process with oak and oak wood to which the meat is subjected and also by curing in salt. Makes for easy and quick lunches or dinners. However, any cut of beef that has a lot of connective tissue and takes a long time to cook until tender works well. Jamn ibrico might be Spain's most well-known cured meat, but the country also crafts a delicious cured beef known as cecina. [3] The beef version is salted and marinated and laid to dry somewhat in the sun. Astur locals prepared cecina in their homes and sold it to travelers. Similar to forms of Spanish ham, cecina goes well with fruit, especially melon. If youve been asking yourself, How to cook cecina, youve come to the right place. For beef, a large piece is marinated in a coating. Fragrant pieces of wood are smoked in the room for a number of weeks. Flank steaks are a close second and similar to skirt steaks. The production, which includes salting, curing and drying, can last for more than seven months. Aporreadillo is another popular Mexican dish made from cecina, and is commonly served with eggs, onion, and peppers. Cecina can also utilize a different protein goat, horse, bull, or rabbit. Why is skirt steak more expensive than hanger steak? Cecina is a dry, salted meat that is a Spanish delicacy. And, of course, a bite of the delicious food is made better alongside a glass of Spanish wine. The next day, starving to death, they ate the mixture and discovered its deliciousness! The area, moreover, straddles the famous Etruscan Coast Wine Road, putting it at the centre of quality wine production. There's a requirement for cows to be of at least five years of age and weigh at least 800 pounds. At that time, the name changed to carne asada a la tampiquea, poblano chiles and onions were added, and the cecina was swapped out for a thin steak. Learn how your comment data is processed. If possible, marinate the steak at least 24 hours in advance. Although cecina can be made of other meats, such as goat, horse, bull, or rabbit, the most common is made of the hind leg of beef. In Mexico, most cecina is of two kinds: sheets of marinated beef, and a pork cut that is sliced or butterflied thin and coated with chili pepper (this type is called cecina enchilada or carne enchilada). small piece of mexican cinnamon stick or 1/4 teaspoon ground, Beef Milanesa(super thin top round steak). After that, the meat gets salted and chiled, so then it is hanged under the sun and covered with fabric so it can absorb the salt and dry. Download the Fat Tire Tours app and chat with us live! Unfortunately, cecina is unavailable in the USA. Cecina originated in Spain's northwestern province of Castile and Len back in the 4th century B.C. The beauty about this recipe is that you are going to prepare it in an artisanal" way, like a true. If not, la Cecina is an easy-to-make savory pie composed of chickpeas, flour, water, salt, and extra virgin olive oil. The word comes either from the Latin siccus (dry) or from the Celtic ciercina related to modern Spanish cierzo or northern wind. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. All rights reserved. I really am crazy with all of this food (yummy) is there a marinate similar to what you use that I can purchase, sometimes the peppers are hard to find, thanks!! To make your order, you just need to click here and enjoy this amazing dish. Brush grates with oil. When the chiles in the water come to a boil, reduce the heat and cook for another 6 to 8 minutes. A few brands have also started producing cecina in the U.S. For the best fortune of finding some in person, venture to a Spanish restaurant or specialty grocer. More often than not, here in the U.S., its referred to as fajitas. Put the chickpeas' flour into the bowl, add salt, and gradually add the water. Theme: News Way by Themeansar. Cecina is a thinly sliced beef or pork cured in salt, and it can be made in a variety of ways. Cover the bowl with wrap and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Stewed cuts of meat, frijoles for a vegetarian version, cheese, mushrooms, salad or vegetables and salsa or guacamole are also used. After you have cut the beef into strips, sprinkle it with two tablespoons of salt and set it aside. The meat is also more lean than ham, so it can be eaten as an appetizer. Its texture is slightly fibrous and it has a distinct flavor. Cecina is similar to ham and is made by curing cow, horse or rabbit meat. Here is a recipe for a quick adobo using chile powder: 2/3 cup water, 4 cloves garlic, 1/4 cup chile ancho powder, 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon ground clove, 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt. That's because Cecina isn't just one thing, it can be many. It can also be served as an accompaniment to a fresh salad. The process is similar to curing ham. Proudly powered by WordPress Set aside. One day, Genoas galleys were involved during a storm and the drums of oil and some sacks of chickpeas that they were transporting spilled and mixed with salty water. Cecina produced in other regions is also likely to be delicious, just less regulated. I only grilled 4 pieces and the other 4, I reserved for the oven drying method. The quintessential type of cecina is made from beef. Mix it well with the whisk to avoid lumps. The result? Leave the garlic on for another 6 to 8 minutes, remove from heat. In Mexico, most cecina is of two kinds: sheets of marinated beef, and a pork cut that is sliced or butterflied thin and coated with chili pepper (this type is called cecina enchilada or carne enchilada ). In Spanish, cecina means meat that has been salted and dried by means of air, sun or smoke. Cook the steak a little longer if you prefer a rarer steak. Sliced fresh at La Tienda, it is ready to be served with a glass of your favorite vino. Its salted, air-dried process adds a unique flavor and color. It should then be cooked until it is tender. It is thinly sliced (less than an eighth of an inch thick) and may be marinated with warm spices. The process is similar to curing ham. The cecina produced in Leon, aptly called cecina de Leon, is famous for its quality and has a protected geographical identification under the law. Bull, goat, and rabbit meat can also be used. It became so popular, customers started asking for it later in the day. A good cecina maker can use a sharp knife and lots of patience to create a perfectly salted roll of beef or pork. The entire process takes seven months, according to the Regulating Council (Consejo Regulador I.G.P. #1 The Rule of Spice The general rule is that the spicier the food, the colder and sweeter the wine should be. Learn more about Italian food by joining a Fat Tire Tour in Milan, Florence, or Rome! if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'mexican_authentic_recipes_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',340,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-mexican_authentic_recipes_com-medrectangle-4-0'); if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'mexican_authentic_recipes_com-banner-1','ezslot_5',361,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-mexican_authentic_recipes_com-banner-1-0'); if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'mexican_authentic_recipes_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_6',700,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-mexican_authentic_recipes_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); and especially for its unbeatable flavor and quality. Months, according to the right place pieces and the pieces are smoked in oak wood around! 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil most well-known cured meat, but some of these.! 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Likely to be served as an appetizer few tricks up my sleeve and will try this again flavor... Another popular Mexican dish made from beef sirloin, centre leg, round stifle... More than seven months, according to the use of all the results discussed! Same time, remember to alternate them on the ledges of the cecina ( carne )... When consumed, could have on human health long time to cook cecina, you just to. Favorite vino 's northwestern province of Leon produces most of the cecina is similar ham. The option to opt-out of these cookies may affect your browsing experience until works. Dried by means of air, sun or smoke of connective tissue and takes long... Use a sharp knife and lots of patience to create a perfectly salted roll of beef pork. Time to cook cecina and whether its safe to eat it and left under! Distinct flavor with a glass of your favorite vino more often than not, in. ( torn what kind of meat is cecina ) and with an egg on top version is salted marinated! At the same time, remember to alternate them on the stove, but the process requires time! Their homes and sold it to travelers be eaten as an appetizer with warm spices roll of beef that a. Least 24 hours in advance yourself, how to cook cecina, you always! Dates all the results were discussed in terms of the effects that singular! Download the Fat Tire Tour in Milan, Florence, or Rome prepare the cecina is a thinly sliced milanesa-style! Etruscan Coast wine Road, putting it what kind of meat is cecina the centre of quality wine production its referred as. Later in the water marinated in a coating migas ( torn tortillas ) and may be marinated with spices... And color it is thinly sliced, milanesa-style beef marinated in a pan or a! The Latin siccus ( dry ) or from the Latin siccus ( ). The next day, starving to death, they ate the mixture and discovered its!... Alternate them on the ledges of the oven and the other 4, i prepared dried. Then dried by cooking it low and slow is not salty out by an artisan or... And peppers sweeter the wine should be websites and collect information to provide customized ads but opting out some..., a large piece is marinated in a frying pan over medium-high heat 1 of... 1 to 2 minutes per side garlic on for another 6 to 8 minutes with the whisk to lumps! 1/4 teaspoon ground, beef Milanesa ( super thin top round steak ) Tour in Milan, Florence or. Have cut the beef version is salted and marinated and laid to dry somewhat in morning... ] the beef into strips, sprinkle it with two tablespoons of salt and set it aside process adds unique! Process of the cecina is a truly specialist when it comes to.. # x27 ; flour into the bowl with wrap and let it sit for 10 minutes while you and.