Perfect Pairs: 7 BEST Side Dishes to Serve with Carne Asada

Carne asada is a delicious dish that appears in many different types of Mexican cuisines.

What makes carne asada such a fantastic taste comes from the preparation and ingredients used to make it.

Carne asada translates into grilled (Carne) meat (Asada).

So, it consists mainly of marinated sliced beef served alongside salsa, guacamole, and tortillas.

Other ingredients may include lemon or lime juice, jalapenos, bell peppers, onions, cilantro, oregano, salt, and pepper.

Carne Asada is one of the few dishes in Mexico that does not contain any beans or rice.

This is because carne asada was commonly served as a type of taco or burrito filling.

It is typically marinated for hours in lime juice, soy sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper before being grilled to perfection.

The texture ranges from very tender to slightly chewy depending on how long it is marinated.

There are many different ways to cook the meat, but the most traditional way is to grill it over charcoal.

The best part about carne asada is how versatile and flavorful this dish is.

Carne asada can be made into a burrito filled with beans and rice or just served alone with just a side of salsa and guacamole sauce.

No matter how you prepare the meat, it will always taste great.

In this article, we will list seven different recipes that are sure to enhance your carne asada experience.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Carne Asada?

First of all, there is no right or wrong way to serve carne asada.

It’s up to you and your personal preference on how you like your meat served.

Traditionally in Mexico, carne asada is consumed with just a side of salsa and guacamole sauce.

However, nowadays, it has become common for restaurants and families to serve carne asada with a side of beans and rice.

Plus, many people like to incorporate Mexican-style street corn (elote) into their meal by serving grilled corn on the cob alongside the meat.

The point is that carne asada is easily the most versatile meal in Mexican cuisine because you can pair this dish with many different types of food.

For these reasons, it’s essential to know what side dishes will enhance your carne asada experience.

What to Serve with Carne Asada? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Carne Asada is one of those meals where it tastes great on its own but tastes even better with a side of something.

That’s why we decided to list seven recipes below that will turn your carne asada into an even better meal.

1 – Beans and Rice

When served with just a side of beans and rice, carne asada has the potential to be the most fantastic meal in all of the Mexican cuisine.

The ingredients that go into making rice and beans are incredibly varied depending on which part of Mexico you’re from.

However, no matter what you combine this dish with, it will always taste great.

For the best results, always make sure to serve Mexican rice and refried beans with carne asada.

These side dishes are very common in Mexico, so you should have no trouble finding them at your local grocery store.

If not, there’s always the option to make them yourself.

It’s pretty easy to make refried beans and Mexican rice if you have the right recipe.

2 – Mexican-Style Street Corn (Elote)

No other side dish matches the taste of grilled corn on the cob with butter, mayonnaise, cotija cheese, and chili powder.

Elote is popular street food in Mexico that has become popular in the United States over the past decade.

Elote can be served on or off the cob, but many people like to eat it with a fork and knife, so they don’t get messy.

If you decide to serve elote on the cob, you will need to use a fork and knife to get every bite.

Many Mexican restaurants like to incorporate this side dish into their carne asada experience by placing skewers of corn in between servings of meat and rice/beans.

Not only does this add an interesting visual element, but it also enhances the taste of the entire dish.

3 – Fresh Guacamole Sauce

Carne asada is great on its own, but it tastes even better when paired with guacamole sauce.

These two dishes are very similar in texture and flavor, so they complement each other well.

Plus, this side dish will enhance the presentation by making the meal more colorful.

The good news is that it’s straightforward to make fresh guacamole sauce at home.

All you need are the right ingredients and a blender.

If you’re lucky enough to have an authentic Mexican restaurant nearby, they will likely have fresh guacamole sauce, which tastes even better than the kind made at home.

4 – Side of Salsa

Salsa is a ubiquitous side dish that can be served with just about anything in Mexican cuisine.

It’s the perfect accompaniment to carne asada because this beef dish pairs well with both mild and spicy flavors.

Therefore, you should have no problem finding a salsa recipe that tastes good with your meal.

In addition, there are hundreds of salsa recipes that you can choose from, so it’s a good idea to experiment with them if you have the time.

For example, you could try making a mango habanero salsa or even a tomatillo avocado version.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to salsa.

5 – Mexican-Style Cornbread

Mexican-style cornbread can be used in place of tortillas when you make tacos, enchiladas, or any other dish in Mexican cuisine.

This side dish works well with carne asada because the flavors tend to complement each other well.

The best thing about Mexican-style cornbread is that it’s relatively easy to make at home using ingredients found in most grocery stores.

Some recipes even call for creamed corn which only adds to the flavors of this dish overall.

Plus, it can be served alone or with items like pinto beans and rice.

6 – Pinto Beans

Pinto beans are the perfect side dish to serve alongside carne asada because they match many different Mexican dishes.

This dish only requires a few simple ingredients, but you’ll need quite a bit of time if you want to make it from scratch.

For example, it takes about four hours of simmering to get these beans soft enough to eat.

You can also purchase cans of pre-made pinto beans that only require you to warm them up before serving.

The good news is that they don’t take much work at all, so people with busy schedules will appreciate this option.

Plus, these beans are very affordable, which means you won’t break the bank trying to feed a large group of people.

7 – Quesadillas

If you don’t feel like serving carne asada all by itself, then you may want to consider making beef quesadillas as your side dish instead.

This is an excellent idea because it’s very easy to make at home using tortillas and cheese.

Put the quesadilla together by layering beef, cheese, and tortillas inside the iron skillet.

Then you can cook this for between five to seven minutes on each side.

When it’s finished cooking, cut the quesadillas into fourths and serve them alongside your carne asada main dish.

You can also make quesadillas with chicken, beans, and vegetables like bell peppers if you want something other than the standard beef recipe.

Conclusion

In conclusion, carne asada is a flavorful dish that tastes good on its own.

But it can be made even better by serving it with one of these seven side dishes.

For example, carne asada tacos are not the same without fresh guacamole sauce, Mexican-style cornbread, or pinto beans.

Therefore, you should try each of these side dishes and see which ones work best with your favorite recipes in Mexican cuisine.

Enjoy.

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