I'm being adventurous tonight and making my own steak fajita spice mix (that I've just copied off the net) instead of using an Old El Paso packet 3 tablespoons cornstarch 2 tablespoons chili powder (I'm gonna use chopped red chillies) 1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon paprika 1 teaspoon onion powder (I've never encountered onion powder - I'll use a big onion in the wok ) 1 teaspoon garlic powder (chopped garlic cloves for me) 1 teaspoon sugar (I'm gonna use demerara cos I'm a cultured cunt) 1/2 teaspoon cumin 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (quick twist of black pepper - **** it) If it tastes alright, you're all welcome to try it at my curry/mexican night in Aberdeen.
It asks for powder because this is like the marinade for the steak. You can add onions, peppers, chillis if you want to give a bit more filling. I'm no cook though
This is quite correct. The powder allows the mixture to bind together like a paste. Damn these ****in amateur cooks.
But, if I use the onions at the same time as I seal the steak, the flavour should get into the meat somehow, probably, mibbe. I wasn't planning to use this as a marinade - just a spice mix to go into the juices that come out the steak and make a sort of coating rather than a sauce. Wasn't going to marinade the steak at all - n I'm a sucker for a marinade.
Sigh. The powder (as well as adding taste) becomes a binding agent for the mixture, turning it into a paste which will better coat the steak.
Just the onion powder (there's plenty other powder in that mix)? You reckon I should marinade it? I'm no sure. I make plenty of marinades for other things but I've always cooked fajitas with the steak straight out the fridge and fairly quickly.
What I would do is make the paste as this is the ingredients for a paste.. let it cool. Once it's cool cover the steak in the paste then fry off the steak. Add onions, peppers and chillis.
Marinade it if you like, but you can just apply the paste evenly to the meat and fry. (Do not seal the meat before applying the paste).
