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Authentic Steak Fajitas have become legendary in our house, and for good reason.

You'll want to marinate the steak overnight. Before grilling, make sure you have the classic fajita accompaniments: best-ever guacamole, pico de gallo, refried beans, and homemade flour tortillas. These fajitas are the real deal!

HOW TO MAKE AUTHENTIC STEAK FAJITAS

We've got a few tricks up our sleeves to truly put these steak fajitas over the top on the delicious meter.

We'll go over them in detail, but we feel a good steak fajita is better than the sum of its parts. Stay with us...you'll see what we mean.

Watch us swho you how to make authentic steak fajitas at home!

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MEAT FOR STEAK FAJITAS

Skirt steak is the traditional (and original) cut of meat that was used when steak fajitas were first developed by Mexican ranchers in South and West Texas in the early 1930s. It was an inexpensive piece of meat that was high in flavor but not tender.

As fajitas made the quantum leap from obscure campfire fare in South Texas to universal appeal in the 1970s and 80s, different types of meat began to appear on restaurant menus.

Though skirt steak was still the most common, other tender cuts of meat were used as well, ranging from ribeye, and sirloin to strip. When prepared properly, we still love the original...skirt.

MARINATING THE MEAT IS ESSENTIAL

In order to break down the connective tissue in skirt steak, it is imperative to marinade the meat in a citrus-based marinade for hours, preferably overnight.

We use fresh lime juice as the basis for our marinade. Fresh aromatics such as scallions (green onions), garlic, cilantro, and coriander deepen the flavor as it marinates.

EXPERT TIP: If you can, turn the meat over at least once while marinating. Maybe once before bedtime and then again the next morning. This will help to completely re-distribute the marinade and further help to tenderize the meat.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR THE FAJITA SEASONING

Authentic steak fajitas are nicely seasoned. You can certainly purchase decent fajita seasoning from most well-stocked markets, but when you make your own, you know EXACTLY what's going on with your steak.

For our homemade fajita seasoning, we simply mix together:

• Chili powder
• Smoked paprika
• Beef bouillon cube, crushed
• Onion and garlic powders
• Cayenne pepper
• Cumin
• Corn starch

HOW TO CARAMELIZE ONIONS

One of the key components of our authentic steak fajitas is caramelized onions.

Start these early. Simply take two large white, or yellow onions, and slice them. Don't worry, two may seem like a lot, but they cook down considerably.

Cook them in a large skillet with oil for about 20 to 30 minutes, until very, very soft and turning a nearly dark golden brown.

EXPERT TIP: To bring out the umami taste in these onions, add a few splashes of low-sodium soy sauce while they are cooking. Trust us on this. The taste, matched against the sweetness of the caramelized onions is off-the-charts delicious.

When you are ready to cook the meat, we recommend firing up your gas or charcoal grill to be nice and hot. Alternatively, you can cook the meat in a large (preferably cast iron skillet).

Remove the meat from the marinade and you can generously sprinkle the fajitas seasoning all over the meat before you place it on the grill, or right after it hits the grates (or pan).

You want the meat to get a nice char on the outside, but stay pink on the inside. Internal temp of 140°F is a beautifully medium-cooked steak. And the smell....um...

HOW TO SLICE STEAK FAJITA MEAT

This is important for creating a tender bite of fajita, every time. Cut against the grain.

You will see the strands of meat that run the length of the steak, this is called 'the grain.' You want to cut the meat in the opposite direction of the grain.

You will probably need to cut the skirt steak in half, before slicing it against the grain.

Before you slice the meat, be sure you've got the fajita accompaniments ready to go and on the table. We always serve our authentic steak fajitas with:

Easy refried beans
Guacamole
Sour cream
Shredded cheddar cheese
Pico de gallo
Salsa
Homemade flour tortillas

HOW TO SERVE AUTHENTIC STEAK FAJITAS

It's almost showtime, folks! After you've got all the fixins' ready to go, and you've sliced your meat, and the onions are cooked...heat a fajita skillet/pan, or any sturdy skillet, over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes. We want that pan hot! (But be careful when handling! Don't burn yourself!).

Next, transfer the onions to the hot skillet and then top with meat and immediately bring to the table.

You want these fajitas to sizzle! The meat mixed in with the sizzling hot onions just adds even more flavor!

AUTHENTIC STEAK FAJITAS FAQs

• What if I can't find skirt steak? You can certainly use ribeye, sirloin, or a strip steak, but that's going to cost a little more but won't require as long as a marinating period (only about 2 to 4 hours would be needed). Flank steak works really well, and should be marinated for at least 6 hours. Avoid London broil or brisket for steak fajitas.
• Can I do chicken or shrimp instead of steak? Of course! We love our chicken fajitas and our shrimp fajitas! It's a similar recipe, just requires less marinating. You can also grill deveined and cleaned shrimp to use, or go completely vegetarian with grilled mushrooms and peppers!
• How far in advance can I marinate the meat? We wouldn't recommend more than 18 hours. Otherwise, the meat will begin to break down and not have the desired texture. You can make the marinade up to several days in advance.
• Can the recipe be doubled or tripled? Of course! Just plan accordingly! You may not use all of the fajita seasoning, but what you don't use will keep for weeks in a container with a tight-fitting lid.

Ready for authentic steak fajitas? YES!!

All right folks, it's fajita time! This is hands-down one of our very favorite meals to prepare, and we get massive rave reviews every time we serve it.

And when you make them, be sure to take a picture, post on Instagram, and tag @howtofeedaloon and #howtofeedaloon!

Authentic Steak Fajitas

These Authentic Steak Fajitas are the real deal. Be sure to use skirt steak, marinate it overnight, saute the onions until nicely caramelized, and use fresh flour tortillas with homemade pico de gallo. Just amazing.