If you are a Fajita fan, then National Fajita Day on August 18th is calling your name. In honor of National Fajita Day, a bit of history is in order. The word fajita is a Tex-Mex term for little strips of meat cut from the beef skirt. The fajita timeline starts in the 1930’s with Mexican Cowboys in Southwest Texas. The cowboys cooked faja, or steak over an open fire, which was typically an inexpensive, tough cut of meat, and served it with flour or corn tortillas. As the dish was passed down from one generation to the next, the easy to eat, on-the-go dish gained great popularity. Fast forward to the mid-1980’s. Fajitas became a common offering at Mexican restaurants and ultimately became a popular fast-food item. The once humble fajita was transformed into a colorful sizzling platter full of bright peppers, onions, tender steak, shrimp, chicken, or pork with freshly made tortillas.
With all that fajita knowledge, it is time to celebrate National Fajita Day! Fajitas are a simple meal to enjoy with friends and family. The awesome variety of proteins, veggies, sides and tortillas makes this dish perfect for a crowd. But fajitas are also ideal for a quick dinner for two, and everything in between.
- Traditional fajitas are made with skirt steak. For the tastiest fajitas, plan ahead. This provides time for the meat to marinate for a tender and flavorful product.
- Cut the meat into strips before marinating. This allows the marinade to permeate into each piece. When grilling the meat, aim for rare or medium-rare for a tender product.
- Spices often used in fajita recipes may include cumin, chili powder and cayenne. However, the dish itself is usually not very spicy.
- When planning a fajita fest, toppings are key. Include items like shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo, sliced jalapenos, fresh cilantro, lime juice and sliced avocado, just to name a few options.
- Warm tortillas up on a griddle just before serving for the ultimate fajita experience. Whether beef, chicken or shrimp is your thing, you are covered in the fajita department. These flavorful fajitas are a great way to have a fun make-your-own plate with optional fillings and toppings.
- With these traditional Grilled Skirt Steak Fajitas, no need to turn on the oven–both the steak and veggies can be grilled. Wrap them in traditional tortillas, or, if you are looking to cut carbs, try some large lettuce leaves.
- This heart healthy Chicken Fajitas recipe will be a crowd pleaser. Prep your veggies and toppings while your chicken marinates. Everything will be ready to roll when it is time to eat.
- If you love shrimp, this one pan Blackened Shrimp Fajita recipe is a winner, delicious, colorful, and easy make.
When made with lean meats and healthy toppings, fajitas are a winning ticket to turn a simple meal into a celebration!
