What is Asado?
In Spanish, “asado” means “roasting” or “grilling” over fire or in the oven. Generally, when we talk about asado, we mean meat grilled over wood fire. Like barbecue, in South America, asado refers both to the cooking method and to the convivial gathering where guests enjoy grilled meats together.
The Argentine Asado ritual
Let’s be clear: Asado is Argentina’s national dish! And while it’s a method for grilling meat over fire, asado is not your typical barbecue. Argentina is one of the world’s top beef producers and consumers, so beef is the star of the asado.
1. The asador, king of the barbecue
A true ritual, hosting an asado means you must appoint an “asador”. These self-proclaimed experts in meat grilling take charge from start to finish. They manage the fire and the cooking to ensure the meat is perfectly done—beautifully seared on the outside, tender on the inside.
Building the asado fire is an art in itself. In the countryside, hardwood is used. In the city, charcoal is preferred. To learn more about wood and charcoal, our guide will help you choose the right ones.
2. The asado cooking method
Asado is cooked over embers, with the asador spreading them beneath the grates and meat, which are set higher than in our traditional barbecues.
For a similar result, we recommend the Stainless Steel Grill Extension, which stacks on top of your traditional kamado grill grate.
This gentler cooking method doesn’t attack the meat. It allows the fat to slowly baste the flesh, making it tender and juicy without drying it out—just like in the American BBQ tradition. Asado is all about slow cooking, taking 2, 3, or even 4 hours depending on the size of the cuts. Unlike our barbecues, in Argentina, the meat is kept whole, with some pieces weighing several kilos.
Among the favorite cuts are ribeye, sirloin, onglet, flank, and bavette. But just like the picanha in the tradition of Portuguese barbecue, beef cuts are not prepared exactly the same way as in France. Other meats are also cooked on the Argentine barbecue, such as lamb and kid. In this case, they are cooked vertically, skewered.
Here are some of our beef barbecue recipe ideas:
Tournedos with Béarnaise sauce
Marinated beef picanha cooked on lava stone
Beef onglet with yakitori sauce
Rib of beef For equipment, you can use the cast iron Plancha cooking plate to sear the meat and cook it evenly. You can also choose our cast iron grill for professional results or replace your stainless steel grill. And why not invest in a stainless steel meat fork and Kokko leather gloves? All essential accessories to make the most of your special moments around the fire!
The famous Chimichurri sauce
Asado meat is often served with a condiment called Chimichurri, which can also be used as a marinade. This sauce is a blend of garlic, parsley, coriander, bay leaves, red chili, wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. You can also add oregano, thyme, lemon, and even tomato and pepper to suit your taste. During cooking, the meat is brushed with this spicy sauce to make it even more tender.
What to serve with an Asado?
Vegetables are rare in the tradition of Argentine asado! However, you can serve it with potatoes, grilled peppers, or a mixed salad: greens, tomatoes, onion, and hard-boiled eggs.
To complement these superb barbecue meat dishes, we recommend a few wine pairings that will be a perfect match!
