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Anticuchos Grilled Marinated Beef Heart Skewers

A popular Peruvian street food of beef heart marinated in aji panca, cumin, and vinegar, then grilled on skewers until charred and tender. Plan ahead: marinate at least 4 hours or overnight.

50 minMediumServes 4290 cal/serving

PeruvianAppetizerGrillHigh ProteinLow CarbGluten-FreeDairy-FreeEgg-FreePork-Free

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Ingredients

  • 2 lbs beef heart, trimmed, cubed
  • 1/4 cup aji panca paste (jarred, or substitute ancho chile paste)
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 8 oz small yellow potatoes (for serving), boiled, halved
  • 8 lime wedges (for serving)

Instructions

  1. 1

    Trim any visible fat, sinew, and membrane from the 2 lbs trimmed, cubed beef heart. Cut into 1-inch cubes and place in a large zip-lock bag or bowl.

  2. 2

    In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup aji panca paste (jarred, or substitute ancho chile paste), 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 6 minced garlic cloves, 2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, and 2 tbsp vegetable oil to make the marinade.

  3. 3

    Pour the marinade over the beef heart, toss to coat evenly, seal, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

  4. 4

    If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes. Thread the marinated beef heart cubes onto the skewers, about 4 to 5 pieces each.

  5. 5

    Preheat a grill or grill pan to high heat. Grill the skewers for 3 to 4 minutes per side, basting with any remaining marinade, until nicely charred on the outside. The internal temperature should reach 145°F (63°C) for medium - the meat will be slightly pink inside, which is correct for heart.

  6. 6

    Serve the anticuchos immediately with 8 oz boiled, halved small yellow potatoes (for serving) and 8 lime wedges (for serving).

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Questions

What is Anticuchos Grilled Marinated Beef Heart Skewers?

A popular Peruvian street food of beef heart marinated in aji panca, cumin, and vinegar, then grilled on skewers until charred and tender. Plan ahead: marinate at least 4 hours or overnight. This reference files it under Peruvian appetizer: cooked on the grill, rated medium and about 50 minutes start to finish.

What internal temperature should Anticuchos Grilled Marinated Beef Heart Skewers reach?

For Anticuchos Grilled Marinated Beef Heart Skewers, the target internal temperature is 145 F (about 65 C), given in step 5. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork.

Why soak the skewers for Anticuchos Grilled Marinated Beef Heart Skewers?

Step 4 reads: "If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes." Dry wood burns. The soak in step 4 keeps the skewers from catching over the heat; metal skewers need none.

What equipment do I need for Anticuchos Grilled Marinated Beef Heart Skewers?

Beyond a knife and a board, the method uses skewers (step 4) and a grill pan (step 5).

Is there a substitute for dried chiles in Anticuchos Grilled Marinated Beef Heart Skewers?

The entry for Anticuchos Grilled Marinated Beef Heart Skewers calls for 1/4 cup aji panca paste (jarred, or substitute ancho chile paste). In its place: Another mild dried chile works, measure for measure. Without any, use a tablespoon of pure ancho or mild chili powder per chile.

How much protein is in Anticuchos Grilled Marinated Beef Heart Skewers?

One serving (the recipe makes 4) has 28 g of protein in about 290 calories, alongside 8 g carbohydrate and 12 g fat, plus 420 mg sodium. The figures are estimates computed from the ingredient list. More like it: the high-protein appetizer collection.

Which part of Anticuchos Grilled Marinated Beef Heart Skewers can be done ahead?

Everything up to step 3. Step 3 is a built-in pause of overnight, or about 8 hours: "Pour the marinade over the beef heart, toss to coat evenly, seal, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight." Do everything up to that point ahead of time and pick up at step 4 when you are ready to finish.

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