Last weekend I decided to shake things up with our usual fajita night. Instead of making everything on the stove like we always do, I took everything outside to the grill. Best decision ever.
Why I Always Use Charcoal
I've been using my charcoal grill a lot lately, and the flavor is just better. Smokier. More interesting. Yeah, it takes longer to get going, but it's worth it.
Used real wood chunk charcoal like I always do. Everything that came off that grill had this incredible smoky taste that you just can't get any other way.
What I Grilled
Started with the steak - just threw it on high heat and let it get those nice char marks. Then I grilled corn, onions, jalapeños, mushrooms, and even some eggplant because why not? Each thing picked up that smoky flavor.
The vegetables came out perfect just as they were - didn't need to do anything fancy with them. Oh, and I grilled the tortillas too. They got this nice char that made them taste way better than just heating them up in the microwave.
Setting Up the Buffet
Instead of serving everything plated like usual, I just put everything out buffet style. Had some guacamole, the grilled vegetables, regular salsa, and I mixed sriracha into sour cream.
The build-your-own approach worked really well. Everyone could customize their fajitas exactly how they wanted them.
What I Learned
Few things I figured out:
Don't be scared of high heat - you want those char marks.
Keep it simple - the charcoal does most of the work for you.
Get everything ready before you start grilling - once things start coming off the grill, it all happens fast.
Make more than you think you need - people will definitely go back for seconds.
Why I'll Keep Doing This
These late summer evenings are perfect for this kind of cooking. There's something about being outside, the smell of charcoal, hearing everything sizzle when it hits the grill. Way more relaxed than being stuck in the kitchen.
Plus the food just tastes better. Not sure if it's the charcoal, the outdoor cooking, or just the whole experience, but everything was more flavorful.
Already planning what to grill next weekend. Thinking maybe some chicken or fish tacos.
What do you like to throw on the grill? Always looking for new things to try.
