Carne Asada Steak Sandwiches

Carne asada just means grilled beef.  Other than the name, this recipe seems to be a riff on beef bánh mì (with a different marinade/rub).  It was ok but not great.  Made to directions using strip steak & thought the recommended side salad (shaved carrot, cuke & sweet onion) would round-out the Vietnamese inspiration behind the ingredients.  But other than the toasted baguette, the sandwich lacked any contrast in textures that we're expecting -- everything thinly sliced or chopped or minced.  And the side salad was the same, just a thin characterless bowl.  

I took a shortcut and used a Trader Joe's Carne Asada marinated sirloin steak. The sandwiches turned out great but it was the dressing that put the sandwich over the top. Everyone loved it. Next time I will double the recipe for the cilantro lime mayo! Awesome! Also, I subbed gauchomole for the jalopena peppers. We don't like that much heat. Yum!

I shop at Aldi and they happen to have all these ingredients. Reminded me of Bahn mi. The flank steak at Aldi reads sirloin tip sliced for carne asada, but it worked perfectly. I grilled in oven bc I was busy in kitchen, and I unfolded the layers to broil little longer to take the red out...but it was still pink and amazing. The sauce is addictive. Takes a few minutes to grate the lime but All Worth It! One change, I substituted regular chili powder for the chipotle.

This was really good. The lime-mayo is a perfect condiment with loads of flavor.