Tri-Tip - My favorite way to make it.

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Chris_in_SoCal

Master of the Pit
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Feb 18, 2012
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SCV - So Cal
I have made countless Tri-tips over the years and the Santa Maria style was my go to for a long time. That is pretty much what got me started here many years ago. I still love it that way but I keep gong back to this way again and again and never get tired of it. The only difference is the cost of a tri-tip is 3X what they used to cost for many years.

This is for a 2.5 Lb tri-tip. If it is over 3Lb you might want to adjust the seasoning a bit.

Cut the tri-tip into 1.5" - 2" cubes. They don't have to be symmetrical or cut in the "tri-tip way"

Marinade: I have adjusted it many times but I think I have perfected it.

1/2 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
5 tablespoons brown sugar
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
5 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Juice from 3 limes

Marinade the cubes overnight in the fridge. Tossing it a few times helps keep it even.

Place the meat on skewers. Wood, steel or whatever floats your boat. Now I have nice steel ones so that is what I use.

I start the fire with a chimney of Cowboy lump charcoal. Once it has reached the top I toss it in the pit and add a couple splits of Hickory and one of Coastal red Oak. I give them a couple minutes to start burning and place to meat on the fire.

2025_tri_tip_001.jpg


I turn them every 5 minutes or so until they get an IT of at least 140. Usually I push off the top ones into a bowl and give the bottom ones a few more minutes to get up to temp.

What goes perfectly with this is Basmati rice. I am usually making this in the house at the same time. Like the beef I have tweaked it over time to my liking.

3 Cups Basmati rice
1 white onion - medium chopped
2 cloves of garlic - finely chopped
1 group cilantro finely chopped
1 cup fried onion pieces
4 cups of vegetable stock
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon turmeric
1/2 tablespoon cumin

Wash the rice until the water is clear.

In a large pot add the butter on medium heat, then add the chopped onions and garlic. Toast until the onions are translucent.
add in the rice and toast for around 15 minutes stirring every couple of minutes to toast it well.
Add in the vegetable stock and the seasonings. Mix well and cover. Still stir it every couple of minutes.

When the rice is done add in the cilantro and fried onions.

2025_tri_tip_002.jpg


This will make a tasty meal that I bet you will enjoy. I know our family does.
 
Thank you, Chris, I'm gonna try this the next time I get a deal on T.T.
I buy the untrimmed when it goes on sale, and use up the scraps in burger grind.:emoji_thumbsup:
 
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I have made countless Tri-tips over the years and the Santa Maria style was my go to for a long time. That is pretty much what got me started here many years ago. I still love it that way but I keep gong back to this way again and again and never get tired of it. The only difference is the cost of a tri-tip is 3X what they used to cost for many years.

This is for a 2.5 Lb tri-tip. If it is over 3Lb you might want to adjust the seasoning a bit.

Cut the tri-tip into 1.5" - 2" cubes. They don't have to be symmetrical or cut in the "tri-tip way"

Marinade: I have adjusted it many times but I think I have perfected it.

1/2 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
5 tablespoons brown sugar
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
5 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Juice from 3 limes

Marinade the cubes overnight in the fridge. Tossing it a few times helps keep it even.

Place the meat on skewers. Wood, steel or whatever floats your boat. Now I have nice steel ones so that is what I use.

I start the fire with a chimney of Cowboy lump charcoal. Once it has reached the top I toss it in the pit and add a couple splits of Hickory and one of Coastal red Oak. I give them a couple minutes to start burning and place to meat on the fire.

View attachment 717874

I turn them every 5 minutes or so until they get an IT of at least 140. Usually I push off the top ones into a bowl and give the bottom ones a few more minutes to get up to temp.

What goes perfectly with this is Basmati rice. I am usually making this in the house at the same time. Like the beef I have tweaked it over time to my liking.

3 Cups Basmati rice
1 white onion - medium chopped
2 cloves of garlic - finely chopped
1 group cilantro finely chopped
1 cup fried onion pieces
4 cups of vegetable stock
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon turmeric
1/2 tablespoon cumin

Wash the rice until the water is clear.

In a large pot add the butter on medium heat, then add the chopped onions and garlic. Toast until the onions are translucent.
add in the rice and toast for around 15 minutes stirring every couple of minutes to toast it well.
Add in the vegetable stock and the seasonings. Mix well and cover. Still stir it every couple of minutes.

When the rice is done add in the cilantro and fried onions.

View attachment 717875

This will make a tasty meal that I bet you will enjoy. I know our family does.
I wish we had regular access to "real" tri-tip. Or "Latin meat market sells what they call tri-tip but I think its just cut from that area of the cow because it's more rectangular Next time they have their
"Tri-tip sirloin", I'll definitely want to try this.
 
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I'm just gonna come out and say it, I can't flip'in cook rice to save my @$$!!!😩

I get it. I couldn't either until I could. Just make sure to keep stirring it so it does not stick to the bottom and burn. It is easy to forget while doing 10 other things at the same time. This is most important while toasting it before you add the chicken stock. Even after you can't forget to stir it every few minutes.

Plain white rice is easier. Place it in my wife's Zojirushi with water at the marked level and press start. When it sings it's little song the rice is done. The problem with that is I don't like plain white rice.

Heck last week I was cooking some fries in the air frier to go with my meal. I forgot about them and burned the crap out of them. Luckily I had enough time and more in the bag so I was able to make another batch.
 
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I thought I would add the reason I prefer it this way over smoking up a whole tri-tip.

When you cook a whole tri-tip or pretty much any piece of meat the best part to me is the outer most part that contains the most smoke and the stronger marinade. I also like the medium rare center meat but not quite as much as the "skin".

Cutting it up into the chunks you end up with 20-30 mini tri-tips where every bite you get the best of both worlds. The smokey seared well marinated outer layer with the medium rare pure meat in each bite.
 
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