“If you’re eating at Mercado Central in El Salvador, you’ll likely get your steak with a side of chimol,” says chef Anthony Salguero of Popoca in Oakland. “Chimol is basically a radish pico de gallo. The combination of radish and chile delivers two kinds of heat: The radish gives that peppery, nose-clearing spice while the chile gets your tongue tingling. Crunchy, spicy, and acidic, it’s exactly what you want with steak.” And you’ll also want Worcestershire sauce. “In El Salvador, Worcestershire sauce—or salsa inglesa as it’s called there—is everywhere,” says Salguero. “It’s always on the table when you’re eating hanger steak.”
Recipe information
Yield
4 Servings
Ingredients
½
2
1
8
1
¼
1
Preparation
Step 1
Prepare a grill for medium-high heat; oil grate with vegetable oil. Toss lime juice, red onion, chiles, garlic, radishes, and cilantro in a medium bowl. Season generously with salt and pepper. Stir in ¼ cup olive oil. Let chimol sit at room temperature while the steak cooks.
Step 2
Season steak with salt and pepper, then rub all over with remaining 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Grill, turning occasionally, until deeply browned on the outside and cooked to desired doneness, 8–12 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer to a cutting board and generously drizzle with Worcestershire sauce. Let sit 5 minutes before thinly slicing.
Step 3
Serve steak with chimol, tortillas, and more Worcestershire sauce.
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Reviews (5)
Back to TopYUM. I didn't know what to expect of the chimol, but it was the perfect compliment to the steak. Served with the Super Refried Beans (in the same issue) and homemade Salvadoran style tortillas (mixed masa with water until a dough formed, formed small balls, patted flat, and cooked on a dry skillet until cooked).
crs7
Atlanta, GA
10/14/2020