Midar / Carne Assada com Ai-Manas (Timorese Chili-Lime & Garlic Grilled Beef Skewers) – Authentic Timor-Leste Recipe
Smoky grilled beef skewers served with Timor-Leste’s signature citrusy ai-manas pepper relish.
- Country of Origin
- 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste (Southeast Asia, Asia)
- Dietary Profile
- omnivore
- Prep Time
- 15 min
- Cook Time
- 18 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Signature Staples
- Marinated beef sirloin cubes, Batar da’an corn-pumpkin side, Fiery ai-manas chili-lime relish, Fresh calamansi/lime juice, Crushed garlic
Ingredients for Midar / Carne Assada com Ai-Manas (Timorese Chili-Lime & Garlic Grilled Beef Skewers) (4 Servings)
- 1.25 lbs (or 2.5 cups) marinated beef sirloin cubes, prepped into bite-sized pieces
- 1.5 cups batar da’an corn-pumpkin side, washed and trimmed
- 1 cup fiery ai-manas chili-lime relish
- 1 medium onion and 3 cloves garlic, finely minced with fresh calamansi/lime juice
- 1.5 tbsp traditional Timor-Leste seasoning (crushed garlic, ginger, soy-tamarind glaze, chili)
- 2.5 tbsp traditional cooking oil, sea salt, cracked black pepper, and fresh citrus or herbs
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
- Whisk together fresh calamansi/lime juice, crushed garlic, ginger, soy-tamarind glaze, chili, cooking oil, and sea salt in a bowl to form a fragrant Timor-Leste marinade.
- Coat marinated beef sirloin cubes and batar da’an corn-pumpkin side thoroughly in the seasoning and let sit for 10 minutes at room temperature.
- Heat a cast-iron grill pan or heavy skillet over high heat until smoking hot.
- Sear marinated beef sirloin cubes and batar da’an corn-pumpkin side for 4–5 minutes per side until blistered, charred at the edges, and cooked through.
- Transfer to a warm platter, scatter with fiery ai-manas chili-lime relish, and serve immediately.