Skirt Steak Fajitas With Lime and Black Pepper

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Tips on how to keep your belly and wallet full.

From the kitchen of Sara Moulton

Ingredients

2 large onions, peeled and cut lengthwise into 6 wedges, leaving root ends intact

2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

2 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

2 lb. skirt steak, halved crosswise

2 1/2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper

18 flour tortillas

1 cup fresh cilantro leaves

1 red bell pepper, sliced into 1/2-inch strips

1 yellow bell pepper, sliced into 1/2-inch strips

2 small zucchinis, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds

Cooking Directions

Prepare grill for cooking.

Thread onions onto skewers (or put in grill basket), then brush with 1/2 tablespoon oil and season with salt and pepper. When fire is medium-hot (you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds), grill onions, turning occasionally, until tender, 16 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board. When just cool enough to handle, cut onions into 1-inch pieces and toss with vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

While onions are grilling, stir together lime juice and remaining teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoons oil in a shallow dish, then add steak and marinate at room temperature, turning once, 10 minutes.

Pat steak dry, then rub with pepper. Grill steak on lightly oiled grill rack, turning once, 6 to 10 minutes total for medium-rare. Transfer to cutting board, then let stand 5 minutes before cutting diagonally into thin slices.

While steak is standing, toast tortillas directly on grill rack, turning once, until puffed slightly and browned in spots, about 1 minute total. Serve steak, onions, cilantro, and salsa all wrapped in tortillas.

Cooks' notes: If you aren't able to grill, onions (no need to skewer) and steak can be cooked in a lightly oiled well-seasoned ridged grill pan over moderately high heat and tortillas can be toasted over gas (hold with tongs) or directly on top of electric burners. Cut skirt steak into pieces to fit in grill pan and grill in batches without crowding.

Accompaniment: Tomato salsa; lime wedges; sour cream.

Recipe courtesy "The Gourmet Cookbook"; Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004.