Fajitas are a Tex-Mex creation. The word “fajita” (pronounced fah-hee-tah) originally only referred to the meat (typically skirt steak) used in this soft taco-like dish. Today, a typical fajita features flavorfully seasoned meat of any kind, tender strips of onion, and slightly crunchy strips of bell pepper.
Fajitas are very easy to make. Each of its main ingredients (the meat, onions, and bell peppers) are sauteed in a pan and (for me anyway) are typically done and ready to eat within half an hour or less. The dish is pretty versatile, making it very family friendly (even for the kids) as you can make it to suit everyone’s tastes (from very spicy to quite mild). It’s also convenient for a buffet-style meal (such as for big families or large gatherings).
You can enjoy the fajitas just by themselves or you can jazz them up with toppings. Some popular and tasty topping suggestions include shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped tomatoes, black beans, chopped lettuce, diced black olives, pico de gallo, salsa, and lime wedges (to squeeze the juice onto the filling).
Fajitas can also be made to appear very colorful by using a variety of bell peppers (red, green, yellow, or orange). You could also switch it up by using other kinds of peppers (which may also affect its temperature).
For sides, you could serve traditional Mexican rice, plain rice, refried beans, or black beans. A simple tossed salad where the lettuce is lightly dusted with taco seasoning also goes well.
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