Cardiff Crack is a seasoned beef dish that is a specialty of the Seaside Market in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a small coastal community in San Diego County, California.
I’m going to share with you my step-by-step instructions for making Cardiff Crack at home. I’ll also answer some frequently asked questions about this famous beef jerky.
It is made by marinating tri-tip beef in a secret blend of herbs and spices, then roasting it until it is cooked to medium-rare or medium doneness. The resulting beef is tender, juicy, and flavorful, with a slightly sweet and smoky taste.
The Seaside Market began selling Cardiff Crack in the early 1990s, and it has since become a local favorite, as well as a popular dish for visitors to the area. The market also sells pre-packaged Cardiff Crack seasoning that customers can use to make the dish at home.
How To Make Cardiff Crack From Scratch
Cardiff Crack is worth preparing if you like beef jerky, in my opinion. Store-bought beef jerky can’t match the flavorful marinade and smoky flavor.
You may also customize the marinade when you make Cardiff Crack at home. Try adding additional garlic, smoking with different wood, or using different pieces of beef.
Preparing beef jerky is enjoyable. It’s a fun way to spend an afternoon and makes a tasty snack you can eat for weeks.
Cardiff Crack takes some planning and equipment, so it may not be for everyone. If you like beef jerky like me, try it. Discover a new favorite food.
Cardiff Crack Ingredients
The first step in making Cardiff Crack is to gather all of your ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2-3 lbs of tri-tip beef
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
You’ll also need a smoker, wood chips, and some butcher’s twine.
Step by Step Instructions To Make Cardiff Crack From Scratch
Prepare the Marinade
The marinade is the key to making great Cardiff Crack, so you want to make sure you get it just right. In a large mixing bowl, combine the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Mix everything together until the brown sugar is fully dissolved.
Prepare the Beef
Next, it’s time to prepare the beef. Trim off any excess fat and slice the tri-tip into thin, even strips. You want the strips to be about 1/4 inch thick. Once you’ve sliced the beef, add it to the marinade and toss everything together until the beef is fully coated.
Marinate the Beef
Once the beef is fully coated in the marinade, cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours. You can marinate the beef for up to 48 hours if you want a stronger flavor.
Smoke the Beef
After the beef has marinated, it’s time to smoke it. Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees Fahrenheit and add your wood chips. Hickory or mesquite wood chips work well with Cardiff Crack, but you can use whatever type of wood you prefer.
Take the beef out of the marinade and pat it dry with paper towels. Cut a length of butcher’s twine and tie it around one end of each strip of beef. Hang the beef strips from the smoker racks, making sure there is space between each strip.
Smoke the beef for about 2-3 hours, or until it reaches your desired level of smokiness. The beef should be firm but not rock-hard. You want it to have a little bit of give when you bend it.
Enjoy Your Cardiff Crack!
Once the beef is smoked, take it out of the smoker and let it cool for a few minutes. Then, slice it into thin strips and enjoy! Cardiff Crack is a great snack on its own, but it also makes a delicious addition to sandwiches and salads.
Cardiff Crack Faq’s
Why is Cardiff Crack so tender?
Cardiff Crack is so tender because of the way it’s prepared. The beef is marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and other flavorful ingredients, which helps to break down the muscle fibers and make it more tender.
How to cook Cardiff Crack steak?
Cardiff Crack is typically made with beef sirloin, which can be cooked using a variety of methods including grilling, broiling, or pan-frying. To cook a Cardiff Crack steak, simply prepare it as you would any other steak, using your preferred cooking method.
How long do you cook Cardiff Crack?
The cooking time for Cardiff Crack will depend on the thickness of the steak and the cooking method you choose. Generally, it takes around 4-6 minutes per side to cook a steak to medium rare.
What type of meat is Cardiff Crack?
Cardiff Crack is typically made with beef sirloin, which is a lean and flavorful cut of meat.
Why is it called Cardiff Crack?
“Cardiff Crack” refers to its addicting taste. Cardiff Crack, originally called Burgundy Pepper Tri Tip, was produced in 1986 at Cardiff Seaside Market by brothers Pete and John Najjar. Customers renamed it Cardiff Crack.
How do you know when beef joint is done?
The best way to know when a beef joint is done is to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. For a medium-rare joint, the internal temperature should be around 135°F (57°C).
How To Serve Cardiff Crack
There are so many ways to enjoy Cardiff Crack! Here are a few of my favorites:
This beef jerky is delicious right out of the container. It’s perfect for on-the-go protein boosts.
Cardiff Crack strips elevate a sandwich. It tastes great with sharp cheddar cheese, lettuce, and tomato.
Cardiff Crack enhances salads. I slice it into little pieces and sprinkle it over a bed of greens with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and avocado.
Cardiff Crack, crackers, and your favorite cheese make a tasty appetizer. Beef jerky’s smokiness complements sharp cheddar or creamy brie.
How To Store and Reheat
Cardiff Crack stays fresh and delicious with careful storage. Store and reheat homemade beef jerky:
After drying, store Cardiff Crack in an airtight jar. This keeps beef jerky dry and fresh. Mason jars or Ziploc bags work.
Cool, dry storage prevents beef jerky from spoiling. A pantry or cupboard operates. It can get moist in the fridge or freezer.
Reheat lightly in the oven or microwave if you like Cardiff Crack warm. Heat beef jerky on a baking sheet in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 5-10 minutes. Heat beef jerky on a microwave-safe dish for 15-20 seconds to warm.
Homemade beef jerky can last several weeks if stored properly, but it’s better to eat it within a few weeks after creating it. It’ll stay fresh and tasty.
Easy Cardiff Crack Recipe
Equipment
- smoker
- wood chips
- butcher's twine.
Ingredients
- 2-3 lbs of tri-tip beef
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- n a large mixing bowl, combine the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Mix everything together until the brown sugar is fully dissolved.
- it’s time to prepare the beef. Trim off any excess fat and slice the tri-tip into thin, even strips. You want the strips to be about 1/4 inch thick. Once you’ve sliced the beef, add it to the marinade and toss everything together until the beef is fully coated.
- Once the beef is fully coated in the marinade, cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours. You can marinate the beef for up to 48 hours if you want a stronger flavor.
- After the beef has marinated, it’s time to smoke it. Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees Fahrenheit and add your wood chips. Hickory or mesquite wood chips work well with Cardiff Crack, but you can use whatever type of wood you prefer.
- Take the beef out of the marinade and pat it dry with paper towels. Cut a length of butcher’s twine and tie it around one end of each strip of beef. Hang the beef strips from the smoker racks, making sure there is space between each strip.
- Smoke the beef for about 2-3 hours, or until it reaches your desired level of smokiness. The beef should be firm but not rock-hard. You want it to have a little bit of give when you bend it.
