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I love summer grilling, and I happen to come from the birthplace of one the most popular grilling beef specialties ever, Santa Maria, California, home of tri-tip! If you're a steak lover and never tried tri-tip, it's a must-have, but be warned, it's highly addicting, with a delicious crust and tender, mouth-watering juicy center.

I recently developed a new tri-tip torta recipe because delicious steak and grilled butter bolillos topped with spicy mango salsa will turn any summer meal into a fiesta.

A Santa Maria native, my mama was a barbecue BOSS! And I have fond memories of helping her create her simple tri-tip, marinate, peeling tons of garlic, and then grinding it in our molcajete. And she patiently taught me her grilling techniques, including building fires in our oakwood pit. And, of course, the joy of sitting with family and eating this beloved summer treat.

Santa Maria is a California agriculture powerhouse today with deep cattle country roots. It produces some of the state's best strawberries, lettuce, broccoli, and more and is located about 3 ½ hours south of Los Angeles near the Pacific Coast in a rich fertile valley.

It's also known for its barbecuing over oakwood! It wasn't until I left the dairy farm where I grew up that I fully grasped the magnitude of my culinary good fortune. And even though I went to college in Northern California, I couldn't buy my beloved tri-tip that my mama taught me how to cook. Nor did I know how to use charcoal; I'd always barbecued on oakwood.

Thankfully, tri-tip is mainstream now, and you can find it almost anywhere and can be deliciously grilled on a gas grill, charcoal, or oakwood.

I went on a tri-tip recipe exploration as it grew in popularity. I tried various rubs and more complex marinates. However, my mama's is still my favorite because it complements the flavors of the meat so well and uses a small amount of apple cider vinegar, which makes it so tender.

Please reach out with any questions!

Happy summer grilling! Be well.

Molé Mama

Grilled Tri-Tip Tortas With Mango Salsa Recipes

Make the recipes below to create your tortas!  

Grilled Tri-Tip Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tri-tip roast (2lb - 3lbs)

• 8 large cloves peeled garlic cloves (1 ounce)

• 1 teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon black finely ground black pepper

• ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Tools

• Casserole dish

• Sharp knife

• Cutting Board

• Molcajete or blender

• Measuring spoons

• Large spoon

• Plastic wrap

Step 1 - Marinade

1. Place garlic, salt, and pepper in a molcajete or blender and crush.

2. Add apple cider vinegar and mix well.

Step 2 - Prepare Tri-Tip

1. Trim excess fat

2. Rinse with water and place tri-tip in baking dish

3. Using a spoon, spread the marinade paste all over the service of the tri-tip roast on both sides

4. Cover tri-tip with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 12 - 24 hours before grilling

Step 3 - Grilling Tri-tip

1. Prepare/turn on gas grill to mid high heat (approximately 350 - 400 degrees) or prepare charcoal

2. Remove tri-tip from the refrigerator approximately 20 minutes before placing on the grill.

3. Grill for approximately 45 minutes, until inside temperature is between rare to medium rare (approximately 120 - 130 degrees)

4. Remove tri tip from grill, place in baking pan and cover with tin foil for 20 minutes on counter (do not place in a warm oven unless left rare)

5. Slice thinly against the grain and place back in the pan with meat juices and cover.

Grilled Bolillos Recipe

Ingredients

• 6-8 bolillos

• 1 cup melted butter

• 1 -2 tablespoons of granulated garlic (optional)

Tools

• Glass measuring cup

• Serrated knife

• Large spoon or ladle

• Cookie sheet

• Tin foil

Step 1 - Melt Butter

• Option 1 - Place butter cube/s in a small pan and melt using low heat

• Option 2 - place butter in a glass measuring cup, cover and place in microwave, and melt for approximately 1 minute

Step 2 - Prepare Bolillos

1. Slice in half lengthwise with a serrated knife

2. Using a spoon, a tablespoon, or a ladle, gently spread melted butter on the inside of the bolillo half.

3. Optional - add granulated garlic to the top of the bolillo

Step 3 - Grill Bolillos (approximately 5 - 10 minutes)

1. Turn the grill down to low or medium after removing the tri-tip

2. Place bolillos center side down and toast

3. Toast the other side, watching closely to keep them from burning

4. Remove from grill, place on a cookie sheet, and cover with tin foil to keep warm

Mango Salsa Recipe

Tools

• Sharp knife

• Cutting Board

• Bowl

• Citrus Squeezer

• Potato Peeler

Ingredients

• Five medium-ripe mangos, peeled and diced

• ⅛ cup finely diced white onion

• Two serrano peppers, finely diced

• One jalapeño pepper (all seeds removed) and finely diced

• ½ bunch of cilantro finely diced

• Two limes - juiced

• Salt to taste

Directions

• Place all the diced ingredients in a bowl, add the juice of the 2 limes and mix

• Add salt to taste

• Chill for at least one hour before serving.

Now you're ready to build your Grilled Tri-Tip Tortas! Add thinly sliced tri-tip to your grilled bolillo and top with mango salsa, and let the fun begin!