An asado, the most popular food in Uruguay, is traditionally cooked in a "parrillero", which is a wood fired oven that is typical in the country. A Uruguayan asado is typically accompanied with a simple salad of fresh tomatoes and shredded lettuce served with vinegar and olive oil.
How to make asado the authentic way: in a wood-fired oven
A typical Uruguayan asado will be cooked in a wood fired oven, referred to as a parrillero). Cooking the asado in this kind of oven provides it with a great flavor which can't be found in an asado cooked in other kind of oven. As an alternative, you can cook this dish over an open flame pit or on a charcoal grille, but it requires a lot of tending.
Asado Ingredients:
The ingredients you will need to cook an asado are: cooking oil, salt, water, oregano, garlic and asado meat. The traditional meat used in Uruguay is a "tira de asado", a cut from the beef rib area about 4 inches wide. In addition to the rib section, a traditional Uruguayan asado will also include meat sausages called chorizos, shaped and made like bratwurst or polish kielbasa as well as other types of meats that are made from innards and parts.
Note: I usually stick with the rib section, some picanha, which is a very tasty cut of beef with a nice strip of fat on the outer ring that is cut from the back strap that you may find in specialty meat shops or specialty grocery stores that sell Latino foods), and some kielbasa or brats.
Instructions:
Start cooking the meat at medium temperature. Do not add salt to it prior to beginning to cook. Adding salt to beef before you start cooking it causes it to become dry. Begin cooking the asado with the bone side towards the heat and turn it when is halfway done.
When the meat is halfway done, you should also spread some mojo over it. Mojo is made by mixing salt in some water. You may also want to make chimichurri for when the asado is done. Chimichurri is made by mixing cooking oil, oregano, salt, and garlic (chopped thoroughly) and a bit of bell pepper (also chopped thoroughly) and black or pepper if you wish. Put a pot with chimichurri on the table when you serve the asado and each person can add chimichurri to their dish as they desire.