Barbecue doesnt just belong to the South! This Grilled Santa Maria-Style Tri-Tip is a delicious taste of the Central California Coast where it is enjoyed with pinquito beans, salad, tomato salsa, and buttery garlic bread.
This isnt the first recipe Ive shared extolling the merits of good barbecue, and it wont be the last.
Americans love their BBQ! But each state does it a little differently, often because of the influence of available ingredients or the backgrounds of the people living there.
And while Im a HUGE fan of southern food and classic southern bbq, Ive gotta say that they dont have a corner on the barbecue market. At least not where tri-tip is concerned.
And if you havent heard of tri-tip, chances are you havent spent enough time in California, where it is hugely popular. When you say barbecue in many parts of California, you are talking tri-tip, not brisket, ribs, or pulled pork.
To me, Santa Maria-style tri-tip barbecue is all about gathering family and friends together and eating al fresco, something that we do a lot of here in California. Our church does a big event every summer in late July and the tri-tip is always the main part of the event.
Its perfect for holidays like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc. Basically, any time you might consider grilling.
We love making it for Sunday dinner. Traditionally, tri-tip is cooked over huge open grills and served with the traditional sides of pinquito beans, salad, and garlic bread.
Start with the fat side up (in truth it makes no difference. “If you put the fat side of the tri tip on the fire first, the moisture will come up through the meat and make it tender.”) The problem I have with this is that, as the fat warms, it will drip down into the fire and will not evaporate until it’s in the fire.
What is the optimal temperature for Cooking Tri Tip?
Everybody has their own preference on how well done they like their meat. I love a Medium-Rare tri tip with the ends being slightly more cooked and the middle a perfect pink. Also, the temperature of the meat will continue to rise by about 5 degrees while resting. A general rule for temps for tri tip is Medium-Rare : 130F and Medium: 140F and Medium-Well: 150F.
Brief History of Santa Maria Tri-Tip
I found two different origin stories for “authentic” Santa Maria tri-tip and couldnt figure out which is actually true, so Ill share them both here.
In one, the story is that a California butcher in the 1950s named Bob Schutz had too much ground beef and stew meat, so he took the bottom sirloin (what we now call the tri-tip cut) typically used for chopping or grinding and roasted it on a rotisserie. Allegedly, he was the one who started calling this cut of meat tri-tip and the rest is history.
The other story is that the Mexican cowboys and workers in the Santa Maria region would get the less desirable parts of the cattle, including the bottom sirloin, and they were the ones who figured out how to grill it quickly and slice it thin against the grain for tender, juicy bites of perfectly seasoned meat.
Regardless, whoever came up with this method for cooking this particular cut of meat was a genius because it is so incredibly delicious and never fails to satisfy guests.
How to Cook Tri-Tip on the Grill
FAQ
Do you grill tri tip fat side down first?
How do you grill tri tip on a gas grill?
Do you flip a tri-tip on the grill?
How long do you cook a tri-tip on a grill?
Put the tri-tip on the grill and close the lid. Cook for 8 minutes undisturbed. However, if you’d like hashmarks, after 5 minutes, turn the tri-tip 90 degrees without flipping and continue cooking for the remaining 3 minutes. After the tri-tip has been on the first side for 8 minutes, flip it over. Cook for 5 minutes on the second side.
How do you Grill a tri tip roast?
Here’s how to grill tri tip roast. Preheat your grill. Fire up your charcoal grill or gas grill to 350 degrees F for two-zone grilling. Season the tri tip. Season the tri tip roast on all sides with Beef Rub or make your own dry rub with equal parts kosher salt, course black pepper, and garlic powder. Make the mopping liquid.
How do you cook a tri tip steak?
Prior to grilling your tri tip, combine all the ingredients for your mopping liquid in a bowl and set aside. Grill over indirect heat. Place the seasoned roast directly on the grill grates over the indirect heat. Grill the tri tip and flip it every 6-7 minutes. Mop liberally with mopping liquid and a sauce mop after each time you flip the meat.
How do you cook a tri tip?
The bottom line: experiment with how much more flavor you want on your tri tip, but it is such a great tasting piece of meat to begin with so don’t overdo it! 3) Light the grill and bring to medium heat (between 350 – 375 degrees). Preheat for 7-8 minutes.