Description
Sizzling Mexican street tacos with carne asada bring authentic flavors straight from Mexico’s bustling markets to your kitchen. Juicy marinated beef, fresh cilantro, and zesty lime create a mouthwatering experience you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 lbs (900g) skirt or flank steak
Marinade Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (60ml) orange juice
- ¼ cup (60ml) lime juice (about 2 limes)
- ¼ cup (60ml) olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Taco Assembly Ingredients:
- 12 small corn tortillas
- ½ cup diced white onion
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges, for serving
- Salsa, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade by blending citrus juices, olive oil, aromatic herbs, and robust spices in a capacious mixing vessel, creating a vibrant flavor foundation for the protein.
- Immerse the beef cut thoroughly in the marinade, ensuring complete coverage, and refrigerate to allow the ingredients to meld and tenderize for a minimum of 60 minutes, maximizing flavor penetration.
- Heat the grilling surface to intense temperatures, removing the marinated meat and allowing excess liquid to drip away, promoting optimal caramelization.
- Sear the protein swiftly, cooking approximately 4-5 minutes per side to achieve a succulent medium-rare texture, monitoring doneness carefully.
- Transfer the grilled meat to a resting platform, permitting internal juices to redistribute, which enhances tenderness and flavor concentration.
- While meat rests, rapidly warm corn tortillas on the residual grill heat or in a cast-iron skillet, creating slight char and enhancing their pliability.
- Slice the rested protein against the grain into delicate, uniform strips, ensuring maximum tenderness and aesthetic appeal.
- Construct individual tacos by layering thin meat slices onto warm tortillas, garnishing with finely diced white onions and fresh cilantro.
- Finalize each taco with a zesty lime juice squeeze and optional salsa, serving immediately to preserve optimal temperature and texture.
Notes
- Choose high-quality skirt or flank steak for authentic flavor and tender texture when grilling carne asada.
- Maximize marinade effectiveness by piercing meat with fork before adding liquid mixture to help seasonings penetrate deeply.
- Keep tortillas fresh by wrapping in clean kitchen towel after warming to maintain softness and prevent drying out.
- For gluten-free adaptation, verify corn tortillas are 100% corn and produced in gluten-free facility to ensure dietary safety.
- Create vegetarian version by substituting steak with grilled portobello mushrooms or seasoned plant-based protein for similar texture and taste profile.
- Enhance meal’s nutrition by adding fresh avocado slices or introducing quick pickled radishes for extra crunch and vibrant flavor contrast.
- Control spice levels by adjusting chili powder quantity or using milder pepper varieties for sensitive palates while maintaining authentic Mexican street taco essence.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg