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authentic carne asada tacos

Authentic Carne Asada Tacos with Fresh Red Salsa

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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • - 2-3 lbs skirt steak or flank steak
  • - ¼ cup fresh lime juice 2 limes
  • - ½ cup fresh orange juice 2 oranges
  • - 6 garlic cloves minced
  • - 1 jalapeño seeded and minced
  • - ½ cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • - 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • - 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • - 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • - 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • - 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • - 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • - 4-5 Roma tomatoes
  • - 2-3 dried chiles de árbol
  • - 2 dried guajillo chiles
  • - 1 small white onion quartered
  • - 2 garlic cloves for salsa
  • - 1 teaspoon kosher salt for salsa
  • - 16-20 small corn tortillas
  • - Diced white onion and cilantro for serving
  • - Lime wedges

Method
 

  1. Marinate steak in citrus juices, garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, soy sauce, oil, and spices for 2-24 hours.
  2. Toast dried chiles and rehydrate in hot water for 15-20 minutes. Char tomatoes until blackened.
  3. Blend rehydrated chiles with charred tomatoes, onion, garlic, and salt until smooth for salsa.
  4. Preheat grill to high heat (450-500°F) and remove steak from marinade.
  5. Grill steak 3-4 minutes per side until charred outside and medium-rare inside (130-135°F).
  6. Rest meat 5-10 minutes, then slice against the grain. Serve on warm tortillas with salsa and toppings.

Notes

- Marinate overnight for best flavor and tenderness
- Always slice against the grain for tender meat
- Can substitute flank steak if skirt steak unavailable
- Red salsa improves in flavor after 24 hours

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