Carne Asada Soft Tacos Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, lime juice, orange juice, garlic, jalapeño, chopped cilantro, salt, coriander, cumin, pepper, and chili powder.
• Place the steak in a gallon-size resealable bag. Pour in 1 cup (240 ml) of the marinade and set the rest aside. Seal the bag and shake to evenly coat the steak in the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 4 hours.
• In a small saucepan, bring the reserved ½ cup (120 ml) of marinade to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until thickened and reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Heat a large grill pan over high heat until very hot. Remove the steak from the bag and discard the marinade. Cook the steak on 1 side until there are dark grill marks and it is beginning to caramelize around the edges, about 6 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side for 5 minutes for medium rare, or 7 minutes for medium. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes.
• Working in batches, heat the corn tortillas in a pan over medium-high heat, turning with tongs, until softened and just beginning to brown in spots, about 1 minute per side. Wrap the toasted tortillas in foil to keep warm.
• Thinly slice the steak against the grain, then cut the slices in half. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with the reduced marinade to coat.
• Serve the steak with the warm tortillas, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, cotija cheese, and cilantro leaves, if desired.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Lay the flank steak in a large glass baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar, soy sauce, 4 cloves of garlic, juice of two limes and olive oil. Season with salt, black pepper, white pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, oregano, cumin and paprika. Whisk until well blended, then pour over the steak in the dish. Turn over once to coat both sides. Cover with plastic wrap, and marinate for 1 to 8 hours.
• NOW THE ONION RELISH: In a small bowl, stir together 1 chopped white onion, cilantro and the juice of 1 lime. Set aside to use as a relish for the tacos.
• FOR THE PUREED CHILE SALSA: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Toast chile pods in the skillet for a few minutes, and then remove to a bowl of water to soak for about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Place the tomatoes, 1 onion, jalapenos and 4 cloves of garlic onto a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for about 20 minutes, until toasted but not burnt. Place the roasted vegetables and soaked chile pods into a blender or food processor, along with salt and pepper. Puree until smooth.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cut the marinated flank steak into cubes or strips. Cook, stirring constantly, until the meat is cooked through and most of the liquid has evaporated.
• Warm the tortillas in a skillet for about a minute on each side to make them pliable. Tortillas may also be warmed in a microwave oven. Arrange two or three tortillas on a plate and lay a generous amount of beef over them. Top with a sprinkle of the onion relish and a large spoonful of the pureed salsa. Add as much cheese as you like. Garnish with lime wedges and serve.

Steps:

• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cumin seed and cook, stirring occasionally, until toasted, about 1 minute. Transfer to a small bowl. Add the chilies and garlic to the skillet. Cook over medium high heat, turning occasionally, until both are soft and blotchy black in spots, about 5 minutes. Remove from the skillet and cool. Add the chilies, garlic, toasted cumin seeds, oil, brown sugar and lime juice, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper to a blender and process until very smooth. Transfer the marinade to a large re-sealable plastic bag and add the steak. Shake well to coat, refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours.
• Prepare a grill for high heat.
• Remove the steaks from the marinade and shake off any excess. Brush the grill grates lightly with oil, lay the steak on the grill and cook until very well charred and grill marks appear, about 5 minutes. Turn the steaks and continue to cook until nicely charred, about 1 to 3 minutes more depending on thickness. Transfer the steaks to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. While the steak rests, brush the scallions lightly with oil and grill, turning once until wilted and charred, about 2 minutes. Coarsely chop.
• Warm the tortillas on the grill grates. Thinly slice the steak against the grain on a bias. Double the tortillas then top with the steak, grilled scallions, guacamole and pico de gallo. Serve with lime wedges.

Steps:

• Additional toppings to taste (I use jalapenos, pepperoncinis, tomato, spinach/lettuce).
• Preheat grill.
• Sprinkle lime juice over steak and season both sides with salt and pepper.
• Grease rack with olive oil before placing steak on grill.
• Grill until desired doneness is reached.
• Transfer to a cutting board to rest.
• Thinly slice across the grain.
• Quickly warm tortillas on grill, about 5 seconds per side.
• Serve meat in tortillas with salsa, avocado, onion and cilantro.
• Note: these can easily be done on the stove top!

Steps:

• Lay the flank steak in a large glass baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar, soy sauce, 4 cloves of garlic, juice of two limes, and olive oil. Season with salt, black pepper, white pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, oregano, cumin and paprika. Whisk until well blended, then pour over the steak in the dish. Turn over once to coat both sides. Cover with plastic wrap, and marinate in refrigerator overnight.
• In a small bowl, stir together 1 chopped white onion, cilantro, and the juice of 1 lime. Set aside to use as a relish for the tacos.
• Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Toast chile pods in the skillet for a few minutes, then remove to a bowl of water to soak for about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Place the tomatoes, 1 onion, jalapenos, and 4 cloves of garlic onto a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for about 20 minutes, until toasted but not burnt. Place the roasted vegetables, and soaked chile pods into a blender or food processor, along with salt and pepper. Puree until smooth.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cut the marinated flank steak into cubes or strips. Cook, stirring constantly, until the meat is cooked through and most of the liquid has evaporated.
• Warm the tortillas in a skillet for about a minute on each side to make them pliable. Tortillas may also be warmed in a microwave oven. Arrange two or three tortillas on a plate, and lay a generous amount of beef over them. Top with a sprinkle of the onion relish and a large spoonful of the pureed salsa. Add as much cheese as you like. Garnish with lime wedges, and serve.

Steps:

• Lay the flank steak in a large baking dish and pour the mojo over it. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour or up to 8 hours, so the flavors can sink into the meat. Don't marinate the steak for more than 8 hours though, or the fibers break down too much and the meat gets mushy.
• Preheat an outdoor grill or a ridged grill pan over medium-high flame (you can also use a broiler). Brush the grates with a little oil to prevent the meat from sticking. Pull the steak out of the mojo marinade and season the steak on both sides with salt and pepper. Grill (or broil) the steak for 7 to 10 minutes per side, turning once, until medium-rare. Remove the steak to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to settle. Thinly slice the steak across the grain on a diagonal.
• Warm the tortillas for 30 seconds on each side in a dry skillet or on the grill, until toasty and pliable.
• To make the tacos, stack up 2 of the warm tortillas, lay about 4 ounces of beef down the center, and sprinkle with some lettuce, onion, and cheese. Top each taco with a spoonful of the Pico de Gallo salsa and garnish with lime wedges. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
• In a mortar and pestle or bowl, mash together the garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, salt, and pepper to make a paste. Put the paste in a glass jar or plastic container. Add the lime juice, orange juice, vinegar, and oil. Shake it up really well to combine. Use as a marinade for chicken or beef or as a table condiment.
• Yield: approximately 1 1/4 cups
• In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients together. Toss thoroughly. Let it sit for 15 minutes hour to allow the flavors to marry.
• Yield: 2 cups

Steps:

• Make tortillas, if you're using Homemade Tortillas.
• Marinate the steak: Spread the jalapenos in a baking dish and press the steak on top. Cover and set aside at room temperature, about 1 hour.
• Preheat a grill or grill pan to high. Brush the jalapenos off the steak, pat dry and season with salt and pepper. Grill the steak for 4 to 6 minutes per side for medium-rare. Let rest 10 minutes, then slice.
• Assemble the tacos: For each taco, stack 2 tortillas and lay a few pieces of steak in the middle. Top with onion, salsa and cilantro. Top with lime wedges.
• Toast the chiles in a dry skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat, shaking the pan, about 2 minutes. Pour 1/2 cup boiling water on top, cover and let soak 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat a grill or grill pan to high. Grill the tomatoes, turning, until charred. Transfer to a food processor. Add the chiles and their soaking water, onion, garlic, oregano, lime juice, sugar and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt; pulse until chunky. Set aside, about 1 hour. Garnish with cilantro.
• Put the masa harina in a bowl and gradually stir in 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water with a fork.
• Add 3 or 4 more tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and mix with your hands until the dough comes together.
• Knead until soft and pliable, then gather into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and set aside, 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough into Ping-Pong-size balls, moistening your hands with water to keep the dough from sticking. Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with plastic wrap; keep covered with more plastic as you roll the rest of the dough.
• First, set a large griddle over two burners; heat one side to medium-low and the other to medium-high (or use two cast-iron skillets).
• Cut a circle slightly larger than your tortilla press from a large resealable plastic bag; include the seam of the bag in your circle so that the two circles remain attached on one side.
• Place a dough ball between the plastic rounds and flatten in a tortilla press into a 5-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. (If you don't have a tortilla press, use a coffee can to flatten the dough.)
• Peel off the top piece of plastic; flip the tortilla onto your hand and peel off the bottom piece of plastic.
• Ease the tortilla onto the cooler side of the griddle and cook until it is slightly dry around the edges and starts to peel away from the griddle, about 45 seconds. Transfer to the hotter side of the griddle, uncooked-side down. Cook until speckled on the bottom, about 1 minute, then flip and cook until puffed in spots, about 1 more minute. Press and cook the remaining tortillas; stack them in a cloth-lined basket and cover with the cloth, or wrap in foil and keep warm in a 250 degrees F oven.

Steps:

• Cover flank steak on one side with the pickled jalapenos, then turn over let sit at room temperature, covered for 1 hour.
• Preheat the grill or broiler.
• Season both sides of the steak with salt and pepper and place on a hot grill or under the broiler. Cook the steak for 5 to 6 minutes on each side (for medium rare), and then chop into 1/4-inch pieces.
• Heat a small saute pan and add 1 tablespoon canola oil. Warm corn tortillas for 30 seconds on each side, adding more oil as necessary. Stack 2 tortillas together, place the meat in the center of the tortillas and top with the onion and cilantro. Drizzle a teaspoon of the salsa de arbol on top of each taco.

Steps:

• Place sliced meat into a shallow bowl, and season with salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Squeeze the lime juice over the meat, and turn until evenly coated. Cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• In a blender or food processor, combine tomatillo and jalapeno. Puree for 15 to 20 seconds, or until thick. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Carefully pour in tomatillo mixture. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Stir in beef broth. Reduce heat, and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until mixture coats a spoon. Transfer mixture to a serving dish.
• Heat tablespoon oil in a large skillet over high heat. Stir in 1/3 of the beef, and saute for 1 minute. Transfer to serving dish. Repeat with remaining beef. Meanwhile, heat tortillas in the oven or microwave, according to package instructions.
• To serve, place two tortillas on top of each other. Add desired amount of meat, spoon over some tomatillo mixture. Top with onions, tomatoes, avocado and cilantro. Garnish with a wedge of lemon, to be squeezed over taco before eating.

Steps:

• In a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish, combine the butter, tequila, thyme, serrano, garlic and cilantro and mix well. Transfer steak to the marinade and sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes or in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours.
• Preheat a large griddle or skillet over medium-high heat and brush with olive oil. Cook the steak, turning occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes per side for medium-rare. Let rest on a plate covered with aluminum foil for 10 minutes. Cut the meat against the grain into 1/2-inch pieces.
• On the same griddle used to cook the steak, over medium-high heat, place 3 (1/4 cup) mounds of cheese spaced 2 inches apart. Let cook for 3 minutes (the cheese will spread flat like a tortilla, make sure they don't stick together). After the cheese browns on the bottom (the cheese will stay white on the top side), add 1/4 cup sliced meat over half of the cheese and fold the other half over like a half moon-shaped quesadilla. Transfer to a baking sheet and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. Repeat the procedure with the remaining ingredients.
• Serve each cheese taco with sliced avocado and salsa or hot sauce.