Carne Asada Tacos

 

How To Make Carne Asada Tacos

INGREDIENTS

• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro is a must here, not only for providing fresh flavor to our marinade, but as a topping for our tacos.
• Chipotle Chile in Adobo: I’m adding chipotles in adobo, plus a bit of the sauce, to give some added heat to our carne asada marinade.
• Scallions: Scallions add even more green, and add a mild onion flavor.
• Garlic: Garlic is non-negotiable here, I’m sorry. I’m going with 3 cloves, finely chopped, which will impart plenty of flavor after marinating.
• Lime & Orange: When it comes to citrus, the traditional choice for carne asada is sour orange (also known as Seville orange). Depending on where you live, those can be tough to find, so we swapped the sour orange for a navel orange and added a bit of extra lime juice to balance the sweetness.
• Canola Oil: We want to use a neutral oil here that won’t give off flavor to our meat, and can also take to a high heat.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Worcestershire sauce will add a subtle, complex sweetness.
• Cumin: I reach for cumin frequently, and this recipe is no exception. It adds plenty of flavor even in small amounts.
• Steak: Both skirt and flank steak have an intensely beefy flavor and cook quickly on a grill or grill pan, but if you can’t find either of those, you can also make a knockout carne asada with hanger or flat-iron steak. Be mindful that your cooking time will change based on the cut you use. This recipe calls for skirt steak, which is a particularly forgiving cut of meat that will stay tender even when cooked past medium-rare.
• Tortillas: Corn tortillas are not only traditional, but are my personal preference. That being said, if you’re a flour person, you can use that instead.
• Toppings: When it comes to taco toppings, don’t go too crazy. Remember, the meat is the star of the show. Keep it classic with chopped white onion, cilantro, and red radish. You can also slice up an avocado or add your favorite salsa or crema.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

First, we’ll create our marinade. The secret to great carne asada is all in creating a killer marinade, so we aren’t cutting corners here. Add cilantro, chipotle chile, adobo sauce, scallions, garlic, lime zest, orange zest, orange juice, canola oil, Worcestershire sauce, cumin, salt, and pepper to a food processor or blender, then blend until smooth.