Carne Asada Tacos (Grilled Steak Tacos with Tomato Salsa)
Why this recipe works
- Big flavour, short marinade: Lime, cumin, salt and oil season the skirt steak quickly without masking its beefy flavour.
- Charred and fresh: Hot grilled steak contrasts with juicy tomato salsa, crisp onion and soft warm tortillas.
- Fast to cook: Skirt steak grills quickly over high heat, making these tacos practical for a weeknight meal.
Get the most out of this recipe
Adjust the heat
- For gentler heat: Remove the jalapeño seeds and white membrane before chopping, or use a little less chilli in the salsa.
- For more heat: Swap the jalapeño for serrano pepper, or add extra chopped chilli to the salsa just before serving.
- Keep it balanced: Use extra lime and coriander if the salsa tastes too fiery; acidity and herbs help keep the heat fresh rather than heavy.
Timing notes
- Keep the marinade brief: The lime-based marinade only needs a short time at room temperature; leaving the steak too long can start to affect the surface texture.
- Rest before slicing: A short rest helps the juices settle, making the steak easier to slice and less likely to dry out.
- Serve straight away: These tacos are at their best while the steak is hot, the tortillas are pliable and the salsa still tastes fresh.
Texture tips
- Slice against the grain: Cut the rested skirt steak thinly across the muscle fibres for the most tender bite.
- Use high heat: A hot grill gives skirt steak its characteristic charred edges before the inside overcooks.
- Warm tortillas briefly: Toast the corn tortillas just until pliable and lightly marked so they hold the filling without becoming brittle or damp.
Ingredient notes
- Skirt steak works well: Skirt steak has a loose grain and strong beef flavour, which makes it especially suited to quick grilling and thin slicing.
- Use ripe tomatoes: Ripe tomatoes give the salsa better sweetness and juiciness, balancing the lime and chilli.
- If using flank steak: Flank steak can be a little leaner, so slice it especially thinly and avoid overcooking for the best texture.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Finely chop the tomatoes, jalapeno pepper, half the white onion, and most of the fresh coriander (reserve a little coriander for serving). Squeeze 1 lime into a bowl, then stir in the chopped salsa ingredients with a pinch of the fine sea salt and a little black pepper. Set aside while you cook the steak so the flavours mingle.
- Squeeze the remaining lime into a bowl and mix with the ground cumin, vegetable oil, remaining fine sea salt, and remaining black pepper. Add the beef skirt steak and turn to coat well. Leave to marinate for 10 minutes at room temperature while you heat the grill to high.
- Grill the steak for 3 to 5 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until nicely charred and cooked to your liking. Transfer to a board and rest for 5 minutes. Slice thinly against the grain, then squeeze over any resting juices from the board for extra flavour.
- Warm the corn tortillas on the grill for about 20 to 30 seconds per side until pliable and lightly toasted. Fill each tortilla with sliced steak, then top with the remaining chopped white onion and reserved fresh coriander. Spoon over the tomato salsa and serve straight away with any extra lime wedges, if you like.
Recipe notes
Tips
- For the most tender bite, always slice the skirt steak thinly against the grain after resting.
- If you prefer less heat, remove the jalapeno pepper seeds before chopping it into the salsa.
- If serving to anyone vulnerable, cook the steak until well done and piping hot throughout.
Substitutions
- Replace Beef skirt steak with Beef flank steak, keeping the same marinade and grilling time but slicing extra thinly.
- Replace Jalapeno pepper with Serrano pepper for a hotter salsa.
- Replace Fresh coriander with Fresh flat-leaf parsley if you dislike coriander.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 2 days
- Store steak and salsa separately in airtight containers. Reheat the steak in a hot frying pan with a small splash of water until piping hot, and warm the corn tortillas just before serving; the salsa is best served cold.
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Recipe overview
- Servings: 2 servings
- Total time: 30min (20min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Mexican
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