Easy Carne Asada Street Tacos recipe (2024)

FAQs

What cut of meat is used for carne asada tacos? ›

In Central and South America, we call pretty much any barbecued or grilled meat asado (or carne asada). The BEST cuts for the Mexican version of the dish we all know and love are either skirt steak or flank steak. Personally, I prefer skirt steak (pictured).

How Much Carne Asada per Person? You'll need approximately ½ pound of meat per person served, although your guests can easily eat more if the carne asada is the star of the show and not a topping or addition to a more filling meal.

Corn tortillas are the BEST to use for these, but you could use flour tortillas if you like. Heat my corn tortillas on a griddle or skillet for a few minutes on each side. You could also throw them on the grill for a few seconds.

Cheeses: I love to use cotija cheese for tacos, but queso fresco or any Mexican blend will work. Fresh Veggies: Thinly slice some radish for an extra fresh crunch.

Beef

Carne asada / Main ingredient

Beef is the culinary name for meat from cattle. Beef can be prepared in various ways; cuts are often used for steak, which can be cooked to varying degrees of doneness, while trimmings are often ground or minced, as found in most hamburgers. Beef contains protein, iron, and vitamin B12.

Wikipedia

Skirt steak is the cut of choice for carne asada throughout Southern California and it's my favorite too. But if you can't find it, you can substitute flap, flank, hanger, or top round (London broil). Skirt is the flattest of the cuts, so it doesn't take long to marinate or cook.

You can marinate the meat too long. The citrus in the marinade can break down the meat too much and can cause it to be mushy, dry, and actually tough. I wouldn't marinate any longer than 12 hours. Some can get carnitas and carne asada confused with each other but they couldn't be any more different.

Most people will eat about 1 to 2 ounces of meat per taco. For 20 people figure at least 70 to 80 tacos. That's about 10 pounds of meat roughly. People tend to fill tacos with solid meats like not ground beef or chicken with less meat fillings than ground meats.

As a general rule, you should plan for about 1/4 to 1/2 pound of meat per person when making tacos. So for a family of four, you'll need around 1 to 2 pounds of ground beef. Of course, this can vary depending on your personal preferences and appetite, so adjust accordingly.

Mexicans fondly refer to this as 'la copia' (literally: the copy). If you ask around, you'll be given many reasons for this. But a popular explanation is that the second tortilla can be used to make another taco with any fillings that spill out the side.

What onions for street tacos? ›

This carne asada tacos recipe consists of a skirt steak marinated in lime juice, spices and garlic. It's grilled over a super high heat in a few minutes, resulting in flavorful, earthy and delicious carne asada. Serve it with tortillas, avocado, aguas frescas and an array of salsas and cotija for a delicious dinner.

The term carne asada in Spanish translates to roasted or grilled meat in English. That's why it's important to recognize that, in Mexico, carne asada refers to how the beef is cooked rather than a specific recipe.

As the finishing touch on spicy stews, saucy enchiladas, and tacos, it's hard to beat crumbled cotija or queso fresco. Find out more about these two essential cheeses in Mexican cooking, as well as how to properly substitute the two cheeses for one another.

Use flank steak. It is a lean cut of beef and is best when cooked to medium rare and thinly sliced, making it perfect for tacos. Only marinate the steak in lime juice for 30 minutes or the steak will get mushy. This is a quick and easy recipe, you don't have to marinate the steak for hours.

This carne asada tacos recipe consists of a skirt steak marinated in lime juice, spices and garlic. It's grilled over a super high heat in a few minutes, resulting in flavorful, earthy and delicious carne asada. Serve it with tortillas, avocado, aguas frescas and an array of salsas and cotija for a delicious dinner.

Carne Asada is the most common taco meat. Photo by Travis Yewell on Unsplash. Carne Asada is certainly the most popular meat for tacos, and it's plain to see why.

The carne asada is seasoned with spices like cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper, as well as lime juice and finely chopped cilantro. Chipotle's carne asada is always made with skirt steak, ensuring that it's consistently juicy and tender. It's then cut into thin slices rather than cubes.