Taqueria-Style Tacos - Carne Asada

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Servings: 16
Yield: 16 servings

Description

Tender carne asada tacos with flavorsome strips of marinated steak in soft tortillas with homemade spicy salsa and cotija cheese - just like you'd get at a taqueria!

Ingredients

3 pounds flank steak
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup white vinegar
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 limes, juiced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 white onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 lime, juiced
4 dried New Mexico chile pods
2 large tomatoes, chopped
1 white onion, quartered
4 cloves garlic, peeled
2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
1 pinch salt and black pepper
1 (32 ounce) package corn tortillas
2 cups grated cotija cheese
2 limes, cut into wedges

Directions

1 Lay flank steak in a large glass baking dish.
2 Make the marinade: Whisk soy sauce, oil, vinegar, 4 cloves of garlic, juice of two limes, salt, black pepper, white pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, oregano, cumin, and paprika together in a bowl until well blended; pour over steak, turning to coat both sides. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 8 hours.
3 Make the relish: Stir onion, cilantro, and lime juice together in a small bowl. Set aside.
4 Make the salsa: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chile pods and toast for a few minutes; transfer pods to a bowl of water and soak for 30 minutes.
5 Place tomatoes, 1 onion, 4 cloves of garlic, and jalapeños onto a baking sheet. Roast in the preheated oven until vegetables are toasted, about 20 minutes.
6 Transfer vegetables into a blender or food processor. Add soaked chiles, salt, and pepper; puree until smooth.
7 Remove steak from the marinade and shake off excess. Discard the remaining marinade. Cut the marinated flank steak into cubes or strips. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add steak; cook and stir until cooked through and most of the liquid has evaporated.
8 Warm tortillas in a dry skillet over low heat for about a minute on each side.
9 Place some steak on each tortilla; top with relish and prepared salsa. Sprinkle with cotija cheese. Garnish with lime wedges and serve.