Carne Asada Tacos (Street Taco Style) | Swanky Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best cheese for street tacos? ›

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.

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).

Street tacos are a traditional Mexican snack of warm corn tortillas typically filled with meat topped with onions, cilantro and often a spicy sauce. Their presence is growing on American menus as consumers' interest in Latin-American cuisine, and in foods they see as authentic, continues to increase.

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. Serve with a side of: Authentic Mexican rice.

If you are making a simple taco, corn tortillas are best as they help bolster the ingredients and add to the overall flavor. If you are planning on building an epic taco you may choose to use a flour tortilla to hold all of the ingredients together.

Queso Oaxaca is the ultimate melting cheese, lending ooey gooeyness to quesadillas, tacos, chile rellenos, nachos, molletes, tlayudas, and more.

Dig in! Serve the tacos with Corn Chips and Salsa, more Guacamole, and all of your favorite Mexican drinks — we're thinking Spicy Margaritas and Aguas Frescas are a must. For more taco goodness, try our Carnitas Tacos, too!

The most common type of meat used to make carne asada is skirt steak or flank steak. Skirt steak is usually thinner and a bit more fatty, whereas flank steak is often a thicker and leaner cut. As long as they're both sliced thinly after grilling, they both make great options for carne asada.

Double up your corn tortillas on your tacos.

In most parts of Mexico, your taco will almost always come on two tortillas, not one. Mexicans fondly refer to this as 'la copia' (literally: the copy). If you ask around, you'll be given many reasons for this.

Do you cut meat before or after cooking carne asada tacos? ›

After the carne asada is grilled, it is important to let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing or chopping. While the steak cooks, the juices are forced away from the heat to the middle of the meat. The resting time allows for the redistribution and reabsorption of the juices throughout the whole steak.

Heat oil over medium heat in a skillet. Carefully add half of the tortilla (folded into a taco shape) and fry until golden (you will need to hold up the tortilla half the entire time.). Using tongs, carefully flip the tortilla to fry the other side until golden (continue holding the free edge to maintain the shape).

Queso blanco: A white, crumbly cheese that is commonly used in Mexican dishes. It has a mild flavor and is often melted over tacos and burritos. Queso fresco: A soft, crumbly cheese that is often used as a topping for tacos and burritos.

Feta is one of the best possible substitutes for cotija. It's similarly salty, though it has a slightly stronger flavor than cotija tends to, and less of the fresh milk flavor. It's also similarly crumbly, though you'll find that feta doesn't melt as well as cotija.

Although they are often used interchangeably, queso blanco is typically seen in fried or grilled dishes because it doesn't completely melt when exposed to heat. On the other hand, queso fresco is often used to top off soups, tacos and salads due to its crumbly nature.

Ultimately, the decision to include cheese in tacos is a matter of personal preference. There is no right or wrong answer, as it largely comes down to individual taste. Whether you prefer a traditional taco without cheese or one loaded with queso, both are valid and delicious options.