Street Tacos are the perfect example of only needing a few quality ingredients in a recipe that work perfectly together when freshness is emphasized. Very simple tasty fork free food is the perfect way to describe street tacos when you have those little tortillas in your hand.
What is are street tacos?
According to Wikipedia, street tacos are a type open faced taco with a soft corn shell. Basically a street taco is made as a quick grab and go meal. It only takes tow or three bites to finish off the small tortillas filled with a ridiculous amount of flavor.
So read on to learn about the ingredients to use in street tacos, how to perfectly season and grill steak, and bring it all together to grill at your next party, tailgate or late night quick meal.
Grilled Street Tacos
Why are street tacos so good?
Street tacos are so good because of the perfect balance of flavors and textures in a few small bites. The ingredients and seasonings blend together to make a tasty quick snack.
Street Tacos Ingredients.
Steak – For this street taco recipe steak is used. The best type of steak used for street tacos is chuck blade steak. It’s an inexpensive cut but has great beef flavor. When seasoned properly steak will be your new go to taco filling.
Seasoning for steak – The seasoning used for the steak used in tacos is very simple, but is a huge reason why tacos are so tasty. Take the juice of two limes along with two tablespoons of olive oil and following seasonings below and put in a mixing bowl with the steak for at least 2 hours.
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Coriander
1 tablespoon cumin powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Steak for street tacos
Onion – The best onions to use for tacos are white onions. Authentic tacos use white onions instead of yellow or red onions. The reason why is white have a nice initial bite of flavor but are also a little sweeter compared to yellow onions. Red onions are sweeter compared to white however they are very pungent and a little over powering for a small hand held taco. A little bit of onion also gives some crunch to the taco as well.
Lime – Lime is both in the marinade of the steak as well as a topping for the taco. Some fresh squeezed lime juice brings some fresh acidity to break up the richness of the meat and taco. Limes really help make this dish.
Cilantro – Cilantro is everywhere in Mexican cuisine. Traditional tacos have this fresh herb chopped up as part of the filling. Cilantro works great with lime to help bring some freshness to the seasoned beef and tortillas.
Avocado – Adds some creaminess to the taco. A traditional topping of tacos that works great with the above ingredients.
Tortilla – Corn Tortillas are traditionally used. However, for this recipe flour tortillas are used, but try both to see which type of tortilla you prefer.
How to make street tacos.
Street tacos are easy to make if you prepare all the ingredients while you are heating up your grill. Put all the toppings into individual containers so they are easy to grab after you slice the steak when it comes off the grill.
- Chop the fresh cilantro and white onions and place in containers.
- Cut up the avocados and put in a container.
- Take all the toppings, seasoned steak, and tortillas to your grilling area.
- Once the grill is screaming hot its time to grill your steak.
- The chuck steak should be cut thin so this will only take 3 minutes to grill on one side then flip to the other side for 3 minutes.
- Take the steak off the grill and rest for 5 minutes then slice into strips.
- While the steak is resting on a cutting board. Grill the tortillas to warm them up and give them a slight char. 30 seconds a side.
Tortilla on grill grates
- Now, it’s time to start handing out some tacos to friends or just for your self.
- Throw steak, onion, avocado, cilantro in the tortilla and squeeze in some lime. Three bites and repeat the process!
Soft tacos with steak, cilantro, lime juice, and avocado
Street Tacos vs Tacos
The big difference between tacos and street tacos is the size of the tortilla. Street tacos have very small tacos measuring only a few inches vs other tacos in America being slightly larger and also often with a hard tortilla instead of soft.
Tips for successful taco recipe
- Start with clean grill grates. No one wants dirty tacos.
- Use fresh seasonings. Don’t pull out the taco packet that’s been in your pantry for two years. Fresh seasonings make or break this recipe.
- Your cut of chuck steak should be cut about a 1/2 inch thick for quick grilling.
- Have your grill very hot when you put the beef on the grill grates. That will give the beef some nice grill marks which add flavor.
- When you put the tortillas on the grill, only grill them for a 30 seconds each side. Too long will burn or get the tortillas crunchy.
Grilled Street Tacos
So now you never have to ask yourself the questions are there any street tacos near me because you’ll be able to whip up a batch easy on the grill. If you like this street tacos recipe check out these other recipes below from Sear Marks.
Tequila Citrus Carne Asada Marinade
Street Tacos
Street Tacos are the perfect example of only needing a few quality ingredients in a recipe that work perfectly together when freshness is emphasized. Very simple tasty fork free food is the perfect way to describe street tacos when you have those little tortillas in your hand.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chuck steak
- For seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Coriander
- 1 tablespoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 white onion
- 1 bunch of cilantro
- 3 limes
- 2 avocados
- 18 small flour tortillas
Instructions
For the chuck steak seasoning.
Take garlic powder, coriander, cumin powder, salt, and smoked paprika and put in a mixing bowl.
Add steak and olive oil and lime juice.
Let marinate for 2 hours.
Chop the fresh cilantro and white onions and place in containers.
Cut up the avocados and put in a container.
Take all the toppings, seasoned steak, and tortillas to your grilling area.
Once the grill is screaming hot at 500 degrees F its time to grill your steak.
The chuck steak should be cut thin so this will only take 3 minutes to grill on one side then flip to the other side for 3 minutes.
Take the steak off the grill and rest for 5 minutes then slice into strips.
While the steak is resting on a cutting board. Grill the tortillas to warm them up and give them a slight char. 30 seconds a side.
Take one tortilla and add a few pieces of sliced steak, avocado, onion, cilantro, and juice of lime.
Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Chuck steak should be cut thin for quick grill time.
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