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Carne Asada Vampiro Tacos Recipe

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4 from 8 reviews

Carne Asada Vampiro Tacos are a flavorful Mexican street-style taco featuring tender marinated sirloin steak, crispy cheese-toasted tortillas, zesty salsa verde, and fresh guacamole. This recipe combines roasting, sautéing, and pan-toasting to create a deliciously layered taco experience perfect for a satisfying meal in about 40 minutes.

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Salsa Verde

  • 1 pound tomatillos, husked and rinsed (about 10 medium-large tomatillos)
  • 3 jalapeño peppers, stemmed and seeded
  • ½ medium white onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • ½ cup cilantro, stems and leaves
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice (about ½ lime)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed

Guacamole

  • 2 large ripe avocados
  • 1 Roma tomato, diced (optional)
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, stemmed and diced
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • ¼ small white onion, finely diced
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice, plus more to taste (about ½ lime)
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

Carne Asada

  • 1 ½ – 2 pounds sirloin steak, cut into small chunks
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder

Tacos & Assembly

  • 8 corn tortillas
  • 2 cups shredded Oaxaca or Monterey Jack cheese
  • Chopped cilantro, for topping
  • Diced white onion, for topping

Instructions

  1. Make the salsa verde: Preheat the broiler and arrange tomatillos, jalapeños, and garlic on a large baking sheet. Broil for 10 minutes, flipping halfway, until charred. Transfer to a blender with onion, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Blend until smooth, then set aside.
  2. Prepare the guacamole: Halve and pit the avocados, scoop the flesh into a bowl, and mash to desired texture. Stir in diced tomato, jalapeño, chopped cilantro, finely diced onion, lime juice, and salt. Adjust seasoning to taste and set aside.
  3. Season the carne asada: In a medium bowl, mix sirloin chunks with olive oil, soy sauce, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, smoked paprika, cumin, and chili powder until well coated.
  4. Cook the steak: Heat a large skillet over medium-high and sauté the steak pieces until juices evaporate and meat caramelizes, approximately 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a separate bowl and keep warm.
  5. Prepare the crispy cheese tortillas: Using the same skillet, heat 2-3 corn tortillas at a time over medium heat. Flip every 1-2 minutes and cook for about 10 minutes until tortillas are crispy and browned, resembling tostadas. Sprinkle about ¼ cup shredded cheese on each tortilla and let it melt for around one minute.
  6. Assemble the vampiro tacos: Top each crispy cheese tortilla with the cooked carne asada, a spoonful of salsa verde, a dollop of guacamole, and garnish with chopped cilantro and diced onion. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.

Notes

  • To adjust spice level, modify the amount of jalapeños in both the salsa verde and guacamole.
  • Using a well-marbled sirloin will enhance tenderness and flavor.
  • For extra smoky flavor, you can char the tomatillos and jalapeños over a grill instead of broiling.
  • Serve with lime wedges on the side for extra brightness.
  • Can be made gluten-free when using certified gluten-free tortillas and soy sauce alternatives.
  • Cheese choice can be substituted with any good melting cheese like queso quesadilla if Oaxaca or Monterey Jack are unavailable.
  • Author: Daisy
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Tacos
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Mexican