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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Tacos
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican