Carne Asada Tacos
WITH CHARRED TOMATO SALSA
I know my job as a recipe developer/social media manager/soy whisperer is to sell you the meat. BUT, today I’m here to tell you about a life-changing charred tomato salsa. Yes, I know it’s nothing revolutionary, and various cultures have made it for centuries, however, for me, it was a transformative encounter that forced me to question all my past BBQ-related decisions. It’s so simple, yet so complex. It’s spicy, tangy, zesty, herbaceous. I want it all the time. I want to have it with a side of tacos, while pouring it straight into my mouth. I want it to be my life partner. My forever salsa. And I’ve got a feeling you will too.

Ingredients
Carne Asada Thick-Cut Filet
- 4 x Thick-Cut Filet (defrosted)
- ½ large white or brown onion (finely chopped)
- 1 bunch / 1 cup of coriander (finely chopped, tightly packed)
- 1 garlic clove (finely minced or grated)
- Zest of ½ lime
- Juice ½ lime
- Juice ½ lemon
- Juice ½ orange
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp sweet smoked paprika
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 3 tbsp olive oil
Charred Tomato Salsa
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 medium-sized ripe tomatoes (cut in half)
- ½ large white or brown onion (cut in half)
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1-2 red chilis (mild or spicy)
- Small bunch / ½ cup of coriander (tightly packed)
- Juice ½ lime
- 1 tsp salt
To serves
- Corn tortillas (warmed up)
- White onion (finely chopped)
- Fresh coriander leaves
SERVES 4 / 40 MINUTES
preparation
Carne Asada Thick-Cut Filet
- Finely chop the onion and coriander, mince the garlic, and zest the lime.
- Add lime, lemon, and orange juice, along with oregano, coriander, cumin, and sweet smoked paprika.
- Season with salt and olive oil, and mix well.
- Drizzle the filets with the marinade, cover, and place in the fridge for 20-30 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the salsa.
- Place the marinated filets on a hot grill and cook for 5-6 minutes on each side, until nicely browned and warmed through. Remove from the heat.
- Slice the filet into 1-2 cm / 0.4-0.8 inch thick slices.
Charred Tomato Salsa
- Heat olive oil in a cast-iron pan over the fire.
- Once hot, add tomatoes, onion, garlic, and chillies. Cook for 8-10 minutes, until softened and charred.
- Transfer to a food processor (including the oil), along with fresh coriander, lime juice, and salt. Blend until the ingredients emulsify, but the sauce still has some texture.
Assembly
- Toast the tortillas over the fire.
- Assemble the tacos with the filet, salsa, finely chopped onion, and cilantro.