This no-grilled flank steak tacos recipe will be the most unique beef taco recipe you've ever tried. These easy flank steak tacos can be a weeknight-staple or a crowd-favorite for your taco (Tuesday) night.
These flank steaks start with a quick sear then are cured in a lime juice mixture. Then they are paired with soft tortillas stuffed with variety of toppings and your choice of sauce.
This beef taco recipe is not an ordinary one. In fact, it is a fusion recipe crossed between Vietnamese and Mexican cuisine.
You'll find these no-grilled flank steak tacos so easy, so unique and so delicious for your taco night.
There are also plenty of unique fusion recipes that you might fall in love with. These tender, juicy duck tacos are another amazing choice for you guys taco lovers out there.
Want more? These fusion chicken Pho burger, Thai style seafood ceviche, Japanese confit wings and ginger salmon sashimi will definitely blow your mind.
Why this recipe works?
- Easy: you don't need to grill these steaks (hello to easy clean up). In fact you only need one small pan to do the cooking job.
- No complicated beef taco seasoning: when it comes to beef tacos, people usually go wild and crazy with taco seasoning. With this unique homemade steak tacos recipe, you can skip all of that.
- Family-friendly and crowd-favorite: marinate the steak, gather few toppings, buy or make some sauces, serve them as platter or buffet style so your friends/family can make whatever steak tacos they like. No restriction!
- Unique: I said it already and I have to say it again: these flank steak tacos are so unique (and packed with addicted flavor). You won't find them elsewhere.
Cooking schedule
- 10:00 am - sear beef
- 10:05 am - cool down beef under refrigeration
- 10:30 am - cure the beef in lime juice mixture
- 11:00 am - serve
What is a flank steak?
Flank steak (or London broil) is a cut of beef from the flank section of a cow.
The flank is located beneath the loin (short loin and sirloin) and behind the short plate. There is no bones in a flank. But it has a good deal of fat and connective tissue.
It also contains a small piece of meat known as the hanging tenderloin. So even though it has no actual part of tenderloin, flank steak is somewhat tender and can be cooked using any method.
Useful cooking tips
- Don't need to sear flank steak all the way because the beef will be cured in lime juice mixture afterward.
- Avoid tough and chewy texture by not fully sear flank steak. In fact, you only need to do a quick sear just enough for the meat change its color half way.
- Cure seared beef for at least 30 minutes in order for the beef tacos fully develop their unique flavor.
- Use nonreactive mixing bowl while curing flank steak like stainless steel mixing bowl due to the high level of acidity of lime juice mixture. Glass or plastic mixing bowl is also a safe choice.
Taco toppings ideas and sides suggestions
- Serve with any sauce on the side for these no-grilled flank steak tacos. I made my own sauce (chili garlic fish sauce) but you can go with any sauce that have a little kick of sourness and spiciness. Like salsa verde or salsa roja.
- Sauteed vegetables are best to go with these beef tacos. Such as sauteed white onion or bell peppers.
- Roasted nuts make the best topping. These beef ceviche-style tacos are best to served with crushed roasted peanuts or candied walnuts.
FAQs
You only need to do a quick sear just enough for the meat change its color half way.
You can cure the beef in lime mixture from 30 minutes to 1 hour max. Anything go over 1 hour can cause the beef taste too sour.
If flank steak is not available, tenderloin is the best substitution for this no-grilled beef taco recipe.
Did you make this recipe? If so please leave a rating and let me know how it went in the comment section. Also, don't forget to tag me #cookmorphosis @cookmorphosis on social media.
No-grilled flank steak tacos
Ingredients
- 10 soft flour tortillas or corn tortillas
- ½ lb flank steak thinly sliced
- ¼ tsp Kosher salt
- 1 dash ground black pepper
Toppings
- 1 small white onion sliced, sauteed
- 1 medium red/yellow bell pepper sliced, sauteed
- ¼ c crushed roasted peanut see notes
- 1 tbsp fried garlic
Garnish
- cilantro chopped (or parsley)
Sides
- pickled jalapeno
- pickled gherkin
- chili garlic fish sauce see notes
Lime juice mixture
- ½ c lime juice
- 3 garlic gloves peeled, minced
- 1 oz fish sauce or 2 tbsp
- ¼ c sugar
- 2 Thai chilies minced
Instructions
Sear the beef
- In a small stainless steel mixing bowl, season slices of flank steak with salt and pepper then mix well to incorporate everything.½ lb flank steak, ¼ tsp Kosher salt, 1 dash ground black pepper
- Heat 2 tbsp of vegetable oil in a large sautéed pan over medium high heat.
- Add the beef into the pan and quickly sear for 1 to 2 minutes until the beef partially change color. There are still some redness left on the beef.
- Quickly turn off the heat and transfer seared beef to a plate or a pan. Wait for the beef cool down at room temperature about 10-15 minutes
Lime juice mixture
- In a large stainless steel mixing bowl, combine all the mixture ingredients and mix until sugar dissolved completely.3 garlic gloves, 1 oz fish sauce, ¼ c sugar, 2 Thai chilies, ½ c lime juice
- Set aside for later use.
Curing process
- When the seared beef are cool down, submerge them completely in lime juice mixture until the meat turn light brown, approximately 30 minutes (max 1 hour).
- After 30 minutes, transfer flank steak to a clean bowl and discard the lime juice mixture.
Serving
- On a flour tortilla, put 2-3 slices of cured flank steak, top them with your choice of toppings and served with your choice of sauce on the side.10 soft flour tortillas, 1 small white onion, 1 medium red/yellow bell pepper, ¼ c crushed roasted peanut, cilantro, pickled jalapeno, pickled gherkin, chili garlic fish sauce, 1 tbsp fried garlic
Notes
Toppings ideas and sides suggestions
- Serve with any sauce on the side for these no-grilled flank steak tacos. I made my own sauce (chili garlic fish sauce) but you can go with any sauce that have a little kick of sourness and spiciness. Like salsa verde or salsa roja.
- Sauteed vegetables are best to go with these beef tacos. Such as sauteed white onion or bell peppers.
- Roasted nuts make the best topping. These beef ceviche-style tacos are best to served with crushed roasted peanuts or candied walnuts.
What cut of beef can be used as flank steak substitution?
If flank steak is not available, tenderloin is the best substitution for this no-grilled beef taco recipe.
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