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Flavorful Authentic Street Tacos Recipe with Easy Cilantro-Lime Crema

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These authentic street tacos feature thinly sliced flank or skirt steak with a bright, tangy cilantro-lime crema, delivering a perfect balance of smoky, savory, and fresh flavors. Ready in under 30 minutes, they are ideal for quick weeknight meals or casual entertaining.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb flank steak or skirt steak, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or avocado oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 8 small corn tortillas
  • ½ cup sour cream or Mexican crema
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves, packed and roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • Salt to taste
  • Water or milk, to thin as needed
  • Optional toppings: finely chopped white onion, fresh lime wedges, pickled jalapeños or sliced fresh chilies, crumbled queso fresco or cotija cheese

Instructions

  1. Slice the flank or skirt steak thinly against the grain into strips about ¼ inch thick. Set aside.
  2. Make the cilantro-lime crema by blending sour cream, cilantro, lime juice, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt until smooth. Thin with water or milk as needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  3. In a bowl, toss the sliced steak with oil, garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Let sit for 5-10 minutes to marinate.
  4. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until very hot.
  5. Add steak strips in a single layer and sear for 2-3 minutes per side until browned and slightly charred but still juicy. Remove from heat and let rest briefly.
  6. Warm the corn tortillas on a dry skillet or over a gas flame for 20-30 seconds per side until pliable and slightly charred. Keep wrapped in a clean kitchen towel to stay warm.
  7. Assemble tacos by placing steak strips on tortillas, drizzling with cilantro-lime crema, and topping with onions, cheese, jalapeños, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking steak to ensure a good sear. Warm tortillas just until pliable and keep wrapped in a towel to maintain softness. For dairy-free crema, substitute sour cream with plant-based yogurt or coconut cream. Cutting steak against the grain is essential for tenderness.

Nutrition

Keywords: street tacos, flank steak tacos, cilantro-lime crema, authentic Mexican tacos, easy tacos, quick dinner, corn tortillas, smoky tacos

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/flavorful-authentic-street-tacos-recipe-with-easy-cilantro-lime-crema/