Chile Lime Steak Tacos with Pineapple Salsa

I was never too excited about mexican cuisine until Patricia and I got to know each other. She LOVES it, and so she made me try some things I may have avoided otherwise. Thanks for that Patricia! Now it’s one of my favorites. I still can’t eat it as spicy as she does, but I’m miles ahead of where I was!

When I read on Saturday that Cat Cora would be making Chile Lime Flank Steak Tacos with Pineapple Salsa, I thought…  hmm, that’s not something I’d normally put together. Since I’ve been shown before I can like things I wouldn’t expect, I was game to give this a try. I was very pleasantly surprised at how great these were.

The heat of the chiles is toned down by the sweetness of the pineapple and red onions. So even a spice wimp like me can handle the little bit of jalepeno in the salsa. I’m not usually a fan of cilantro, but I did use it here. It is not overpowering as it can be in some salsas. The steak is so tender and juicy, I may use the marinade even if I’m not making tacos!

From Cat Cora’s Classics with a Twist:

Steak:

1 tsp chile powder

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

2 tbsp fresh lime juice

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 lbs flank steak, trimmed of fat (I couldn’t find a flank steak, so I used a sirloin)

Mix spices, salt, pepper, lime juice and oil in a small bowl. Place the steak in a shallow dish and rub the paste evenly over both sides. Cover and let marinate for 1-4 hours.

Salsa:

1 small pineapple

1 small red onion

3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

2 tbsp fresh lime juice

1 tbsp rice vinegar  (I had white wine vinegar on hand and that worked fine!)

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 fresh jalepeno, seeded and minced

Serve on 16 six inch tortillas

Preheat grill to medium-high. Slice off leafy top of the pineapple and just enough of the bottom so the fruit rests flat on a cutting board. Slice off the skin with a sharp knife, cutting from top to bottom and taking off as little of the flesh as possible. Discard the skin. Cut out any “eyes” with a paring knife and discard. Slice the fruit away from the core in 4 or 5 slabs.

Place the pineapple slabs on the hot grill and grill until the fruit is just beginning to show some browning, 1-2 min per side.

Let the pineapple cool for a few minutes, then dice. In a medium bowl, mix the diced pineapple, onion, cilantro, lime juice, vinegar, olive oil and jalepeno and blend well.

Grill the steak for 5 to 6 minutes on each side (slightly longer for well done meat). Remove from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Cat explained this allows the juices to go back into the meat rather than running out onto the cutting board.

Meanwhile, place the tortillas on the hot grill and grill for about 10 seconds on each side, then wrap in a cloth napkin to keep them warm.

Slice the steak across the grain into 1/2 inch thick slices and serve with tortillas and salsa.

Scott was a bit skeptical too when I told him what I was making, but he’s a great sport. He’ll give whatever I make a try. He loved these tacos! Top 3 in his favorite meals he decided, so we’ll definitely be making these again soon.

- Jodi

Tagged as: chile, lime, Pineapple, salsa, steak, taco