Tacos. What’s not to love? They are, without a doubt, one of the most beloved and adaptable foods globally. Their incredible versatility makes them a perfect canvas for culinary creativity, allowing for a delightful fusion of flavors that transcend traditional Mexican borders. Few other dishes lend themselves so seamlessly to a crossover experience, inviting home cooks and chefs alike to experiment with exciting new taste profiles. Today, we’re diving into a spectacular example of this culinary magic: our incredibly rich and flavorful Teriyaki Steak Tacos. This recipe masterfully blends the savory, sweet, and umami depths of Asian-inspired cuisine with the vibrant, fresh spirit of Mexican tacos. Prepare to impress your family and friends with a dish that’s not only bursting with flavor but also surprisingly easy to whip up any night of the week!
The Secret to Succulent Steak: Teriyaki Sauce Mastery
At the heart of these extraordinary tacos lies a fantastic teriyaki sauce. We don’t just use it once; we apply it in multiple stages to build an unparalleled depth of flavor. The beef is first generously marinated in the sauce, allowing those sweet, savory, and umami notes to penetrate deep into the fibers of the meat. As it grills, the steak is continuously basted, forming a delicious caramelized crust that locks in moisture and amplifies the teriyaki’s complexity. This thick, luscious sauce is perfectly suited for grilling, resisting burning while creating a beautiful glaze that adheres wonderfully to the steak. This multi-layered approach ensures every bite is incredibly tender and packed with irresistible taste.
Choosing the Best Teriyaki Sauce for Grilling
While the market is flooded with various teriyaki sauces, selecting the right one can make all the difference. For our Teriyaki Steak Tacos, we highly recommend Kikkoman® Teriyaki Takumi Sauce, Original. It consistently tops our list as the premier choice, offering a premium, artisan-quality flavor profile that you’d typically expect from a high-end Japanese restaurant. Its richness and balanced sweetness are ideal for both marinating and basting, ensuring a superb outcome for your grilled steak. If you prefer a homemade touch, you can certainly whip up your own teriyaki sauce using a blend of soy sauce, mirin, sake (or dry sherry), brown sugar, ginger, and garlic, thickened with a cornstarch slurry. However, for convenience without compromising on flavor, the Kikkoman® Takumi is a true winner.
What Cut of Beef is the Best for Teriyaki Steak Tacos?
When it comes to crafting the perfect Teriyaki Steak Tacos, the cut of beef is paramount, and for us, skirt steak is the undeniable champion. While other cuts like flank steak or even sirloin could work, skirt steak possesses unique characteristics that make it ideally suited for these tacos. Known for its robust beefy flavor and relatively thin profile, skirt steak absorbs marinades beautifully and cooks quickly, developing a fantastic char on the grill.
Inside vs. Outside Skirt Steak
If you have the option, we strongly advocate for the outside skirt steak over the inside skirt steak. The outside skirt steak typically boasts a slightly more intense beef flavor and is often a bit more tender, offering a superior eating experience. However, don’t fret if only inside skirt is available; both cuts will perform admirably in this recipe. The key is in how you prepare and cook it.
Cooking Skirt Steak to Perfection
The cooking method is crucial for skirt steak. To unlock its full potential for tenderness and flavor, you’ll want to aim for a medium-rare or even rare/seared doneness. The lean nature and coarse grain of skirt steak mean that cooking it to medium or beyond will inevitably toughen the meat, making it chewy and less enjoyable. A quick, high-heat sear on the grill allows for a beautiful crust while keeping the interior juicy and tender. Remember to always slice skirt steak against the grain after it has rested; this shortens the muscle fibers, making each piece incredibly tender and easy to chew, perfect for taco fillings.
Don’t Forget the Toppings: A Symphony of Flavor and Texture!
While the teriyaki steak is the undeniable star of these tacos, the carefully selected toppings play an essential supporting role, adding layers of texture, freshness, and complementary flavors that elevate the entire dish. We keep the toppings simple yet impactful, ensuring they perfectly balance the richness of the beef without overwhelming it.
Quick Pickled Carrots: The Tangy Counterpoint
Our carrots are prepared with a quick and simple pickling process that infuses them with a delightful sweet-sour tang. This acidity is crucial, as it cuts through the richness of the teriyaki steak, providing a bright contrast that awakens the palate. The pickling also enhances the natural sweetness of the carrots while ensuring a pleasant, crisp texture. These can be made a few hours or even a few days in advance, making meal prep a breeze.
Crisp Cucumbers: Refreshing Crunch
Slices of fresh cucumber are a fantastic addition, offering a cool, refreshing element and a satisfying crunch. Their mild flavor provides a clean counterpoint to the more intense flavors of the steak and pickled carrots. If you own a mandolin, now is the time to use it to achieve beautifully uniform, paper-thin slices, which integrate seamlessly into the taco. Otherwise, a sharp knife and a steady hand will do the trick.
Fresh Herbs: Brightness and Aroma
A generous sprinkling of fresh green onions and cilantro is non-negotiable for these fusion tacos. The vibrant green of the herbs adds a pop of color that makes the dish visually appealing, while their fresh, herbaceous notes provide an aromatic lift. Green onions offer a mild, oniony bite, and cilantro brings its distinctive citrusy, fresh taste, both of which perfectly complement the Asian-Mexican fusion profile.
The Magic Drizzle: Teriyaki’s Final Flourish
The real secret weapon, the element that ties all these incredible flavors together, is the third application of the teriyaki sauce. Just a delicate drizzle over the assembled taco before serving truly enhances everything. It reintroduces that familiar sweet and savory teriyaki essence, ensuring that every single ingredient harmonizes beautifully. The result is a mouthwatering taco with massive amounts of flavor – an experience so delicious, you’ll find it hard to stop at just one!
Optional Topping Enhancements
For those looking to customize further, consider adding a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds for an extra nutty crunch, a dollop of sriracha mayo for a creamy, spicy kick, or thin slices of radish for a peppery zest. A squeeze of fresh lime juice just before eating can also brighten all the flavors beautifully. Each addition can further enhance the complexity and enjoyment of these versatile tacos.
Enjoy and Share Your Teriyaki Steak Taco Creations!
We truly hope you enjoy preparing and devouring this recipe for Teriyaki Steak Tacos! It’s a culinary journey that promises bold flavors and satisfying textures, perfect for any occasion. If you decide to give it a try, we would absolutely love to hear about your experience! Please leave us a comment below to share your thoughts, tips, or any modifications you made. And don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @cooking_with_wine! We love seeing your delicious creations and connecting with our amazing community of food lovers.
Looking for More Exciting Fusion Recipes?
If you loved the innovative flavors of these Teriyaki Steak Tacos, you’re in luck! Our kitchen is constantly buzzing with new and exciting recipes that explore global cuisines. Be sure to check out some of our other popular taco and wrap recipes that deliver a similar blend of bold, international tastes:
- Marinated Skirt Steak Street Tacos
- Blackened Garlic Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro Cream Sauce
- Polynesian Pulled Pork Tacos
- Korean Short Rib Tacos
- Kung Pao Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Teriyaki Steak Tacos
These Teriyaki Steak Tacos are a fantastic Asian-Mexican fusion dish, incredibly rich and flavorful, and surprisingly easy to make for a perfect weeknight dinner! Your whole family will absolutely love them.
Pin Recipe
30 mins
10 mins
1 hr 40 mins
Dinner
Mexican-Asian Inspired
4 servings
373 kcal
Ingredients
For the Pickled Carrots
- 1 large carrot, peeled
- ⅓ cup rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (Mexican style)
- 3 ice cubes
For the Beef
- 1 lb skirt steak
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 cup (8 oz) teriyaki sauce (we use Kikkoman® Teriyaki Takumi Sauce, Original) – divided into three equal parts*
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
For Assembly, Garnish & Toppings
- Cucumber, small, sliced very thin with the skin on
- Cilantro, roughly chopped
- Green Onions, sliced thin
- 8 tortillas (small street taco size)
Instructions
- Divide the teriyaki sauce into three equal parts. One part for marinating the beef, one for basting while grilling, and the final part for drizzling over the assembled tacos as a finishing sauce.
Make the Pickled Carrots
- Very finely julienne your carrot (slice into thin matchsticks). Place the prepared carrot into a bowl and set aside.
- In a small saucepan, combine the rice vinegar, water, sugar, kosher salt, and hot sauce. Stir over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture just begins to boil. Remove from heat. Add the ice cubes to the saucepan to rapidly cool down the pickling liquid, stirring until melted.
- Once the mixture is no longer hot (it can still be warm), pour it over the julienned carrots in the bowl and mix well. Let the carrots sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour to absorb the flavors. Then, strain the carrots, discarding the liquid, and refrigerate until ready to use. These pickled carrots can be prepared a few hours or even up to a few days in advance, making them an excellent make-ahead component.
Prepare the Beef
- Trim your skirt steak of any excess fat or silver membrane. Then, cut it into manageable grilling-sized pieces, roughly the length of a typical steak portion. Take note of the direction of the meat’s grain, which typically runs lengthwise along a skirt steak. (You will be slicing across this grain after grilling to serve).
- Approximately one hour before you plan to grill, rub the black pepper thoroughly into the meat on all sides. Next, take one of the divided portions (⅓ cup) of teriyaki sauce and coat the steak pieces, massaging the sauce into the meat. Allow the beef to marinate at room temperature for that hour to infuse deeply with flavor.
- Preheat your grill or a grill pan over medium-high heat until hot. Have another ⅓ cup portion of the teriyaki sauce ready for basting. Place the marinated skirt steak pieces on the hot grill. Immediately brush one side with half of the basting teriyaki sauce. After a few minutes (depending on thickness), flip the steak and baste the other side with the remaining basting sauce. Skirt steak thickness can vary, but generally, for a delicious medium-rare cook, plan on grilling for about 3 minutes per side. Adjust cooking time slightly based on steak thickness and your preferred level of doneness.
- Once the steak reaches your desired doneness, remove it from the grill and let it rest on a cutting board, covered loosely with aluminum foil, for about 5 minutes. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring a tender and moist steak. Once the tortillas are ready, slice the beef thinly against the grain and prepare to serve.
Heat the Tortillas & Serve
- You can heat the tortillas to your preference. We recommend heating them directly over a gas burner on your stove for a few seconds per side. This method adds a slight char around the edges and in spots, which imparts a wonderful smoky flavor. Alternatively, you can wrap the tortillas in a clean towel and warm them in the oven for a softer, uniformly heated option. Once warmed, assemble your tacos: add a generous portion of sliced teriyaki beef, top with the pickled carrots, thin cucumber slices, fresh cilantro, and green onions. Finish with a final drizzle of the reserved teriyaki sauce. Enjoy your incredible fusion tacos!
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 39g
Protein: 32g
Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
Monounsaturated Fat: 4g
Trans Fat: 0.4g
Cholesterol: 71mg
Sodium: 3479mg
Potassium: 701mg
Fiber: 5g
Sugar: 12g
Vitamin A: 3070IU
Vitamin C: 2mg
Calcium: 122mg
Iron: 5mg
Keywords
Steak, tacos, teriyaki, fusion, Asian, Mexican, grilled, dinner
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