Beef Cheek Tacos

Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Health score
5%
Beef Cheek Tacos
45 min.
8
354kcal

Suggestions


Imagine sinking your teeth into a warm, flavorful taco filled with tender, slow-cooked beef cheeks that melt in your mouth. These Beef Cheek Tacos are not only a delightful treat for your taste buds but also gluten and dairy-free, making them an excellent choice for a variety of diets. Perfect for lunch, dinner, or any time in between, this dish brings a taste of authenticity and vibrancy to your table.

With the perfect balance of spices from the chiles de árbol, balanced with a zesty salsa that hits all the right notes, you'll find yourself craving these tacos time and time again. The preparation involves marinating the beef cheeks overnight, allowing the flavors to fully develop, then simmering them until they reach ultimate tenderness. The crowning touch? Crisped corn tortillas that cradle the rich filling, topped with fresh cilantro and chopped onions, generating a burst of flavor with each bite.

This recipe serves 8, making it ideal for gatherings with family and friends. In just 45 minutes of active cooking, you're on your way to serving up a memorable meal that encapsulates the spirit of traditional Mexican cuisine. Let the Beef Cheek Tacos steal the show at your next meal—your taste buds will thank you!

Ingredients

  • 0.5 cup chili peppers dried whole
  • pound beef cleaned for you (ask your butcher to do this )
  • servings cilantro leaves chopped
  •  corn tortillas 
  • cup cilantro leaves fresh roughly chopped
  • 1.5 cups cilantro leaves fresh roughly chopped
  •  garlic clove peeled
  •  garlic clove peeled smashed
  • 0.5  juice of lemon 
  •  juice of lime 
  • 0.5  orange juice 
  • tablespoons kosher salt 
  • 0.5 cup red wine vinegar 
  • 0.5 cup rice vinegar (not seasoned)
  • servings pepper black freshly ground to taste
  • 0.5 cup spring onion roughly chopped
  • 0.5 cup sugar 
  • 0.3 cup vegetable oil 
  • quarts water 
  • servings onion white chopped

Equipment

  • food processor
  • frying pan
  • pot
  • blender

Directions

  1. In a large pot, combine all the brine ingredients. Bring the brine to a boil, then remove from the heat and let it cool.
  2. Add the beef cheeks to the cooled brine (if you add the meat to the hot brine, the meat will cook instead of marinate).
  3. Place the pot in your fridge and marinate the beef cheeks, uncovered, in the brine overnight.
  4. The next morning, set the beef cheeks (still in the brine) over high heat and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the beef cheeks are tender, about 1 hour.
  5. Remove the beef cheeks from the pot, discarding the brine, and let them cool. Once the cheeks have cooled, roughly chop them into small pieces.
  6. Combine all of the ingredients for the salsa in a blender or food processor and puree.
  7. Heat the oil on a griddle or in a skillet and cook the tortillas over medium heat for 30 seconds to crisp up, then flip.
  8. Remove the tortillas and add the beef cheeks to the griddle or skillet, cooking for about 2 minutes, until the meat is caramelized. Season with salt and pepper.
  9. To bring everything together, stack 2 tortillas on a plate and top with beef cheeks. Spoon salsa all over the beef.
  10. Garnish with onions and cilantro.
  11. Eat many.
  12. Buy the full book from Harper
  13. Collins or from Amazon. /nRecipe from L.A. Son: My Life, My City, My Food, by Roy Choi, Copyright 2013, published by Anthony Bourdain/Ecco.

Nutrition Facts

Calories354kcal
Protein14.07%
Fat48.7%
Carbs37.23%

Properties

Glycemic Index
58.7
Glycemic Load
15.39
Inflammation Score
-8
Nutrition Score
13.019565266112%

Flavonoids

Eriodictyol
0.18mg
Hesperetin
1.06mg
Naringenin
0.12mg
Apigenin
0.01mg
Luteolin
0.01mg
Isorhamnetin
2.76mg
Kaempferol
0.45mg
Myricetin
0.05mg
Quercetin
14.6mg

Nutrients percent of daily need

Calories:353.5kcal
17.67%
Fat:19.19g
29.52%
Saturated Fat:5.56g
34.73%
Carbohydrates:33.01g
11%
Net Carbohydrates:29.38g
10.68%
Sugar:16.63g
18.47%
Cholesterol:40.26mg
13.42%
Sodium:1815.39mg
78.93%
Alcohol:0g
100%
Alcohol %:0%
100%
Protein:12.47g
24.95%
Vitamin K:45.24µg
43.09%
Vitamin A:1030.82IU
20.62%
Vitamin B12:1.21µg
20.22%
Phosphorus:201.78mg
20.18%
Zinc:2.94mg
19.61%
Vitamin B6:0.36mg
18.18%
Vitamin B3:3.18mg
15.88%
Selenium:10.97µg
15.67%
Fiber:3.63g
14.54%
Vitamin C:11.73mg
14.22%
Manganese:0.28mg
13.91%
Potassium:398.23mg
11.38%
Iron:2.01mg
11.15%
Magnesium:43.1mg
10.78%
Vitamin B2:0.16mg
9.61%
Copper:0.17mg
8.52%
Vitamin E:1.12mg
7.49%
Calcium:67.92mg
6.79%
Folate:26.01µg
6.5%
Vitamin B1:0.09mg
6.1%
Vitamin B5:0.46mg
4.63%
Source:Epicurious