Tacos de Arrachera (Skirt Steak Tacos with Avocado Salsa)
Charred, citrus marinated skirt steak chopped into warm corn tortillas with fresh pico de gallo and creamy avocado salsa.
Made with Fresh pico de gallo and Creamy avocado salsa and Corn tortillas from masa harina. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min + marinating
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.76 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Mix the lime juice, orange juice, garlic, cumin, oregano, olive oil and half the salt in a dish. Add the steak and turn to coat. Cover and chill for 1 to 3 hours.
- 2
Take the steak out 20 minutes before cooking. Pat it dry and sprinkle with the remaining salt. Throw away the marinade, as it held raw meat.
- 3
Heat a griddle pan or barbecue until smoking hot. Cook the steak for 3 to 4 minutes each side for medium, or longer if you prefer it well done. Char the spring onions alongside for 3 minutes.
8 min - 4
Rest the steak under foil for 5 minutes. Slice it against the grain, then chop into small pieces.
- 5
Warm the tortillas from your base recipe in a dry pan for 30 seconds each side and keep wrapped in a cloth.
- 6
Fill the tortillas with steak and charred onions. Add pico de gallo and spoon over your ready made creamy avocado salsa (see the base recipes).
Tips
- Slice skirt steak across the grain, which runs in long lines. Slicing along it makes the meat chewy.
- Skirt steak is best cooked hot and fast. Do not cook it past medium or it toughens.
- Do not marinate longer than 3 hours, as the acid starts to make the surface mushy.
Storing and freezing
Keep cooked steak covered in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat quickly in a hot pan until steaming hot. Do not freeze with the salsa.
Questions
Which cut is best for arrachera?
Skirt steak is traditional. In the UK, ask your butcher for skirt or onglet; flat iron or flank steak are good alternatives.
Can I cook the steak indoors?
Yes. A very hot cast iron pan or griddle gives a good char. Open a window, as the pan will smoke.
How do I make it milder?
The steak is not spicy. Pico de gallo and the avocado salsa carry the chilli, so use less pico or leave out the avocado salsa chilli by making a milder batch.
More made with fresh pico de gallo
Ensalada de Frijol Negro, Elote y Aguacate (Black Bean, Charred Corn and Avocado Salad)
GFDFEFQuesadillas de Calabaza al Adobo (Adobo Squash Quesadillas)
EFNFVSopes de Frijol con Queso (Bean Sopes)
GFEFNFTostadas de Sardina (Sardine Tostadas with Pico de Gallo)
GFDFEFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.