When it comes to outdoor cuisine, there are few meals that compare to a well assembled taco. Between spicy pan seared steak, and a savory array of toppings, tacos possess some of the freshest flavors guaranteed to drive your taste buds mad. This winter, we followed along as our friends over at Native Release (@nativerelease) put an American West twist on a classic Mexican street dish…we bring you, The Rocky Mountain Taco. Serves: 4-5 Campsite Difficulty: 5/10
MUST HAVE TOOLS:
2-3 Chef knives
3 Separate cutting boards (one for pico de gallo, one for raw meat, and one for cooked meat)
2 Cast Iron Skillets
Appropriate cooking surface (camp table, tailgate, etc…)
Camp stove with fuel
Tin foil
2-3 bowls
2-3 plates
Cooking utensils (spatula, spoons, forks, plates)
INGREDIENTS:
2 lbs of skirt steak or ground bison
1 Red onion, diced
1 Tomato, diced
Cilantro for garnish
½ Stick of butter
Salt and pepper
Tajin chili lime seasoning
2-3 Avocados
2-3 Limes
1 Jar of canned salsa (your choosing)
Flour street taco tortillas
DIRECTIONS:
*Begin by preparing your toppings ahead of time in order to serve the steak while it's hot*
Season steak with salt and pepper on both sides and let it sit
Add butter to cast iron skillet on low-medium heat to avoid burning
Dice your tomato and red onion and place in a bowl
Mince cilantro to desired amount and add to the bowl of red onion and tomato
Once you've added your tomato, onion, and cilantro into a bowl, squeeze half a lime into the same bowl and season with salt and pepper.
Add your steak to a cast iron skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes (note- the thicker the steak, the longer the cook time.)
Pit your avocados and slice the membrane into sections, place in a bowl and add salt, pepper, and your desired amount of lime juice.
In a separate cast iron, add a few of your flour tortillas and warm them until desired temperature. Once done, add them to a plate and cover with a towel so they retain their heat.
Remove your skirt steaks from the skillet and let rest for 5 minutes. Lightly cover with tinfoil to retain heat
Slice/dice skirt steak into bite size pieces and add to warm tortillas
Garnish with your homemade pico de gallo, as well as any other toppings you desired
Crack a cold cerveza, add some lime, and enjoy!
Closing Remarks:
While tacos are undoubtedly one of tastiest dishes to enjoy, they're also a blast to make. Due to the several moving parts required to bring this dish together, we highly recommend cooking with a few of your closest pals. Not only is warm food served best amongst friends, but the preparation process will bring a smile to everyone's face, making for an unforgettable afternoon in the great outdoors.
