Chared Grilled Tacos Recipes

GRILLED BREAKFAST TACOS

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium heat. Prick the chorizo links 3 or 4 times with a fork (this keeps them from bursting on the grill). Brush them all over with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Grill, flipping as needed, until charred all over and cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool slightly, then slice into 1/4-inch-thick rounds; set aside.
• Meanwhile, thread the tomatoes onto a 10-inch skewer. (If using a wooden skewer, leave just 1/2 inch sticking out on each end so you do not have to soak it.) Put the skewered tomatoes, corn, scallions, jalapeno and limes on a rimmed baking sheet or large platter, brush the vegetables and limes liberally with 2 tablespoons of the oil and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.
• Place the vegetables and limes (flesh-side down) on the grill. Grill the corn, using tongs to rotate the ears occasionally so they cook evenly, until lightly charred in spots, 7 to 9 minutes. Grill the tomatoes, scallions, jalapenos and limes, rotating as needed, until deeply charred, 4 to 6 minutes. Return the vegetables and limes to the baking sheet when done cooking. Transfer the cooked chorizo to a cutting board. When cool enough to handle, halve the tomatoes, cut the kernels off the cobs and thinly slice the scallions and jalapenos (seed the jalapeno, if desired). Put the cut vegetables, the juice of 2 of the lime halves and the cilantro in a large bowl; stir to combine, and season with salt and pepper. Cut the remaining 2 grilled lime halves into wedges; set aside.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the eggs, cream and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Place a large cast-iron skillet on 1 side of the grill, and pour in the remaining oil (it might seem like a lot, but you do not want the eggs to stick). Heat the oil for 1 minute, then add the egg mixture. Use a heat-resistant spatula to stir the eggs until soft curds form, 6 to 8 minutes. Gently stir in the chorizo.
• While the eggs are cooking, grill the tortillas on the other side of the grill until lightly charred on both sides and warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes total.
• To assemble the tacos, divide the egg mixture among the warm tortillas, sprinkle each with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the cheese and top each with a spoonful of the grilled salsa. Serve immediately with the grilled lime wedges and any remaining grilled salsa on the side.

GRILLED CHICKEN TACOS

Steps:

• Prepare grill for medium-high heat. Toss onion, garlic, chicken, cumin, oil, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Grill onion and chicken until cooked through and lightly charred, about 4 minutes per side.
• Let chicken rest 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with tortillas, avocados, Charred Tomatillo Salsa Verde, cilantro, radishes, and lime wedges.

CHARRED OCTOPUS TACO WITH HARISSA, CHORIZO CRUSHED POTATOES, AND PICKLED RAMPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275°F. Place the octopus, garlic, and thyme in a 5-quart pot or Dutch oven. Pour olive oil over (octopus should be submerged) and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cover the pot with foil, place in oven, and cook until tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Check the octopus periodically for tenderness by inserting a paring knife into the thickest part of an arm. When fully cooked, the knife should easily pierce the flesh. Remove from oven and let sit covered until the octopus comes to room temperature. Discard thyme and garlic. Remove and discard head, separate arms, and gently remove the purple skin.
• Toast the chiles in a dry skillet over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant. Let cool and remove the stems and seeds. Bring 1/2 cup water to a boil in a small pot. Add chiles and simmer until tender, about 3 to 5 minutes. Purée chiles and water in a blender until smooth, scrape out and reserve.
• Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sweat the onions until tender and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the onions, ground spices, lemon juice, and salt to the blender with 3 tablespoons of the pepper purée. Blend all ingredients until smooth. Strain, taste, and adjust seasoning. Harissa can be made 1 day in advance.
• Bring the vinegar, sugar, salt, and 1 cup water to a boil and stir until dissolved. Place the ramps in a heatproof glass container and pour vinegar mixture over. Let sit until ramps come to room temperature, then refrigerate 1 hour. Ramps can be pickled 1 day in advance.
• Start the potatoes in a medium pot with cold salted water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 5 to 6 minutes. Drain, crush with a fork, and reserve.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sauté the chorizo, breaking into bits, until browned and cooked through. Strain and reserve oil.
• Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Rub the octopus with a little olive oil and grill until lightly charred, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Slice octopus into bite-size pieces. Meanwhile, heat the reserved chorizo oil and potatoes in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cooked chorizo and toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Warm the tortillas. Divide the crushed potatoes between the tortillas, top with octopus, a spoonful of harissa, and 2 or 3 pickled ramps.

THE BEST GRILLED CHICKEN FOR TACOS, BURRITOS, OR SALADS

Steps:

• Add the chicken, garlic, olive oil, lime, spices, and cornstarch to a large bowl or zip-seal bag.
• Place in fridge and let marinate for at least 15-30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
• Remove chicken from marinade and discard marinade. Place chicken on a grill or pan heated to medium-high heat. Let chicken cook until it is no longer pink on the inside, about 6-7 minutes per side (or until it has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F).
• Serve chicken in tacos, burritos, on salads or rice.

CHARRED TACOS AL PASTOR

Steps:

• Combine adobo, ancho powder, oil, achiote paste, brown sugar, salt, cumin, garlic and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Whisk until uniform while bringing to a simmer to bloom all the spices and flavors, then simmer, about 5 minutes. Take off heat to cool completely, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Coat all slices of pork with marinade. Spray a plastic quart container with cooking spray. Stuff the container with the slices of marinated pork, arranging them in a stack. Cover and place in the fridge 8 hours or overnight to marinate.
• Slide marinated meat gently out of quart container. Cut the pineapple into 4 equal rounds. Reserve 2 whole slices of pineapple and core the remaining 2 slices, then cut them into chunks. Place the stack of marinated meat in between the reserved slices of pineapple. Evenly skewer the stack with 8 to 10 metal skewers to make the "pastor".
• Heat a grill for cooking at about 275 degrees F. Using a chimney starter, ignite 3 to 4 charcoal briquettes. Place the briquettes in a smoker box with apple or cherry wood chips that have soaked in water 30 minutes, and place the box directly on the grate.
• Place onion and pineapple chunks in a small drip tray or roasting pan. Position the pan right on the grill, and the pastor on the elevated grill shelf directly above it. Place smoker box directly in front of the drip pan, so that some of the heat and smoke from the wood can reach the pastor.
• Cook for 4 hours, rotating a quarter every 45 minutes to 1 hour. Take it off the heat and let rest for at least 1 hour.
• Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Dice onions and pineapple from drip tray and sear in the skillet until caramelized, about 5 minutes.
• Holding the pastor vertical, shave off shards of pork. Sear off in the skillet until caramelized, about 5 minutes.
• Serve with corn tortillas, salsa verde and fresh cilantro.