Campechano Tacos

Campechano Tacos

Campechano Tacos

This might be the most ultimate taco ever. Carne asada, chorizo or longaniza sausage, and chicharron are the meats that make up tacos campechano. Yes. 3 meats in this taco. The tacos are topped with onions, cilantro, and morita salsa; with lime wedges on the side. This taco is a sign that life is good and not to take it for granted.
There are a couple options that you can use for the beef. Top sirloin, flank steak, or skirt steak are all tender enough cuts. Everyone knows what chorizo is, but most don’t know about Mexican-style longaniza; not to be confused with Filipino longanisa. Longaniza’s main flavors are from achiote paste and orange juice, giving it a citrusy flavor. Both sausages contain enough fat once rendered out to cook and flavor the steak. The last minute of cooking, serranos and chicharron are added to the campechano, giving it heat and another textured layer of porkiness.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Beef, Latin American, main course, Mexican, Pork
Author: Alex Gorgos

Ingredients

  • 1 lb top sirloin, flank steak, or skirt steak cut into small cubes
  • 1 lb chorizo or longaniza sausage
  • 2 serrano peppers finely chopped
  • 1 cup chicharron crushed
  • salt and pepper to taste

Tacos

  • corn tortillas
  • white onion chopped
  • cilantro chopped
  • morita salsa

Instructions

  • Crumble the sausage into a large sauté pan over medium high heat.
    Mexican, main course, beef, pork
  • Brown the sausage for 6 minutes.
    Mexican, main course, beef, pork
  • Add in the beef. Continue sautéing for 3 minutes.
    Mexican, main course, beef, pork
  • Add in the chopped serranos and crumbled chicharron. Cook for 1 more minute.
    Mexican, main course, beef, pork
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    Mexican, main course, beef, pork
Mexican, main course, beef, pork
Top the tacos with onions, cilantro, and morita salsa.

Morita Chilies Salsa

Morita peppers are dried jalapeños that have been slightly smoked. They have the spiciness similar to a chipotle pepper. What’s different about this salsa is that the dried peppers and garlic are fried in olive oil then soaked in hot water for 10 minutes to further hydrate them. Then they are purred with the water they were soaked in and the oil they were fried in. This salsa reminds me of the canned chipotle abodo sauce that chipotle peppers are packed in, but less smokey in flavor.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time2 minutes
Course: condiment
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: condiment, Latin American, Mexican
Author: Alex Gorgos

Equipment

  • Blender or food processor

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 12 dried morita peppers
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 1 cup hot water
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  • Heat up olive oil in a sauté pan over medium high heat. Fry the morita peppers and garlic for 2-3 minutes. The peppers will puff up. That’s when you know that they’re done.
    Mexican, condiment
  • Scoop out the peppers and garlic and let them soak in a cup of hot water for 10 minutes.
    Mexican, condiment
  • Add the peppers, garlic, soaking water, and the oil they fried in to a blender. Purée until smooth. Season with salt to taste.
    Mexican, condiment
Mexican, condiment