Skip to main content

Mezcal-Marinated Fajitas

5.0

(1)

Image may contain Food Dish Meal Lunch Plant Animal Seafood Lobster and Sea Life
Photo by Laura Murray, styling by Judy Mancini

The mezcal and fish sauce in these fajitas make for a surprisingly good combination. You’ll get a smoky, earthy flavor from the mezcal, while the fish sauce adds a little funk and saltiness. If you prefer, use any kind of chopped up chicken or pork in place of the skirt steak.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

2 canned chipotle chiles in adobo, smashed
4 garlic cloves, finely grated
½ cup fresh lime juice
½ cup mezcal
¼ cup fish sauce
¼ cup fresh orange juice
¼ cup soy sauce
2 teaspoons dried oregano, preferably Mexican
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more
1½ pounds skirt steak
1 large white onion, halved, sliced ⅓ inch thick
6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Freshly ground black pepper
1 medium green bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, sliced ⅓ inch thick
1 medium red bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, sliced ⅓ inch thick
Bacon-Fat Flour Tortillas or store-bought tortillas, sour cream, grated cheddar, Pico de Gallo, BA’s Best Guacamole, and Roasted Tomato–Cashew Salsa (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Whisk chiles, garlic, lime juice, mezcal, fish sauce, orange juice, soy sauce, oregano, cumin, and 1 tsp. salt in a medium bowl. Place steak in a resealable plastic bag and pour in marinade. Seal and turn to coat. Chill at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours.

    Step 2

    Prepare a gas grill for 2-zone heat; set one burner at medium-high and one or two burners at high. Alternatively, prepare a charcoal grill for high heat. Grill steak over high heat, turning occasionally, until charred, 2–3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes. Slice against the grain into ½"-thick strips.

    Step 3

    Toss onions and 3 Tbsp. oil in a medium bowl to coat; season with salt and black pepper. (If you have a perforated grill pan, now’s the time to pull it out!) Grill over medium-high heat, tossing occasionally, until charred and tender, 6–10 minutes. Transfer to a large plate.

    Step 4

    Toss bell peppers and remaining 3 Tbsp. oil in a medium bowl to coat; season with salt and black pepper. Grill over medium-high heat, tossing occasionally, until charred and tender, 6–10 minutes. Arrange on plate next to onions.

    Step 5

    Serve steak and grilled onions and bell peppers with tortillas, sour cream, cheese, pico de gallo, guacamole, and salsa alongside for assembling fajitas.

Read More
Chicken thighs cooked inside parchment packets alongside onions and oranges makes for a flavorful dinner that’s almost entirely hands off.
A steak dinner that’s more about the sauce than the meat.
Upgrade any cookout—or keep the cooking on the stovetop—with these smashed cast-iron bison burgers, then stack with lemon mayo and a crisp cucumber-onion slaw.
A homemade black bean sauce is better than anything you can find in the grocery store. Plus, the 15-minute dinner you can make with it.
Juicy steak, crisp lettuce, and a blender dressing come together for a breezy summer dinner.
Roasted poblanos, jalapeños, and red onion are coated with a melty sauce—warm with the flavors of pepper jack, and stabilized with a block of cream cheese.
These crispy cutlets feature a coconut-breadcrumb coating and sriracha mayo. Pair with a bright cuke salad to turn into a meal.
Who says ground chicken is boring? Two whole bunches of mint and some aromatics give these chicken meatballs their bracingly herby flavor.