Steamed Carne Seca
This is a very rustic, traditional recipe created for its portability. The charros, the nomadic first cowboys of Mexico and the American Southwest, traveled by horseback far from home so their food was limited to simple choices like jerky that stayed fresh on the trail. You’ll find a wide variety of commercially prepared dried beef and buffalo jerky available today, including ones flavored with chiles. Be sure to use an all-natural, preservative-free jerky with consistent color that is fresh and flexible and packaged in an airtight bag. Jerky can be rehydrated directly in boiling water, but most of the flavor will be lost in the water. A tamale steamer or vegetable steamer works well for this process.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 8 tacos
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Place the jerky strips in a steamer or a colander set over gently simmering water. Cover and steam the jerky until very soft and moist, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, shred the jerky into long, thin strips along the grain, and serve right away.
Step 2
To serve, divide the cabbage and filling equally between the crispy shells, top with salsa and garnishes, and arrange in a taco holder. Or, lean the filled shells in a row, propped upright, on a platter. Eat right away. To build your own, spoon some cabbage and filling in a crispy shell, top with salsa and garnishes, and eat right away.
