Taco Encuerado
Excerpted from Asada: The Art of Mexican Style Grilling by Bricia Lopez and Javier Cabral. Copyright © 2023 by Bricia Lopez and Javier Cabral. Photos copyright © 2023 by Quentin Bacon. Published by Abrams.
Yields 6 Servings
AuthorBricia Lopez

This taco gets its provocative name because it is just a simple grilled chile, stuffed with cheese—“naked” on a charred tortilla. That’s it. No salsa is necessary, just a sprinkling of salt.

This recipe, and others like it, can be found in the article “3 Colorful, Vegetarian Mexican Side Dishes Perfect for Your Next Cookout.”

How to Make It

1

Make the Tortillas: In a large bowl, stir together the flour and salt with a fork to combine. Pour in the oil and 3⁄4 cup water and stir with a rubber spatula to incorporate. Allow the dough to rest 5 minutes and then knead it until smooth. Divide the dough into 8 pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Place the balls in a well-floured bowl and cover them with a kitchen towel to rest about 30 minutes before shaping the tortillas. 


2

On a well-floured surface, roll each ball of dough into a 10-inch disc using a rolling pin. 


3

Preheat a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, place a tortilla on the pan and cook it 30–45 seconds, or until small bubbles start to form. Flip it over with your hands or a spatula and cook another 30–45 seconds. Remove from the pan and place it in a tortilla warmer or wrap in a kitchen towel. Repeat with the remaining dough. Serve immediately. 


4

Make the Tacos: Start a charcoal or gas grill. The gas should be set to medium. If using a pellet grill, preheat your grill to 375°F for at least 15 minutes. If using charcoal, the coals should be red but entirely covered with gray ash. 


5

Place the chiles directly on the grill. Cook until the skin is completely charred and the flesh is somewhat soft, 5–7 minutes. Turn the chiles every 2–3 minutes for even cooking. 


6

Once the chiles are charred, put them in a medium bowl and cover with a large plate for a few minutes to soften and steam. This will make peeling the burnt skin off easier. When cool enough to handle, remove most of the skin with your fingers. 


7

Cut a small slit in each chile, about 3 inches long, starting at the stem end. Remove the seeds carefully, so as not to break the chiles. Stuff each chile with the cheese and epazote, dividing the ingredients evenly. 


8

Put the chiles directly on the grill again. Close the lid and allow the cheese to melt, undisturbed, for 3–5 minutes. 


9

Serve on top of warm flour tortillas. Sprinkle with finishing salt. 


Ingredients

For the Tortillas
 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
 1 tsp sea salt
 ¼ cup olive oil
For the Tacos
 6 fresh Hatch chiles (can substitute Anaheim chiles)
 10 oz queso Oaxaca
 12 fresh epazote leaves
 6 warm flour tortillas (preferably homemade; ingredients above, recipe above right)
 finishing salt

Directions

1

Make the Tortillas: In a large bowl, stir together the flour and salt with a fork to combine. Pour in the oil and 3⁄4 cup water and stir with a rubber spatula to incorporate. Allow the dough to rest 5 minutes and then knead it until smooth. Divide the dough into 8 pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Place the balls in a well-floured bowl and cover them with a kitchen towel to rest about 30 minutes before shaping the tortillas. 


2

On a well-floured surface, roll each ball of dough into a 10-inch disc using a rolling pin. 


3

Preheat a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, place a tortilla on the pan and cook it 30–45 seconds, or until small bubbles start to form. Flip it over with your hands or a spatula and cook another 30–45 seconds. Remove from the pan and place it in a tortilla warmer or wrap in a kitchen towel. Repeat with the remaining dough. Serve immediately. 


4

Make the Tacos: Start a charcoal or gas grill. The gas should be set to medium. If using a pellet grill, preheat your grill to 375°F for at least 15 minutes. If using charcoal, the coals should be red but entirely covered with gray ash. 


5

Place the chiles directly on the grill. Cook until the skin is completely charred and the flesh is somewhat soft, 5–7 minutes. Turn the chiles every 2–3 minutes for even cooking. 


6

Once the chiles are charred, put them in a medium bowl and cover with a large plate for a few minutes to soften and steam. This will make peeling the burnt skin off easier. When cool enough to handle, remove most of the skin with your fingers. 


7

Cut a small slit in each chile, about 3 inches long, starting at the stem end. Remove the seeds carefully, so as not to break the chiles. Stuff each chile with the cheese and epazote, dividing the ingredients evenly. 


8

Put the chiles directly on the grill again. Close the lid and allow the cheese to melt, undisturbed, for 3–5 minutes. 


9

Serve on top of warm flour tortillas. Sprinkle with finishing salt. 


Taco Encuerado

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