Skirt The Issue
A pastry chef takes on tacos
Though tacos may seem conventional to most, for Alex Stupak, a chef previously known for his avant-garde desserts at New York's wd~50 and Chicago's Alinea, they are a mystery of sorts. When Stupak struck out on his own, he asked himself "what do I love to eat most." The answer: Mexican cuisine. So when Stupak opened Empellón in New York City, he began by focusing on the basics. The combination of steak, garlic and lime in his skirt steak taco with mojo de ajo is satisfying and, to some, reassuringly familiar. That's not to say Stupak won't dig into unexpected corners of Mexican cuisine--all in good time.
Skirt Steak Tacos with Mojo de Ajo
Yield: 6 tacos
Cook Time:
40 minutes
- INGREDIENTS
1 stick unsalted butter
½ cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
12 cloves garlic, thinly sliced (about ⅓ cup)
4 árbol chiles
1 plum tomato, coarsely chopped
½ cup orange juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 medium white onion, thinly sliced
1½ pounds skirt steak, trimmed of fat and sinew
6 corn tortillas, warmed
Lime wedges
About The Chef
Before opening Empellón in New York City in 2011, Alex Stupak was the pastry chef at Boston's Clio, Chicago's Alinea and New York City's wd~50. He won Iron Chef in 2008 and has re-created many of his innovative pastries on television.
Empellón, 230 W. Fourth St., New York, NY; or empellon.com
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