Take your taco Tuesday to the next level with these incredible Korean beef BBQ tacos with quick pickled cucumbers, they’re so good you’re going to want to put them on the weekly rotation.

 

I had one lone cucumber that needed to get used. I was also craving tacos (always am) and remembered I’d once had a Korean BBQ taco that had cucumbers on it and thought that would be perfect! So I googled far and wide and could not find a recipe for Korean beef BBQ tacos that didn’t require a slow cooker or hours and hours of time- maybe I was googling the wrong thing? Who knows. I just threw my hands in the air and said a mental “F-it” and decided to wing it, and I gotta tell you – these were some of the tastiest tacos ever!!

Normally I’m not one for dishes that have a ton of ingredients – there are a few exceptions to that rule: tacos (like these slow roasted chicken tacos with radish and avocado slaw) or that time I made those ahi tuna poke bowls (here). I did not mind one bit that this dish required three bowls, multiple spoons, and ingredients galore, because the flavors come together like whoa. The beef is marinated and cooked in a slightly sweet, tangy sauce. The cucumbers are quick pickled and provide a nice crunch, and these are truly quick pickled, they’re ready in 30 minutes, and then there’s a spicy mayo sauce that ties it all together and then the tacos are topped with fresh cilantro. Bite after bite of deliciousness!!

I’m kind of obsessed with this recipe. There’s normally more of a lag time between when I make a recipe and when it actually sees the light of day on the blog, but with this recipe…I made it on Thursday, and then again on Friday, and I’m making it again this week…you get the point. I had to share it and hope you enjoy these Korean BBQ beef tacos with quick pickled cucumbers.

Korean Beef BBQ Tacos with Quick Pickled Cucumbers

Take your taco Tuesday to the next level with these incredible Korean beef BBQ tacos with quick pickled cucumbers, they’re so good you’re going to want to put them on the weekly rotation.

PREP TIME40 minutes

COOK TIME10 minutes

TOTAL TIME50 minutes

Ingredients

• For the beef:
• 1.5-2 lbs top sirloin beef, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon gochujang (chili paste)
• For the quick pickled cucumbers:
• 1 large english cucumber (seedless), thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 jalapeno, finely sliced
• pinch of salt
• For the spicy sauce:
• 1/4 cup lite mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon tomato paste
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• 1 garlic clove, pressed
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 teaspoon gochujang (chili paste)
• For the tacos:
• 12 small flour tortillas
• 1 cup fresh cilantro, mint or combination of fresh herbs

Instructions

• For the beef: finely slice beef. In a bowl combine all ingredients for the marinade and mix to combine, then add in the beef and let marinade for 30 minutes or covered in the fridge up to 24 hours. Tap off excess marinade and put beef slices in a large skillet over high heat. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no more pink shows.
• For the quick pickled cucumbers: slice cucumbers very thin (I use a mandolin) and put in a bowl, then add in rice wine vinegar, sugar, chopped jalapeno and pinch of salt, stir, and let sit in the fridge until ready to enjoy.
• For the spicy sauce: Mix all ingredients in a bowl and set in the refrigerator. If you like spicy-spicy, add more gochujang, this sauce as is is mild to medium.
• Warm the tortillas before serving.
• To assemble tacos, spread a spoonful of spicy mayo on one side of a taco, spoon a few pieces of meat into the tortilla, and spoon cucumbers into the tortillas and then sprinkle a pinch of fresh herbs on top and repeat until all tacos are assembled, then enjoy.

Notes

Makes 12 tacos, serves 3-4

Nutrition Information:

YIELD:

 4

SERVING SIZE:

 1
Amount Per Serving: CALORIES: 1430TOTAL FAT: 64gSATURATED FAT: 22gTRANS FAT: 0gUNSATURATED FAT: 33gCHOLESTEROL: 316mgSODIUM: 1774mgCARBOHYDRATES: 101gFIBER: 6gSUGAR: 13gPROTEIN: 107g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.