Mexican Steak Tartare | Carne Apache Recipe | Mexican Recipes (2024)

Published: · Updated: by Mely Martínez

JUMP TO RECIPE

The Mexican version of Steak Tartare has almost the same ingredients as thepico de gallosalsa, which are onion, tomato, and lime juice. For this reason, this dish is sometimes calledCarne a la Pico de Gallo, althoughCarne Tártara,Carne Apache, andCeviche de Carneare more popular names for it.

Of course, we love to change things and make them our own, and so the ingredients for carne tártara vary from region to region.

Mexican Steak Tartare Recipe - Carne Tartara

Mexican Steak Tartare | Carne Apache Recipe | Mexican Recipes (1)

Some optional items include capers, olive oil, cucumbers, and radishes. So, here you have a basic recipe for Carne tártara that you can enjoy and change to your liking! My personal version includesKikkoman soy sauce, because it is a flavor enhancer and a very versatile ingredient that can be used in many different cuisines (and Mexican food is not an exception)!

This appetizer is all the rage with men, it is meat after all! In Mexico, men enjoy preparing carne tártara and having it with cold beers, while watching a soccer game with friends or just having a good time with the family.

How to make Mexican Steak Tartare

JUMP TO FULL INSTRUCTIONS

DIRECTIONS:

Mexican Steak Tartare | Carne Apache Recipe | Mexican Recipes (2)
  • Place meat in a glass bowl and stir in the lime juice. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 4 hours.(Please check the ingredients list below)
  • After 4 hours, drain all the liquid from the bowl. Make sure to drain as much as possible.
Mexican Steak Tartare | Carne Apache Recipe | Mexican Recipes (3)
  • Gently mix in the red onions, serrano peppers, tomato, and cilantro. Stir with a fork carefully.
  • Pour in the Kikkoman soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce, and mix again. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over corn tostadas or saltine crackers.
Mexican Steak Tartare | Carne Apache Recipe | Mexican Recipes (4)
Mexican Steak Tartare | Carne Apache Recipe | Mexican Recipes (5)

I’m so happy to be able to partner again withKikkomanand bring you this recipe (from my husband’s family!) using their soy sauce. This sauce is very versatile for adding flavor to your recipes, and you can also use it as a traditional browning sauce.

Kikkoman soy sauce is traditionally brewed and, like a fine wine, is aged for several months to develop its characteristic rich, yet mellow flavor, appetizing aroma, and distinctive reddish-brown color. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get cooking! #KikkomanSabor

¡Buen provecho!
Mely,

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Kikkoman. The opinions and text are all mines.

More recipes:
Steak Quesadilla
Steak Ranchero

📖 Recipe

Mexican Steak Tartare | Carne Apache Recipe | Mexican Recipes (6)

Mexican Steak Tartare

Mely Martínez

The Mexican version of Steak Tartare has almost the same ingredients as the pico de gallo salsa, which are onion, tomato, and lime juice. For this reason, this dish is sometimes called Carne a la Pico de Gallo, although Carne Tártara, Carne Apache, and Ceviche de Carne are more popular names for it.

5 from 6 votes

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Resting Time 4 hours hrs

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Beef

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 4 servings

Calories 350 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound beef tenderloin ground or finely chopped
  • ¾ cup lime juice
  • 2 tablespoon Kikkoman soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ cup red onion chopped
  • 2 serrano peppers finely minced
  • 1 cup tomato finely chopped
  • ½ cup cilantro finely chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Place meat in a glass bowl and stir in the lime juice. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 4 hours.

  • After 4 hours, drain all the liquid from the bowl. Make sure to drain as much as possible.

  • Gently mix in the red onions, serrano peppers, tomato, and cilantro. Stir with a fork carefully.

  • Pour in the Kikkoman soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce, and mix again. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over corn tostadas or saltine crackers.

Notes

  • This appetizer is usually served with corn tostadas, saltine crackers, and nowadays even with iceberg lettuce.
  • Optional topping: diced avocado, olive oil, hot sauce or more Kikkoman soy sauce to your liking.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 22gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 646mgPotassium: 621mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 495IUVitamin C: 23.2mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 3.4mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Beef

  • Vegetable Beef Soup With Rice (Carne Picada Con Arroz)
  • Beef in Tomato Sauce with Swiss Chard
  • Ancho Pepper Shredded Beef for Tacos
  • Liver and Onions

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply & Rating

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Aaron Chavez

    I would call this Ceviche de Carne because it is cooked in lime; similar to Ceviche de Pescado or Cerviche de Camaron. "Tartare" is traditionally, chopped raw meat with seasonings and garnishes. I like that you specify tenderloin because it is lean. You wouldn't want to make this with a fatty cut like chuck and you definitely don't want to do this with pre-packaged ground beef.

    Reply

    • Mely Martínez

      Hello Aaron, I hope you can read the ingredient list. It clearly states beef tenderloin ground or chopped.

      Reply

  2. Emmanuel Sanchez

    Just tried this today because a German buddy of mine had brought something similar to a bbq... oh my goodness. This was phenomenal!!!! I think I may add more tomato and serrano next time just because 🙂

    Thanks a million Mely!!!

    Reply

  3. nick

    what is the longest you could let the meat soak in the lime juice??

    Reply

    • mmartinez

      Hello Nick,
      I had left the meat in the fridge from one day to another, but it changes in taste. Still really good.

      Reply

  4. NanciD

    Mexican Steak Tartare | Carne Apache Recipe | Mexican Recipes (11)
    Mely, I love your recipes, you are my fero (food-hero)!!:) if you didn't know it, by appearance one might thinks it would be complicated, but, not so, it is a simple yet so tasty recipe, and you're so right, a man's favorite to accompany their drinks. I love this delicious appetizer, my new go-to!!.Thank you!!!!

    Reply

    • mmartinez

      Hello Nanci,
      Thank you for your kind words. Enjoy the recipe. This "carne tartara" is really tasty!

      Reply

  5. Unknown

    When do you cook the meat?

    Reply

    • mmartinez

      Hello,

      The meat is cooked by the lime juice.

      Reply

    • Sandra Rocha

      Mexican Steak Tartare | Carne Apache Recipe | Mexican Recipes (12)
      The acid in the lime juice cooks the meat just like in ceviche.

      Reply

Mexican Steak Tartare | Carne Apache Recipe | Mexican Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is Carne Apache made of? ›

Here's a basic recipe for Carne Apache:

1 pound of extra-lean ground beef. 8 ounces (1 cup) of freshly squeezed lime juice. 3/4 to 1 cup of diced tomato. 1/4 cup of diced onions.

What is the best cut of meat for steak tartare? ›

Tartare calls for the best-quality meat; you'll eat it raw, so go for the good stuff — rib eye or flatiron is a nice way to go. To get a perfectly diced steak for tartare, freeze the beef until it is just firm, about 15 minutes, before slicing.

What is the parasite in beef tartare? ›

Toxoplasmosis is caused by a cellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. The cat is the primary host in the parasitic life cycle, and the illness is spread by contact with infected cat feces or ingestion of raw infected meat (such as 'steak tartare') or water.

How is meat prepared for steak tartare? ›

Trim the beef, discarding any sinew, then finely chop using a large, heavy knife. Put in a bowl and add the shallot, cornichons, capers and parsley. Add the mustard and hot sauce to taste. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

How long does it take for carne Apache to cook? ›

Cover the container and let "cook" for about 4 hours mixing occasionally. Just before serving cut up the avocados and mix in the Carne Apache. After about 4 hours the hamburger will be cooked (brown) by the lime juice and it will also Look Cooked. Serve on tostada shells.

How does carne Apache work? ›

"This, the only thing I can compare it to, is steak tartare, mexican style. This is like a ceviche, but with lean ground beef, so technically, the beef is raw cooked by acids in lemon. If you are not open to things like this, please skip this one.

Can you use supermarket beef for steak tartare? ›

In terms of age/freshness, if you can buy a steak in the grocery store, it's fit for tartare. I never use ground meat for this purpose because that takes all the little bacteria on the surface and redistributes them throughout the meat so they can grow with impunity. So get a whole steak.

Can you use grocery store beef for tartare? ›

Yes, you can use supermarket beef for tartare as long as you are shopping at high-quality, high-end grocers or butchers that meet the qualifications recommended for eating raw or undercooked meat. The store should be clean and fresh, without odors. The meat should be bright red, odorless, and of the highest quality.

Why is steak tartare healthy? ›

As you start to digest that steak tartare, you won't only get a delicious snack, but you can also get a great serving of vitamin B as well. There have even been some studies that have linked the vitamin B in raw beef to better reproductive health.

What kills the bacteria in steak tartare? ›

Chefs often use a quick and simple disinfecting method for steak tartare, which involves dropping your beef into a pot of boiling salted water for about 10 seconds, and then dipping it into an ice water bath to stop the cooking.

How do you not get food poisoning from steak tartare? ›

Beef tartare is made from raw ground beef, which can potentially contain harmful bacteria such as E. coli or Salmonella. In order to reduce the risk of foodborne illness, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that all beef be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do you know if beef is safe for tartare? ›

Processed meat, such as ground beef, is at a greater risk for bacteria exposure. When meat is processed through a grinder, a larger surface area is then exposed to potentially harmful microbes. So, when choosing the meat for your steak tartare, you should skip that pre-packed ground beef and go with whole cuts instead.

Can you eat leftover steak tartare? ›

If you find that you have leftover tartare, don't toss it out! You can have it for lunch the next day. Spread the leftover tartare on a piece of toast and put it under the broiler for about a minute.

Who invented steak tartare? ›

The other theory states that it comes from French Polynesia, where it is common to consume raw meat and was popularized in hotels of French origin in the early twentieth century, a time in which the prestigious chef Auguste Escoffier carries out an update of several sauces, including the tartar sauce.

Where does carne Apache come from? ›

A popular street food in Mexico, Carne Tártara or Carne Apache is a dish of ground beef cured in lime juice, like a ceviche.

What kind of meat is carne? ›

In Spanish, Carne literally means “flesh/meat/beef” and Asada means “roast/broiled/grilled,” so “grilled meat.” When it comes to “carne asada” in cooking, the term refers to grilled and sliced beef, usually skirt, flank or flap steak.

What is the difference between carne and carnitas? ›

Carne asada: Grilled meat, usually beef, sliced thin. Carnitas: Literally “l*ttle meats.” Usually pork butt simmered and fried in its own fat.

What animal makes carne asada? ›

Carne asada is grilled and sliced beef, usually skirt steak, flap steak, or flank steak though chuck steak (known as diezmillo in Spanish) can also be used. It is usually marinated then grilled or seared to impart a charred flavor. Carne asada can be served on its own or as an ingredient in other dishes.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dan Stracke

Last Updated:

Views: 5764

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dan Stracke

Birthday: 1992-08-25

Address: 2253 Brown Springs, East Alla, OH 38634-0309

Phone: +398735162064

Job: Investor Government Associate

Hobby: Shopping, LARPing, Scrapbooking, Surfing, Slacklining, Dance, Glassblowing

Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.