Carne Picada Tacos with Avocado Salsa

Ingredients:

• 1kg beef brisket (flat end), trimmed
• 2 teaspoons ancho chile powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 8 small jalapeño peppers
• 16 corn tortillas, warmed
• 2 cups thinly sliced romaine lettuce
• ½ cup crumbled cotija or feta cheese
• Avocado Salsa: 1 avocado, diced
• 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 cup quartered grape tomatoes
• 2 mini sweet peppers, diced
• ½ jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
• 1 ½ tablespoons lime juice
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions:

• Place brisket in a 4- to 7-quart slow cooker and sprinkle with chile powder, cumin, 1 teaspoon salt and oregano. Whisk water and tomato paste in a small bowl and add to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours or High for 4 hours.
• About 20 minutes before serving, heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add whole jalapeños and cover. Cook, shaking the pan occasionally and turning the jalapeños with tongs as needed, until charred and blistered on all sides, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes to soften.
• Meanwhile, prepare avocado salsa: Combine avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, sweet peppers, minced jalapeño, lime juice and salt in a medium bowl.
• Transfer the brisket to a clean cutting board. Shred it, then finely chop. Slice the blistered jalapeños.
• Serve the brisket in tortillas, with lettuce, the jalapeños, cheese and the salsa.