Tacos are everyone’s favorite food. If you want to know how to make killer tacos, you came to the right place! Here’s how to make perfect tacos at home.
Taco Tuesday has evolved into a force that has taken over the US. It’s so popular that Mexican is now the third most popular type of menu item.
You don’t have to go out to enjoy them, though, you can enjoy delicious tacos at home. The great thing about tacos is there are really only two rules that you need to follow.
You need to have great flavors and you need to have multiple textures. This creates a pleasant experience when you bite into the taco.
We are going to walk you through the different elements of your taco. We’ll provide you with some different options and ideas to help you get started.
The Meat
In today’s world of tacos, you have a wide choice of meats that you can choose to put in your taco. There is always the traditional beef, pork, or chicken.
Don’t stop there though, you could choose to use fish or shrimp. You can go fancy with some fresh seared tuna or lobster.
The important thing is to use high-quality meat. This is a strategy that the best chefs know and use. You can get more info here about using quality ingredients.
Be sure to season your meat before you cook it. You can go simple with just some salt and pepper to let the other flavors of the taco shine. Or you could go with a smoky chili to enhance the flavor of the meat.
Slow Cooked
This is an easy low maintenance way of prepping the meat for your tacos. Throw the meat in a slow cooker for a few hours. Then use a couple forks to shred the meat when it’s ready.
Grilled
If you plan on using steak, chicken, or even salmon then grilling is a great option. This will also add a crispy factor to the meat which will add another layer to the textures of your tacos.
Braised
If you need to make tacos for a lot of people then braising is the way to go. When going with this method your best options are brisket or pork butt.
Fried
Nothing is more delicious than frying up some fish. Go for a batter that crisps up for a good crunch when you bite into the taco.
A tempura style batter will be light but still, give you that crispy crunch. It’s also hearty enough to stand up to the other ingredients that you are piling on top of the fish.
The Tortilla
The best fillings in the world mean nothing if you don’t have a quality tortilla to put them in. A great tortilla will be warm and pliable.
If you want to go traditional, you’ll make them yourself from masa. That’s corn kernels that get soaked and ground into a dough.
You can also opt for buying some. Just make sure they aren’t old.
If they are, don’t make tacos with them. Instead turn them into chips.
The Toppings
When picking your toppings you’ll want to pick ones that compliment your meat. You want a good mix of colors, textures, and flavors.
Cheese
Most people put too much cheese on their tacos. It’s not their fault, we’ve been trained to expect a lot of cheese thanks to Tex-Mex style restaurants.
Instead of the standard shredded jack try some crumbled queso fresco. It melts great, cools the heat of the chili, and enhances the protein’s flavors.
Veggies
Use your vegetables as a way of adding texture and crunch to your tacos. Otherwise, everything else is soft, leading to a lackluster experience.
Instead of the standard shredded lettuce and greens go for something more creative. Try cabbage that is thinly sliced. You could also put some onion, pickles, or radish on there.
Whatever you choose, make sure it has the crisp crunch factor. Fresh vegetables are perfect for this.
The Sauce
The soul of the taco is in the sauce. You can make a quality salsa with ingredients you have in your fridge.
Always make sure to add some chilies, either fresh or dried. This will give you some heat and spice to your tacos.
Green Salsa
You’ll need some roasted tomatillos, lime juice, jalapenos, garlic, and onion. Blend it all up and you’re good to go.
Dark Red Ancho Salsa
Take some dried ancho peppers and let them soak until they are soft, then blend them with some roasted or raw tomatoes. Throw in some white onion and garlic to really round out the flavors.
Pico de Gallo
For a chunkier sauce chop up some white onion, tomato, cilantro, and jalapeno. Mix it up with some lime juice and oil.
Guacamole
While it isn’t a must, guacamole has become the biggest craze in the taco world. There’s a good reason too as it adds a creamy fattiness that rounds out your taco.
Keep ingredients simple, white onion, salt, cilantro, and lime juice added in. Mash it all up and you’re ready to go.
Creamy Sauces
If salsas and guac aren’t your thing, then go for a creamy sauce. Try using sour cream, mayo, or even greek yogurt.
Then mix your base with some spices or your favorite hot sauce. A favorite is sriracha mayo.
Tacos at Home
There are two basic rules that you need to follow when crafting tacos at home. You need good flavors and good textures.
You want to craft a taco that uses quality ingredients so that the flavors of the ingredients get enhanced. Then mix different ingredients together that complement each other.
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