3 recipes for great homemade tacos

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Tacos are Mexico’s national dish. They are flatbreads (properly called tortillas) filled with a mixture that varies from recipe to recipe. For Mexicans, serving tacos is a kind of ritual, and just as Italy has large family businesses making delicious and unique pasta, Mexico has whole clans specialising in making traditional tacos.

Mexican tacos are sold at traditional stalls called “taquerías“, which specialise in making extra soft and supple tortillas (elsewhere in the world you can also find hard wheat versions). The filling varies from stall to stall (and from restaurant to restaurant), but a certain pattern can be seen. Most attention goes to the meat, because almost any kind can be used in taco recipes:

• Chicken,
• Pork,
• Beef (the most common),
• Fish,
• Seafood,
• Mixed meat (chicken and pork, or pork and beef).

Vegetarian, meat-free tacos are a matter of course too. Would you believe that making tacos at home is not at all difficult and you don’t need to visit specialist exotic restaurants to enjoy Mexico’s national dish? You can do it all in the comfort of your own home. Take a look!

💡 Tip: Did you know that tacos make a great first meal, for example after a one-day fast? They fill you up and give you energy without weighing on your stomach.

A brief history of tacos, the USA wants a monopoly, Mexico wants tradition!

A favourite dish of Americans, who would love to claim a monopoly on it, but in vain. Today everyone knows that the history of tacos goes back to Mexico, where the indigenous people ate a version that looked completely different from today’s.

🎓 Did you know? The ancient Mexicans used freshly baked, soft corn tortillas and filled them with a mixture of fish and cooked offal. It was a staple dish that gave warriors vital nutrients and energy.

The original tacos did not contain the ingredients we find in today’s version, so no cheese, lettuce, tomatoes or sour cream. The modern corn taco is actually less than 100 years old!

The name “Taco” comes from 18th-century silver miners!

The name Taco (today more often “tacos”) came about in the 18th century and was coined by silver miners in Mexico, who wrapped gunpowder in paper. This was called a “taquito”, which gave rise to the name tacos for a meat mixture wrapped in a corn tortilla.

🎓 Did you know? Until then, tacos were known as working-class food, eaten by miners, labourers and quarrymen. The traditional street food they ate was therefore called “tacos de minero”, which translates as “miner’s tacos”.

The tortilla of the miner’s taco was not the “hard U-shaped shell” we know today. It was a very soft corn tortilla with a spicy meat filling. The dish was filling, tasty and affordable, and it gave workers plenty of energy.

Yum! The delicious corn shell made mass production of tacos more efficient!

The pre-fried U-shaped taco “pocket” we all know only appeared in the 1940s. Mexicans were the first to patent the idea in order to speed up taco production.

🎓 Did you know? The world-famous chain Taco Bell copied the method 10 years later to make mass production of tasty tacos more efficient.

🗣️ Experts add: In the past, tacos were made to order at a stall and were always soft corn tortillas with meat. The ready-made crispy shell made mass production easier in America and allowed long-life tortillas to be stocked in supermarkets.

Today you can find tacos practically everywhere, from the local street food stall to the grocery shop. Mexican restaurants are no longer “Americanising” their ingredients and are bringing the real taste of Mexico, and Americans love it.

Modern tacos differ from the ones Americans preferred in the 20th century. They usually contain no cheese or lettuce. While Americans ate tacos as a cold dinner, Mexicans serve them hot and soft. You will certainly enjoy a soft corn tortilla filled with:

• Authentically seasoned meat,
• Coriander,
• Sliced radishes,
• Grilled onion and
• A whole range of hot sauces.

Mexico holds fast to tradition and is determined to offer the world “real” tacos without unnecessary extras that, in its view, have no place in them. If you want to taste traditional Mexican tacos, visit a properly equipped stall or make them at home. We will show you how.

💡 Tip: We have written 33 tips on what to cook when you don’t know what to make for lunch. Delicious tacos, for example with vegetables, can be one of those nourishing lunches!

A taco-making ritual several hundred years old! The roles are strictly divided.

The traditional beef version, tacos de carne asada, is prepared slowly, without hurry and as a ritual. Everyone involved in the process has a clearly defined role. At street stalls, preparation goes like this:

1. One person (a man or a woman) grills thinly sliced pieces of beef.
   • Good-quality beef tenderloin or flank is usually used.
   • The meat is cooked over charcoal, and before the slices are laid on, the grill is rubbed with white onion and beef fat.
2. The cooked meat (that is, quickly seared on the grill) is transferred to a waiting container.
   • Before the meat goes on, the charcoal must glow red under a layer of ash. Knowing the exact moment to lay the meat on is essential. An experienced cook must hold his hand a beer can’s height above the fire and keep it there for four to five seconds. If he can only manage a shorter time, the grill is too hot. If he can hold it longer, the fire needs to be relit.
3. From the bowl, another person (always a man) takes a pile of meat and chops it on a wooden block.
   • In Mexico this person is called the parrillero. He not only grills but also buys the ingredients, invites the guests and entertains them. A good parrillero does not have to be an experienced cook; a cooking enthusiast is enough. He just must not ruin the meat, must get it off the grill quickly and cut it into cubes. He also makes sure that the tortillas are warm and the salsa, refried beans and guacamole are ready. While the parrillero runs the grill and cuts the meat, the women usually take care of preparing the other ingredients.
4. Once the meat is chopped, the parrillero takes a tortilla handed to him by a third person (always a woman) and fills it.
   • The tortilla must be fresh and warm, so it is made right at the stall in front of the diner. The women usually have the dough ready in advance; they pinch off pieces, roll them into flatbreads and cook them on the grill after the meat.
   • A man with a cleaver places the meat in the middle of the tortilla, adds a little hot sauce and beans, and hands it to the diner.

The diner then tops the meat mixture to taste from the bowls. There is a choice of salsa, guacamole, cabbage, radishes, lettuce, cucumber, coriander and lime. Finally, the filling should always be sprinkled with lime juice.

💡 Tip: Instead of beef you can use tofu, for example. That way you replace the meat without losing an important source of protein!

3 recipes for great homemade tacos, easy to make and with a unique taste!

Homemade tacos are easy to make and you can enjoy them in no time. You can make your own tortillas or buy them, but the shop-bought version is hard and made from wheat. The corn version is softer and tastier.

Are you ready to enjoy traditional tacos with meat as well as a meat-free version?

Recipe no. 1, homemade tacos with chicken, chilli and paprika!

For chicken tacos you will need:

• 2 teaspoons chilli,
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin,
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano,
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder,
• 500 grams boneless chicken thighs,
• 1 tablespoon rapeseed oil,
• 12 small corn tortillas,
• 1 avocado (peeled, halved, stoned and diced),
• ½ cup freshly chopped coriander,
• 1 lime,
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Method

1. In a small bowl, mix the chilli, cumin, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Season the chicken pieces with this mixture.
2. Heat the rapeseed oil in a large frying pan (over a medium-high heat).
3. Place the chicken pieces in the pan in a single layer and fry until golden. Wait until the meat is cooked through, about 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Leave to cool before cutting into pieces.
4. Serve the mixture in warmed tortillas and top with guacamole made from the avocado, coriander and lime.

💡 Tip: Broccoli goes brilliantly with chicken. Take a look at more broccoli recipes and get inspired!

Recipe no. 2, the most delicious fish tacos by Natasha Kravchuk

Fish tacos have been a hit in recent years. Fish gives the dish a unique flavour, and the meal is light and does not cause bloating. The highlight is the unbeatable lime sauce, which takes the whole recipe to a completely different level!

For fish tacos you will need:

• 1 whole fresh fish (it can be salmon, sea bream, tuna or even herring),
• ½ teaspoon cumin,
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper,
• 1 tsp salt,
• ¼ tsp black pepper,
• 1 tsp olive oil or a knob of butter,
• ½ cup soured cream,
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise,
• 2 tbsp lime juice (from 1 medium lime),
• 1 tsp garlic powder,
• 1 tsp Sriracha sauce.

Method

1. Line a large baking tray with baking paper or a silicone mat.
2. In a small bowl, mix the cumin, cayenne pepper, a teaspoon of salt and the black pepper. Sprinkle the spice mix evenly over both sides of the fish.
3. Drizzle the fish lightly with olive oil and brush it with a little butter.
4. Bake at 100 °C for 20 to 25 minutes.
5. Now make the sauce. Mix the soured cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, garlic powder and Sriracha sauce.
6. Whisk until everything is well combined.
7. Quickly toast the homemade corn tortillas in a dry frying pan on both sides so they warm through and soften.
8. To serve: start with the fish, then add the remaining ingredients and finish with a generous sprinkling of cotija cheese and the amazing taco sauce! Serve with a wedge of fresh lime.

💡 Tip: This is a great recipe for anyone who has decided to start the keto diet! Get inspired by our meal plan for the whole week!

Recipe no. 3, vegetarian tacos from 5 ingredients! The quickest dish in the world.

Corn tortillas don’t have to be filled only with meat. A so-called vegetarian version packed with vegetables is also excellent. It gives you the vitamins, minerals and trace elements you need. And you’ll enjoy it, too. The website freshoffthegrid.com comes up with a revolutionary recipe with just 5 ingredients, from which you can make perfect, tasty tacos. Do you need to get dinner on the table fast and 15 tips for tasty meals in under 15 minutes are no longer enough? Try this recipe!

You will need:

• ¾ cup water,
• 1 tbsp taco seasoning,
• ½ tbsp dried minced onion or 1 tsp onion powder,
• 1 tin black beans, drained (you can also use red lentils),
• 8 tbsp salsa (a mix of tomatoes, onion, garlic, coriander and chilli),
• 6 corn tortillas
• Optional: avocado, coriander, lime, red onion.

Method

1. From the water, seasoning, minced onion, black beans and salsa, make a vegetable mixture.
2. Let the water reduce and cook until a thick “paste” forms.
3. Toast the corn tortillas in a dry frying pan so they soften and warm up.
4. Fill them with the vegetable mixture and add “toppings” to taste, such as avocado, coriander, radish or an extra helping of onion.
5. Serve drizzled with lime juice.

💡 Tip: Do you want to start living healthily? Changing your diet is the first step to success. How about having vegetable tacos for lunch instead of a burger? A healthy diet is half the battle!

Enjoy your meal!