Tacos Cookbook
By
Aron Smith
Copyright 2019 Aron Smith
All rights reserved.
Dedication
To whoever invented the taco: You are loved.
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Tacos are the down to earth Mexican street food that has found a way into the hearts of so many other cultures. They have become so popular that even the US, Korea and other countries have found ways to incorporate them into their own cultural cuisines. Most high end restaurants even have tasty tacos on the menu.
You're probably wondering why tacos are so popular. Well, tacos are one of the foods you can snack on while moving. They are very portable, yummy and healthy which are the things we need in this fast paced era we live in.
Just so you know, anything can be wrapped up inside a tortilla. Scoop in some yummy sauce with a bit of crunchy onions into a tortilla and you're all set, that is keeping it basic. Tacos are best enjoyed when served immediately. Think of it like serving pancakes, one at a time straight from the pan, right? This reason is exactly why everyone is grateful for taco trucks.
Everyone loves tacos, I'm sure I've already established that. While this and Mexican food is increasingly popular in a lot of non-Mexican places, there's still a tiny problem with that picture. People know how to eat them more than they know how to make them and that is the main reason for this book. Here you'll find so many delicious taco fillings that will get and keep you satisfied.
Also, they are totally easy to make, whether it is onion coated roast chicken with salsa toppings or freshly sliced grilled steak. The options are also endless for vegetarians, whether you're seeking exotic tastes like grilled nopal cactus pads with organic tomato salsa or some beans with crumbled cheese. I also added certain taco recipes that are a tiny bit more involved than usual, good thing is they are very easy to prepare.
Some tacos contain fillings that can be eaten just fine outside a tortilla. Fillings like this can be frozen and made into a taco anytime you like just in case you don't have a lot of time on your hands and you like to prepare meals way ahead of time. This is also helpful if you need to put together party snacks as quickly as possible.
What most people love about tacos is how fun it is to eat. They are messy, satisfying and easy to handle. This is perfect for casual parties and family picnics. Throw in your favorite drink and you're good to go.
This book is centered on Mexican tacos that have strong regional identities. There are also modern adaptations from Mexican chefs and yours truly. Personally, I like to avoid the commercial tacos that were invented by the American food industry years ago and if your curious, you can find them in national food chains. Newer food chains that use much softer tortillas still fill the meat with a l0t of guacamole, shredded lettuce and beans so that it kind of overshadows the taste of the meat.
There are different taco varieties. The most famous despite being a bit modern was invented somewhere in Mexico City and it is called taco al pastor. It has layers and layers of roasted pork that has been marinated in adobo.
Tacos that have grilled meat as the main ingredient are tacos al carbon. They are usually accompanied by roasted serrano chiles or grilled spring onions. There so many taco stands in Mexican markets and there you will find tacos that have quesadillas as the main ingredient. When making these tacos, tortillas are usually raw while filling, then cooked. These type of tacos mainly contain vegetable fillings like swiss chard, cooked mushrooms, potatoes and nopales.
Heard of taco de guisados? It is the largest variety yet. A guisado simply means 'cooked dish'. They are homemade Mexican casserole dish preparations that are taken to a stand and sold out. Guisados include pork adobo, mole poblano or even chiles rellenos.
Another is taco de carnitas. These belong to a special class and can only be found in specific places. They are made by putting large chunks of pork in water to cook and just enough pork fat to roast the meat as soon as it is done cooking.
Fish tacos are mainly a speciality of the extensive coastlines of Mexico. Fish tacos should just be fish tacos, right? However, the ones found in Veracruz are not the same as the ones found in the Baja peninsula. Even Puerto Vallarta clearly has its own corner for smoked marlin. The taco recipes here are just endless because the subject is so broad and people come up with different versions every day, just as you will one day.
Salsas
Salsas are those tiny sauces and sides that usually accompany tacos and other dishes, of course. Many people appreciate salsas and it's not just for the heat they bring to the food. If it was all about the heat, a bottle of Tabasco would do just fine, but it is more than that. It is that perfect blend of flavour.
Ever had a mango and habanero salsa? The fruity taste is delicious. You can compare that the sharp tang of a serrano lime salsa or raw tomatillo salsa. There is also the tasty spicy chipotle salsa and poblano sauce. The chipotle is smoky while the poblano is a bit mild.
Salsas supply juicy goodness to grilled meats. They are usually made up of juice substances like tomatoes which is why they are usually very liquid. Absolutely no rule says, 'one salsa at a time,' especially when regular taco stands have at least two different salsas. Why have just one when you can have them all?
Ever had a taco party? If not, you definitely should. If you happen to have a large enough backyard, you can buy a large pizza pan or comal to be placed over a candy burner and voila! You can have your very own taco party with a variety of fillings, fixings and salsas.
If you're more of a grill person, you can always make the grilled steak that has been marinated in garlic with burnt onions or grilled cactus pads or grilled shrimp in adobo. If you like, you can also prepare the fillings ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator so you can just reheat whenever you like.
There's so many to choose from. There's the pork in green sauce, swiss chard and potatoes, duck legs braised in chipotle sauce, etc. Putting together a quick taco lunch party is no problem at all.
Kids will love a chance to participate, so planning a quesadilla party where they get to choose and stack their own filling will be very appreciated. Personally, I've had some success at those. You don't even need a lot of complicated ingredients. Just get some tortillas from the store and put together a bowl of stir-fried mushrooms, shredded cheese, chicken, refried beans and other fillings your kid might like.