Taco Tuesday

It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's offerings include Slab Bacon Tacos with Burned Scallion Crema and Portobello Bulgogi Korean Tacos. Enjoy!

CHICKEN TACOS WITH STRAWBERRY SALSA

This recipe from Old El Paso begins, "Tacos take a fruit-filled spin with fresh strawberry salsa and orange juice. Simple skillet chicken breasts and bagged baby greens make these tortilla bowls fresh, fast and delicious. For a perfect pairing, add a Strawberry Corona® Limonada – double the berry flavor!"

Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/chicken-tacos-with-strawberry-salsa.

Ingredients

1/2 cup thinly sliced strawberries

1/4 cup finely chopped white onion

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 tablespoon butter

1 package (16 oz) boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup orange juice

3 cups mixed baby greens

1 package (8 count) Old El Paso™ Soft Flour Tortilla Bowls, heated as directed on package

3 tablespoons crumbled goat cheese or feta cheese

Preparation

In small bowl, mix strawberries, onion and lime juice. Let stand, uncovered, while cooking the chicken.

Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add chicken, salt and pepper; cook 4 to 6 minutes without moving. Turn chicken, and cook 1 to 2 minutes longer, until chicken is browned and no longer pink in center.

Add orange juice to skillet, and heat to boiling; reduce heat, and cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened.

Divide greens among warm tortilla bowls; top with chicken and any remaining cooking liquid from pan. Top evenly with strawberry salsa and cheese.

Expert Tips

For the prettiest presentation, pull off any long stems on the baby greens before adding to the tortilla bowls.

To reduce the sting of raw onions, place in fine-mesh strainer, and rinse under cold water for 30 seconds. Pat dry before using.

Baby spinach leaves can be used in place of the mixed baby greens.

CHEESE ENCHILADAS WITH CHILI GRAVY

This is from Robb Walsh, and adapted by Sam Sifton, in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, "Here is a recipe adapted from one that the great Tex-Mex scholar and restaurateur Robb Walsh serves at his El Real Tex-Mex restaurant in Houston. You can find similar ones served all over South Texas, often served with rice and refried beans. I think it’s an excellent side dish for a cookout of grilled chicken or pork, but you could also slide a few fried eggs over the top and call it breakfast, or don't and use vegetable stock or water, and call it a vegetarian supper. Make sure to leave some bare tortilla peeking out on each side of the gravy and cheese so it grows crackly and awesome."

Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour

This was featured in "Enchiladas Are the Saucy, Cheesy Addition to Your Dinner Table", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018154-cheese-enchiladas-with-chili-gravy.

Ingredients

For the chili gravy:

1/4 cup neutral oil, like canola, or use lard or chicken or beef fat

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste

1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, ideally Mexican oregano

2 tablespoons chile powder

2 cups chicken broth, ideally homemade or low-sodium if store-bought

For the enchiladas:

1/2 cup neutral oil, like canola

12 yellow corn tortillas

3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, or a mixture of 1 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese and 1 1/2 cups American cheese, like Velveeta

1 medium-size white onion, peeled and chopped

Preparation

Prepare the chili gravy: In a medium sauté pan set over medium-high heat, heat oil or fat until it begins to shimmer. Whisk in flour and stir continuously until it turns into a light brown roux, roughly the color of coffee ice cream, about 10 minutes.

Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, oregano and chile powder and whisk to combine, then continue whisking for another minute or so, until roux becomes fragrant.

Add chicken broth, slowly, 1/2 cup at a time, whisking until sauce begins to thicken. Turn heat to low and let sauce simmer an additional 15 minutes or so. Add broth as needed to adjust the thickness of the gravy. Keep warm.

Heat oven to 450 degrees.

Prepare the tortillas: In a medium sauté pan set over medium-high heat, heat oil until it begins to shimmer. Using tongs or a wide spatula, place a tortilla in the hot fat; it should start to bubble immediately. Heat tortilla for about 10 to 15 seconds a side, until soft and lightly browned. Remove tortilla and set on a rack set over a baking pan, or just on a baking pan if you don’t have a rack. Repeat with remaining tortillas, working quickly.

Using a ladle, put about 1/2 cup chili gravy in the bottom of an 8-by-13-inch baking pan and spread it out a little. Roll a few tablespoons of cheese into each tortilla, then place it seam-side down in the pan, nestling each one against the last. Ladle chili gravy over the top of the rolled tortillas and sprinkle remaining cheese over the top.

Transfer to oven and bake until sauce bubbles and cheese is melted, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle chopped onions over top and serve immediately.

PORTOBELLO BULGOGI KOREAN TACOS

This is from Rachael Hartley in her blog Avocado A Day Nutrition. (Nice blog, Rachael! I just signed up for it!) Rachael wrote, "Beef bulgogi Korean tacos are one of my favorites. Try this vegan twist using meaty portobello mushrooms, which soak up all the delicious marinade." Serves 6.

You can view this yummy recipe online here.

Ingredients

Mushrooms:

6 medium-large portobello mushroom caps, cleaned and sliced 1/2 inch thick

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup mirin (see note, below)

2 tablespoons dark sesame oil

3 scallions, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons raw sugar or coconut sugar

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon gochugaru (see second note)

Slaw:

1 bag of shredded cabbage

1 large carrot, shredded on the large grates of a cheese grater

2 scallions, thinly sliced

8 corn tortillas

First Note: Mirin is a Japanese cooking wine and is made from rice. It's supposed to be sweeter than sake. Since I don't keep alcohol around, I use water in place of miring.

Second note: Gochugaru is Korean chile flakes. If you can get it locally, and plan to use it in several dishes, great. Since I probably wouldn't use it elsewhere - unless I fell madly in love with it - I might consider something a little cheaper and more generic.

Instructions

Two to four hours before cooking, whisk together all the marinade ingredients for the mushrooms. Add portobellos and toss to combine. Refrigerate and marinade 2-4 hours.

When ready to cook, heat the grill to medium-high. Place the mushrooms evenly on the grill or toss into a grill pan if you have one. Reserve the marinade. Cook about 10 minutes total, flipping halfway.

While the mushrooms cook, pour the reserved marinade into a small pot. Set to medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Boil about 10 minutes total until reduced to a thick syrup. Set aside.

Warm the tortillas. Spoon slaw on the bottom of each tortillas. Top with mushrooms and reserved sauce.

SLOW COOKER BIRRIA BEEF TACOS

This recipe, from Old El Paso, begins, "Check out this tasty taco twist on a traditional Mexican dish. Birria is a meat stew often served at holidays and celebrations. For this easy take on birria, we’ve turned the traditional rustic stew into Slow Cooker Birria Beef Tacos using our Old El Paso™ Barbacoa Beef Street Taco Kit. Slow-cooking the beef makes it melt-in-your-mouth tender as it takes on the delicious flavors of the broth mixture made of chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, garlic, taco kit seasoning and onions. Looking for new taco night inspiration? This Slow Cooker Birria Beef Tacos recipe will make coming home to dinner a delicious treat."

Prep Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 7 hours 45 minutes; Makes 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/slow-cooker-birria-beef-tacos.

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups diced white onions

2 tablespoons finely chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 package Old El Paso™ Barbacoa Beef Street Taco Kit

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup water

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 3/4 to 2 1/4 lb boneless beef chuck roast

1 cup Old El Paso™ Shredded 4 Cheese Mexican Blend (4 oz)

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Lime wedges

Directions

Spray 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker, mix 2 cups of the onions, the chiles, garlic, seasoning mix (from taco kit) and salt. Stir in water.

In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook beef roast in oil 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until browned on both sides. Transfer to mixture in slow cooker; turn to coat. Cook on Low heat setting 7 to 8 hours, until beef is tender.

Transfer beef to cutting board; cool slightly. Shred beef, discarding any pieces of fat. Toss beef with 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid. Place remaining cooking liquid in small bowl, for dipping.

Fill tortillas (from taco kit) with beef, cheese, remaining 1/4 cup onions and the cilantro. Serve with salsa verde (from taco kit), reserved cooking liquid and lime wedges.

Expert Tips

The flavorful cooking liquid from the birria, or “consommé,” is often served as a dipping sauce.The shredded slow cooker birria beef is also delicious tucked into a cheesy quesadilla or served over rice with some cooking liquid.

If desired, strain cooking liquid before transferring to bowl for dipping.

SLAB BACON TACOS WITH BURNED SCALLION CREMA

This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Sam wrote, "This is candied bacon, essentially, on corn tortillas with a creamy, smoke-flecked sauce that tastes of scallion and lime. I like it with pineapple salsa as well, and a salad of cilantro, mint and soft lettuce. You could make it with your standard sliced bacon from the market, but it’s far superior with the thick-cut variety or, best of all, with a chunk of uncut bacon that you can slice as thick as you like."

Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 45 minutes

This was featured in "The Expandable Feast", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018991-slab-bacon-tacos-with-burned-scallion-crema.

Ingredients

For the bacon:

2 tablespoons chile powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

2 pounds slab bacon, cut into 1/4-inch slices

For the crema:

1 bunch green scallions, trimmed and cut into large pieces

1 jalapeño

1 to 2 limes

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

For serving:

Corn tortillas

Lime wedges

Pineapple salsa (see recipe)

Preparation

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Mix the chile powder, ground cumin, brown sugar and black pepper together in a large bowl, and then add the bacon slices, tossing to coat them with the spice mixture.

Arrange the coated bacon slices on a sheet pan, ideally one fitted with a wire rack. Roast in the oven until they are caramelized and starting to crisp at the edges, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Remove pan from oven, chop the bacon into large dice and keep warm. Reserve the bacon fat for another use.

While the bacon cooks, make the crema. Put the scallions and jalapeño in a large dry sauté pan and cook over high heat, tossing occasionally, until the scallions and jalapeño have blackened at the edges, approximately 10 to 12 minutes.

Put the scallions and jalapeño in the bowl of a food processor, and blitz them with the juice of 1 lime, then add the sour cream and mayonnaise, and blitz the mixture until it is smooth and flecked with blackened bits. Season to taste with the salt and, if you’d like the mixture thinner, the juice of the second lime. Scrape into a bowl, and reserve.

To serve, warm the tortillas in the dry pan, one or two at a time, and reserve them in a tortilla warmer or clean dish towel. Fill them with the diced bacon and a slash of the crema, along with quartered limes and, if you like, salsa, cilantro, mint and hot sauce.

CHORIZO AND AVOCADO BREAKFAST TACOS

This comes from Leah Maroney in the Spruce Eats. For this recipe, Leah wrote, "Tacos for breakfast? You bet!

"Whether you have leftover chorizo from a previous meal, or you are just looking for a heartier way to jazz up your morning routine, we can't think of a better way to start your day than to take this classic Tex-Mex meal from dinner to fuel-powered breakfast. It's as simple as adding eggs.

"Perfect for a Cinco de Mayo celebration or a fun weekend brunch, you can transform the mundane breakfast of scrambled eggs with a few simple and basic ingredients, such as avocados, onions, tomatoes, and cheese. Have fun additions like tater tots, sour cream, beans, salsa, hot sauce, bacon, and chives, and get your kids engaged by creating a build-your-own-taco bar.

"If you're ovo-vegetarian, you can leave out the chorizo (and bacon)."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 2; Yield: 4 tacos

To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/breakfast-tacos-4159319.

Ingredients

4 flour tortillas

1/4 pound raw or dried chorizo sausage

9 frozen tater tots, thawed

4 large eggs, beaten

1/3 cup shredded taco and nacho seasoned cheese

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 small red onion, diced

1 small tomato, diced

1/2 avocado, diced

1/4 cup salsa

Salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

Gather the ingredients.

Warm up flour tortillas in the microwave or quickly over an open flame. If you want the char, place over an open flame for 5 to 7 seconds and then flip with metal tongs, and char for another 5 to 7 seconds.

Heat a large nonstick skillet or cast-iron pan on medium-high heat. Add the chorizo, breaking it up as it cooks. If the chorizo is dried, dice it first and then add it to the pan and sauté until some of the fat has rendered and the chorizo is crispy.

Remove the chorizo from the pan, leaving the grease behind.

Add the thawed tater tots to the chorizo grease and cook until slightly browned. Remove the tater tots from the pan and add them to the chorizo. Keep the chorizo and potato mixture warm in a 200 F oven while you cook the eggs.

Using that same pan, turn down the heat to low. Pour in the beaten eggs and cook, stirring gently until completely cooked. Use a spatula to separate the eggs into four portions. While the eggs are still in the pan, turn the heat down even more and top each portion with cheese.

Sprinkle the cheddar over the top of each egg portion and cover the pan with a lid. Allow to cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Fill each tortilla with a portion of the eggs. Divide the potato and chorizo mixture between the four tortillas. Then sprinkle the cilantro, diced onions, tomatoes, and avocados over the top of each taco. Then drizzle the salsa over each taco and serve immediately.