Double Decker Tacos Recipes

Steps:

• Fit a sheet pan with a wire rack.
• Heat the oil to 350 degrees F in a large braiser or cast-iron skillet.
• Using tongs, slip half of a tortilla in the hot oil to form a taco shell shape. Using a metal spatula with the other hand, keep half the tortilla submerged until golden. Turn the tortilla so that the fried part now sticks out of the oil, letting the bottom fry, while making sure to keep the tortilla open about 2 inches wide. (This creates the necessary space to stuff it!) Then gently turn the tortilla and repeat the process so that the remaining side fries to a golden brown while the rest stays out of the oil. Let the taco shell drain on the lined sheet pan. Fry another tortilla in this manner; reserve the other two tortillas.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Place one unfried tortilla in a pan and top it edge to edge with cheese. Lightly broil until the cheese is just melted, but the tortilla isn't toasted. While still hot, "stick" the cheesy, non-crispy tortilla to the outside of a fried tortilla shell. Repeat with the remaining tortilla, cheese and fried shell.
• Now build! Fill the cavity of the taco with some warm Taco Meat, followed by some lettuce, a drizzle of sour cream, tomatoes, jalapeños and cilantro.
• Serve with your favorite taco bib.
• Heat a pan over medium heat. Add the beef and chorizo and brown, breaking the meat up constantly into smaller little bits, until no longer pink, 6 to 8 minutes. (If there is a lot of rendered fat, remove all but 1 tablespoon of the fat.)
• Add the onions, chipotle powder and cumin. Cook until the onions are soft, another 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for just another 30 seconds. Add the tomato puree and simmer, stirring frequently, for another 10 minutes. You want this taco meat to be pretty "tight" and dehydrated, not soupy or loose! Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Mix the fish sauce ingredients in a bowl, cover and refrigerate till needed. Cut up the tomato(s) and set aside on a small plate. (I don't bother with peeling and seeding the tomatoes).
• In a bowl, mix together the 1½ Tbs lime juice, 2 Tbs olive oil and 2 tsp of minced jalapeno pepper. Rinse the fish under cold water, pat dry, place in the bowl and toss to coat, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate till the grill is hot.
• Heat a gas grill or a charcoal grill to medium-high heat.
• Scrape off any jalapeno particles from the fish and lightly sprinkle chili powder on both sides of the fish, if you wish. Oil the grill grate and grill the fish over medium-high heat till the fish flakes easily, turning after 4 minutes, about 10 minutes total cooking time. Cut the fish into 8 equal portions, wrap in foil and keep warm in a preheated oven set to 170°F.
• Warm each flour tortilla on the grill till soft, wrap in foil and keep warm in the oven. Make a fluid assembly line of the ingredients: taco shells, fish, sauce, coleslaw, tomatoes, tortillas and refried beans. Ready a large platter and a roll of aluminum foil, place a portion of fish into a crispy taco shell, top with some sauce, coleslaw mix, tomatoes and optional cucumber slivers. Place on the platter. Repeat with the remaining crispy taco shells. Now smear some warm black refried beans onto a flour tortilla and wrap it around one of the tacos. Wrap each double-decker taco in foil so to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and tacos.
• Serve with lime wedges, corn on the cob and a cold fruit salad on the side. Serve beer and/or fruit daiquiris as beverages.
• * TIP: Place the interior side of the cut jalapeno peppers facing down on the cutting board when mincing them so to prevent squirts of jalapeno juice striking you in the face. NEVER touch your face while dealing with jalapenos. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling jalapenos. It's no fun getting jalapeno juice in your eyes.

Steps:

• Brown ground beef.
• Drain.
• Add taco seasoning according to packet directions.
• While beef is simmering put refried beans in a small sauce pan to warm over low heat. May need to add 1-2 tablespoons of water to the beans to thin them out a bit.
• Warm soft tortillas in a dry skillet over low to medium heat. You don't want to brown or crisp them at all. Just warm them on both sides so that they are pliable.
• Keep tortillas warm in foil. These can be placed in a warm oven if needed.
• Assemble the tacos:.
• Spread warm beans on a warm flour tortilla (Like spreading pizza sauce on pizza dough).
• Sprinkle beans with shredded cheese.
• Stand a taco shell in the center of tortilla spread with beans and cheese.
• Gently press the soft tortilla onto the sides of the taco shell.
• Fill taco shell with beef, more shredded cheese, shredded lettuce and salsa.
• *variation* if you prefer not to use refried beans just use all cheese to "glue the soft tortilla to the taco shell. If you choose this option just cover the tortilla with a layer of shredded cheese while warming in skillet. As soon as the cheese is melted remove from skillet and place your taco shell in the middle, quickly folding up the sides so they stick to the taco shell. Fill taco and enjoy!

Steps:

• Cook ground beef and onion in a skillet over medium heat until beef is completely browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain excess grease from the skillet.
• While beef cooks, stir taco seasoning mix into water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Stir taco seasoning mixture into ground beef and onion mixture; simmer on medium-low heat while preparing the remaining ingredients.
• Stir refried beans and cubed process cheese food together in a separate small saucepan over medium-low heat; cook and stir until cheese food has melted completely into the beans, about 10 minutes.
• Divide refried bean mixture between flour tortillas; spread into an even layer to cover one side completely.
• Wrap tortillas around the crisp taco shells, using bean mixture to stick the tortillas to the shells.
• Spoon seasoned ground beef into the taco shells.