Puffy Tacos Recipes

Steps:

• For the taco shells: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat, heat 3 inches oil to 375 degrees F or preheat your fryer to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a wire rack.
• Mix the masa harina and 1 teaspoon salt together in medium bowl. Add the warm water and combine until it comes together, about 30 seconds. Cover the dough and let rest for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Divide the dough into 8 equal portions and roll each into a smooth ball. Keep covered and work quickly.
• Cut two 8-inch squares of parchment and line a tortilla press. Add a dough ball, then top with the other piece of parchment and press into disc, 5- to 6-inches in diameter.
• Carefully remove the tortilla and place in the hot oil. Fry the tortilla until it begins to puff, 25 to 30 seconds, then flip the tortilla, cooking another 25 to 30 seconds. Press down in the center of the tortilla with a metal spatula to form a taco shell, submerging the tortilla completely. Fry until golden brown and the taco shell holds its shape, another 30 to 45 seconds.
• Let drain on a wire rack lined baking sheet, then season with salt and reserve. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• For the filling: Heat a 12-inch cast-iron pan over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring to break up; sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook the ground beef fully, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and onion, stirring to prevent burning. Meanwhile, combine the cumin, chili powder, Mexican oregano and cayenne in a bowl, stirring to combine. Once the garlic and onion begin to turn translucent, about 1 minute, add the seasoning mixture and stir to combine. Add the crushed tomatoes to the same bowl and stir to combine, collecting any remaining spices, then add to the pan. Stir together until the beef is coated and allow to simmer until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Equally divide the taco meat into the puffy taco shells. Add equal amounts lettuce, sour cream and pico de gallo to each taco. Grate Cheddar over each taco with a rasp grater. Serve with lime wedges.

Steps:

• Mix masa harina, salt, and 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons water together in a bowl using your fingertips until dough forms and pulls away from the sides, 2 or 3 minutes. Form into a firm, flattened ball and divide into 8 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball. Keep dough balls covered with a damp paper towel as you fry them, one at a time.
• Place dough ball between 2 sheets of plastic or a split open zip top bag. Flatten to form a small circle about 1/8 to 3/16 inch thick.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, slide in the first circle. Very carefully baste hot oil over the top of the shell with a spoon to keep oil circulating over the top surface. When shell has puffed (after about 15 seconds), cook another few seconds and flip it over and cook another 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat for each shell.
• When shells are still warm and pliable, gently push down puffed tops to create room for the fillings and slightly crease the shells for folding.
• Fill with your favorite taco fixings and serve while shells are still warm.

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. When the dough is consistent begin rolling dough balls about the size of a ping pong ball. Using a tortilla press that is lined in a thick plastic, press out the dough. You use the plastic (it can be a ziploc bag that has been cut) so that the dough does not stick to the tortilla press. Meanwhile have a deep pot filled with cooking oil approximately 2 inches high and heated to 250 degrees. Drop the flat tortilla in the hot oil and using a metal spatula repeatedly douse with the oil. You will see that it will begin to puff up. Flip it over and using the spatula make an indention in the middle of the tortilla to forma taco shape. Remove from oil and allow to drain. Fill with ground meat, shredded chicken, guacamole, bean and cheese or your favorite filling. Top with shredded lettuce and diced tomato.
• Caution; Be very careful when making these. Make sure there is proper ventilation and do not allow the oil to get too hot. Also, if you can't get your hands on a tortilla press then use a clean counter. You will still need the plastic so that the dough does not stick to the counter. Place your dough ball on the plastic and cover with more plastic and then using something heavy to press it out.

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the taco seasoning and prepare according to package directions. Cool slightly. , Flatten half of the biscuits into 4-in. circles; place in greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Spoon 1/4 cup meat mixture onto each; sprinkle with 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Flatten the remaining biscuits; place on top and pinch edges to seal tightly. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Freeze option: Freeze cooled pastries in a resealable plastic freezer bag. To use, microwave pastry on high on a microwave-safe plate until heated through.

Steps:

• For corn tortillas:.
• Put masa harina into a medium bowl. Add 1 1/4 cups warm water and stir until a dough forms. Turn out onto a work surface and knead until smooth.
• Divide dough into 8 balls. Drape plastic wrap over base of a tortilla press. Put 1 dough ball at a time in center of press, cover with plastic wrap, and close press to flatten into a 4 1/2" disk. (Alternatively, put dough between 2 pieces of plastic and roll out with a rolling pin.) Set plastic-covered tortillas aside as made.
• For filling:.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add beef and cook, breaking up meat with the back of a spoon, for 6-8 minutes. Add onions, bell peppers, cumin, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste and cook until vegetables are soft, 2-3 minutes. Add potatoes, then stir in tomato paste and 1 1/2 cups water. Scrape up browned bits from bottom of pan. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally and breaking up potatoes with back of spoon, until sauce has evaporated, 25-30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 200°. Pour oil into a wide medium pot to a depth of 3" and heat over medium heat until temperature reaches 350° on a candy thermometer. To make the taco shells, peel plastic wrap off 1 tortilla, then carefully add tortilla to hot oil. Keeping tortilla submerged in the hot oil, use long metal tongs to gently fold tortilla in half so that edges are about 2" apart. Fry tortilla just so until it holds its shape, about 30 seconds, then gently stir taco until blistered all over and edges are golden and crisp, 2 1/2-3 minutes more. Transfer taco to paper towels to drain. Repeat process with the remaining tortillas, keeping tacos warm in the oven as you work.
• To serve, stuff each taco shell with some of the meat filling, tomatoes, and lettuce, in that order. Serve with pickled jalapeños, if you like.

Steps:

• Whisk sour cream, mayonnaise, chipotle powder, salt, hot sauce, and lime juice for sauce in a bowl until smooth. Taste and adjust as needed. Refrigerate until needed.
• Cut fish into eight 1 ½-inch pieces.
• Transfer fish to a bowl; add olive oil, salt, cumin, chipotle pepper, and chili powder. Toss with tongs, thoroughly but gently, until coated.
• Let fish marinate in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Toss cabbage, salt, lime juice, and dried oregano together in a bowl with your hands until coated.
• Place 2 tortillas on the prepared baking sheet and coat lightly on both sides with some olive oil. Place 3 ounces of sliced fish on each tortilla, on only one side so that you can fold the tacos after baking.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until fish flakes easily with a fork and tortillas are browned and puffy, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Fold tacos in the center of each tortilla to crease. Top with cabbage, followed by jalapenos, radishes, and sauce. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve with lime wedges to squeeze over. Repeat for remaining 2 tacos.