Any taco experts?

I don't know about authenticity, but I brown the ground beef with onions, and bellpepper and then add cumin, chili powder and garlic salt. Tasty! :thumbup:
 
...I thought of you when I read this thread...
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Thanks, reminds me of my childhood days sharpening slipjoints with small stones handheld at an angle, I have also used jigs and stones held in a vise.

Back to tacos. I lived in California for a while (foreign student at UCLA) and I remember good Mexican food places in east LA, that was long ago though.

Picadillo (ground beef) is common in Mexico, often served with raisins or fried banana, also used in tacos, of course.

Luis
 
The seaside taco stands that I've been to in Mexico made their tacos with soft corn tortillias and either shredded chicken, roasted pork, shredded beef, or fried/grilled fish. they were topped with lettuce, tomato, feta cheese, onions and cilantro. The Feta cheese and cilantro really blended well together and tasted great.
 
The only REAL taco is made only with shredded beef. Am I the only southern Californian here who is concerned about such BLASPHEMY??? Mori?? For gawds sakes! speak up my man! ;) :) :) :) Dont forget a little lime in the seasoning... ssshhh, secret. dont tell nobody. adios amigos
 
The best Tacos I have ever had were in Mexico city. Corn tortillas Some mystery meat cut off a vertical spit served with a little queso blanco and pico de gallo.
 
Clue me in on the shredded meat aspect, I associate shredded meat of any kind with the lowest quality crap, lower quality even then what you get in chinese food. Perhaps I've been traumatized by having shredded beef in school lunches. It's just plain nasty. :barf:
 
DaveH said:
Clue me in on the shredded meat aspect, I associate shredded meat of any kind with the lowest quality crap, lower quality even then what you get in chinese food. Perhaps I've been traumatized by having shredded beef in school lunches. It's just plain nasty. :barf:
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I doesn't start out as shredded beef. It starts out as a roast or a stewed cut, like chuck, or top round. After it is cooked, it is defatted, and shredded with forks. It is all done in the restaurant, and takes a fair amount of labor, done at least a few times a week.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Thanks Steven, that would explain it, simply because I strongly dislike the texture roasted or stewed beef. I suppose though that makes sense, It much easier to cook the beef in that manner as it does not require special preparation like grinding before hand. Thanks.
 
From the Spanish Wikipedia article:

...Hay tantos tipos de tacos como alimentos susceptibles de enrollarse en una tortilla...
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"...There are as many types of tacos as food susceptible to be rolled in a tortilla..."

Here are the entries for taco in English Wikipedia and Spanish Wikipedia, there are some interesting pictures in both articles.

Carne deshebrada (shredded meat) is popular, usually beef but lamb and chicken are common too, my mom used to make some kind of shredded beef tacos in the oven, a bunch of tacos in a pan covered with cheese and tomato sauce, came out too soft to eat with your hands. She would cut the whole thing in squares and serve them on a plate, somewhat like lasagna.

Luis
 
Authentic San Francisco taquerias use a cheese that's basically identical to Monterrey Jack. You can probably find that in your local store.
 
As you know what constitutes "BBQ" varies enormously from one region to another. The same is true with Mexican food.

"Authentic Mexican Food" varies enormously not only from one region to another, but who is doing the cooking. For example, in San Antonio, Texas (where I live) a local style of "Tex-Mex" cooking has evolved that is different than most other areas, including Mexico. New Mexico tends to have food that is somewhat more representative of the interior of Mexico. (They also tend to use green chiles more...Hatch chiles are delightful.) A nice poblano chili can form the beginning of chiles rellenos, skip the bell peppers.)

Ground beef, while not "authentic", is probably easier for you than trying to track down the "right ingredients", but if you follow the earlier suggestions and marinade things you should wind up with something that will be very a very satisfying dinner.

If you do some online searching you should discover a variety of recipes and suggestions for things you can try. Find something you like and enjoy!
 
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