Category: Tacos

How to make it

To make the soup:

Rinse the tripe and calves’ feet, if using, in several changes of cold water.

In a bowl large enough to hold the tripe and calves’ feet, combine the vinegar, 4 cups of water, and 1 tablespoon of salt, stir to dissolve the salt. Add the tripe, calves’ feet, and enough additional water to cover and soak for 30 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse well.

Cut the tripe into bite-size pieces, 1 to 1 1/2 inches.

Add 5 quarts of water and the onion and garlic in a very large soup pot or a stockpot. If using the calves’ feet, add them to the pot and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes. Skim off any foam.

Add the tripe to the pot, along with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, the oregano, and mint-sprig bundle, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for 4 hours, or until the tripe is soft and tender but still has some texture. Remove the garlic and onion and discard.

Meanwhile, make the chile puree:

Place the dried chiles and garlic in a small saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until the chiles are softened. Remove from the heat and transfer the chiles and garlic to a blender, along with 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Add the cumin and coriander seeds and puree until smooth. Set aside.

To finish the soup:

If you used them, remove the calves’ feet from the pot with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool until you can handle them. Then remove the meaty and gelatinous pieces and discard the bones. Cut the meat and gelatinous bits into smaller pieces and stir back into the pot.

Bring back to a simmer. Add the chile puree, stir well to combine, and simmer for another 20 to 30 minutes to blend the flavors. Taste and adjust the salt.

Arrange the garnishes in small bowls on the table, and set out the tortillas, tostadas, or bread. Serve and let your guests customize their menudo.

Credit Pati Jinich

How to make it

Place the fish and carrots in a food processor and pulse 5-6 times, or until the mixture is finely chopped, taking care not to turn it into a puree. Alternatively you could mince with a sharp knife.

Place the fish mixture in a large bowl, pour the lime juice over it, and gently toss. Cover and marinate at room temperature for 30-45 minutes.

Drain the fish mixture through a fine mesh sieve, pressing out as much liquid as possible with the back of a spoon. Return the fish to the bowl and stir in the chile, onion, cilantro, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 12 hours, so all the flavors come together.

When ready to serve, taste the ceviche for salt and pepper and add more if necessary.

Mound 2-3 tablespoons of ceviche on top of each tostada. Top each with a slice of tomato and avocado and a final sprinkling of salt.

Credit Pati Jinich

How to make it

To prepare

Place tomatillos and serrano chiles in a medium saucepan. Cover with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until completely cooked through and soft. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the tomatillos and chiles to the jar of a blender along with the cilantro and a teaspoon of salt. Puree until completely smooth and set aside.

In a large casserole or Dutch oven, fry the chopped bacon over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon and set aside. Reduce heat to medium, add the streak to bacon fat and cook until it starts to render all its juices. Once it does, add the onion and the broth. Continue cooking for about 15 minutes.

Incorporate the tomatillo puree and continue cooking for another 15 minutes, until meat is completely tender and broth has seasoned.

Serve the carne en su jugo in bowls along with a ladle of cooked pinto beans, and top with the crisp bacon. Place chopped white onion, cilantro, and lime wedges on the table for everyone to add as they please. You can serve with warm corn tortillas and a side of fresh guacamole.

Credit Pati Jinich

How to make it

To prepare

To grill the carne asada:

Start a charcoal or gas grill. Gas should be set to high, charcoal is ready when the coals are red but entirely covered with gray ash and you can only hold your hand above them, about 5 or 6 inches away, for about 4 to 5 seconds before it becomes too hot.

Clean and season the grill by rubbing a quarter of a white onion over the grill, using a pair of tongs. Next, rub the beef fat, tallow or vegetable oil over the grill to further season it.

Working in batches if necessary, place the meat on the hot grill. Season the top of the meat generously with salt just before you put it on the grill, salted side up. Or salt it once it is on the grill.

Grill for 4 to 5 minutes, until the bottom has seared, deep grill marks have developed, and the meat juices have started rising and bubbling over the top. Flip over and grill for another 3 to 4 minutes for medium-rare. Remove the meat and place in a lidded dish or container. Cover while you grill the remaining meat. Allow the meat to rest for 5 minutes before cutting.

One by one, take out the pieces of meat and cut into 1/2-inch dice or slice thin. Place the cut up meat back into the dish and cover to keep warm as you work.

Reduce the heat of the grill to medium if using gas. If using charcoal, set the tortillas on a cooler part of the grill. Heat the flour tortillas for about 1 minute per side, until puffed, lightly browned and completely heated through. Keep warm in a clean kitchen towel or tortilla warmer and bring to the table.

To assemble the tacos:

Spread some refried beans on the middle of a warm flour tortilla, add a generous amount of meat, then top the meat with salsa and guacamole to taste. Your taco should be so full that it’s difficult to close it!

Credit Pati Jinich

How to make it

To prepare

In the jar of a blender, place the water, onion, garlic cloves, marjoram, thyme, black pepper, cumin, stemmed whole cloves and 1 tablespoon salt. Puree until smooth.

Set a large Dutch oven or heavy casserole over medium-high heat. Add the lard (or vegetable shortening or oil), and once it has heated up, add the pork chunks and sprinkle in 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Brown the meat on all sides, stirring and flipping as each side browns, about 10 minutes.
Pour the onion mixture over the meat, let it come to a simmer and cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Pour in the orange juice and sweetened condensed milk, add the 2 bay leaves, and give it a good stir. Let it come to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low to low and cover.

Cook covered, stirring and scrapping the bottom of the casserole 2 to 3 times along the way, until the meat is completely cooked and coming easily apart if you pull one piece, about one hour and a half. Remove the lid, cook for another 4 to 5 minutes. Scoop out the carnitas with a slotted spoon, leaving any fat behind, and serve in a bowl or platter. Shred with a fork, if desired, before tucking into tacos. Or do like we do, serve straight from the pot.

Serve with warm corn tortillas and pickled jalapeños or salsa verde cruda on the side.

Credit Pati Jinich

How to make it

To prepare

Place the meat in a large roasting pan, pour on the vinegar and sprinkle the salt, and rub it all over the meat. Let it sit as you prepare the marinade.
Heat a comal or small skillet over medium-low heat. Toast the dried chiles for a minute per side, or until lightly toasted. Place in a saucepan along with the garlic and cover with 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes until the chiles have softened and plumped up.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chiles and garlic to the jar of a blender, along with the 4 cups of cooking liquid and the oregano, cumin, nutmeg, black pepper, and cloves and puree until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
Cover the meat with the adobo, making sure it is all well rubbed. Cover and let sit in the refrigerator, ideally, anywhere from 24 to 48 hours (or at least 2 hours).

Remove the meat from the refrigerator. Preheat the oven to 375℉.
Place the meat and all of the marinade in a roasting pan, tightly cover with aluminum foil, and roast in the oven for 2½ to 3 hours. Uncover and continue roasting for another 35 minutes, or until the meat is so tender it is falling off the bones and it is browned on the top. Taste the broth and adjust the salt. You may need to add some water to the pan if it has reduced too much during the cooking.

When it comes to serving, you have many choices: You can transfer the meat to a platter, moisten with the remaining broth, and assemble the meat in tacos or make birria-dillas (or quesa-birrias). You can garnish the tacos or quesadillas with the onion, cilantro, lime and salsita of your choice, such as the tapatía.

Credit Pati Jinich

How to make it

To Prepare

Marinate the meat in the adobo marinade for at least 3 hours, or up to 48 hours, in the refrigerator. Reserve 3/4 cup of marinade to brush on the pineapple before grilling/cooking and to finish off meat.

When ready to make tacos, remove the meat from the refrigerator. Brush some of the reserved marinade on the pineapple slices. Reserve the remaining marinade.

Heat a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add a tablespoon of oil. Place as many pineapple slices as will fit on the skillet and sear for about 3 minutes per side, until juicy and lightly charred on both sides. Remove from heat. When cool enough to handle, cut the pineapple into thin slices about 1 to 2-inches long and 1/4-inch wide, removing the core. Place in a bowl and cover.

Drizzle another tablespoon of oil onto the skillet. Lightly sprinkle the meat with salt to taste. Sear as many slices of meat as will fit in the pan, without over crowding, for about 2 minutes per side until browned on both sides. Cook in batches if necessary. Place the meat on a chopping board. Cut it crosswise into thin slices about 1/4-inch thick and 1-inch wide.

Once done with all the meat, reduce the heat to medium, place the meat back in the skillet and pour the rest of the unused marinade on top. Stir and cook for another minute. Cover and set on the table.

On a pre-heated cast iron skillet or comal set over medium heat, heat the corn tortillas 1 to 2 minutes per side until thoroughly cooked, lightly browned and crisp on the outside. Place them in a tortilla warmer and bring to the table along with the meat, pineapple, chopped cilantro, chopped onion, lime wedges, and salsa of your choice. Let everyone assemble their own tacos.

Note: If you want to offer some “gringas,” heat flour tortillas on the comal and, once hot, add the melty cheese, fold, and let it melt as if it were a quesadilla. Once melted, re-open the tortilla, add a generous tablespoon or two of the sliced meat, fold again and serve.

Credit Pati Jinich

How to make it

To make the marinade

Heat a large, dry skillet over medium heat. Add the dried chile peppers and toast them for no more than 20 seconds per side, taking care not to burn them.

Transfer them to a medium saucepan and add the water, place over medium heat and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until the peppers have softened and rehydrated.

Transfer the peppers to a blender. Add 2 cups of their cooking liguid (discard the remaining liquid), the vinegar, tomato, onion, garlic, oregano, cinnamon, allspice, black pepper, cloves (stems removed) and salt; puree until smooth.

Wipe out the medium saucepan and add the oil. Place over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, then add the pureed marinade, being careful to avoid any splatters. Partially cover, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the color darkens and the mixture thickens to a pastelike consistency.

Rinse the lamb and pat dry with paper towels. Place in in a large, nonreactive dish. Use the marinade to cover it completely, rubbing the mixture into the meat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours.

To make the vegetable base

Just before the lamb is finished marinating, prepare the vegetable base. Have a large roasting pan at hand with a rack that fits inside, preferable with some space underneath. Remove the lamb from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before you place it in the over.

Combine the onions, carrots, potatoes, and soaked and drained garbanzo beans in a large raosting pan. Pour the beer and water over the top. Add the bay leaves and season with salt to taste; toss to combine. Place the roasting rack over the mixture.

To make the meat

Preheat the over to 325 degrees.

Unfold the banana leaves and arrange a few layers of them on the roasting rack, leaving a generous amound of overlap on the pan long sides for wrapping the meat (alternatively, you may use a few long pieces of aluminum foil). Place the meat on top of the leaves and use all of the marinade to cover it. PLace the avocado leaves, if using, on top of the meat, then fold the leaves over to cover the meat. If using the foil, poke a few small holes near the bottom edges to allow the meats juices to fall into the vegetable base below during cooking. The juices will natually fall through the spaces between the banana leaves.

Cover the banana leaf package or foil package tightly with a layer of foil. Slow-roast for 8 to 10 hours; until the meat comes off the bone easily and the vegetables should be well seasoned and tender. Transfer to the stovetop (off of the heat), and let everything rest for 15 to 20 minutes before opening the package. Discard the avocado leaves, if using.

To assemble

Serve with lime wedges, warmed corn tortilla and a salsa you like.

Credit Pati Jinich

How to make it

In the bowl of a standing mixer, set with the paddle attachment, beat the egg whites at medium speed until stiff, but not dry, peaks form. Remove the bowl from the mixer.

In another bowl, combine the all-purpose flour with the salt and cumin and whisk in the Mexican beer. In 4 additions, gently fold the flour mixture into the egg whites, taking care not to deflate the egg whites.

Pour the oil into a heavy, wide skillet or casserole to a depth of ¼” and heat over medium heat for at least 5 minutes. Test the heat by dipping a wooden spoon or the tip of a piece of fish into the oil: it should bubble happily around whatever you introduce into it. Set a cooling rack on a baking sheet and cover the rack with paper towels. If you don’t have a cooling rack, just cover the baking sheet with paper towels.

While the oil is heating, you can season and flour the fish strips. Season them lightly with salt and pepper. Place flour on a plate, and gently press each fish strip into the flour, flip over and flour the other side. Tap off excess flour and place on the rack.

When the oil is hot, one by one, dip the floured fish strips into the batter and immediately, but gently, place into the hot oil. Add as many as you can without crowding the pan. Fry until crisp and lightly golden brown, which should take 2 to 3 minutes; then flip and fry on the other side, for another 2 to 3 minutes or until crisp and lightly golden.

Remove with tongs – the type with the heat-proof coating on the ends are best, if you want to avoid tearing the batter – or a slotted spoon and place on the paper towel-covered rack. Cover loosely with foil to keep warm. Serve on a flour tortilla with salsa macha and creamy slaw. Optional, pickled red onion and a jalapeño marinated in fresh squeezed lime juice and salt to taste.

Credit Pati Jinich