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5 Mouth-Watering Gourmet Taco Ideas

A taco can be so much more than a just tortilla full of meat, lettuce, and cheese. Find out five mouth-watering gourmet taco ideas here.

Every year, Americans eat about 45 billion dollars worth of Mexican food and most of it is tacos. There's even a national Taco Day on 4 October every year and for some, every Tuesday is Taco Day. 

It's time you joined the move to Mexican food! Try these tasty taco ideas at home. 

1. Slow-Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken

This recipe is perfect for a busy weekday. It only takes a few minutes to put together and the slow cooker does all the rest.

Ingredients

  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 cups of salsa verde
  • 1 bottle of beer or chicken broth
  • 2t cumin
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 Jalapeno pepper, stem removed and sliced (optional)

Method

  1. Place the chicken in the slow cooker and add the salsa verde and beer.
  2. Sprinkle with cumin, salt, and pepper. If you like a little heat, add the jalapeno pepper.
  3. Use a pair of tongs to turn the chicken until it's coated on both sides.
  4. Cover and cook on high heat for three to four hours of on low heat for seven to eight hours.

You’ll know the chicken is ready when you can shred it easily with a fork. When it’s done, shred it inside the cooker and toss it to coat it with the juices.

Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon and serve it on your tacos while it’s still warm.

2. Sweet Chilli Shrimp 

Spoil yourself or impress your dinner guests with this quick and easy dish that tastes as if it took forever to prepare.

Ingredients

  • 2 t oil
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • ½ cup diced  onion
  • 1 diced bell pepper
  • juice of one lime
  • 1lb raw shrimp, deveined and peeled
  • 1t paprika
  • ½ to 1t cayenne pepper
  • 2 T sweet Thai chili sauce
  • Taco shells filled with lettuce, diced tomato, guacamole, and feta cheese.

Method

  1. Heat a large pan over medium heat and warm the oil.
  2. Add the onions, garlic, peppers and lime juice.
  3. Sauté for 5 minutes.
  4. Add the shrimp, spices and chili sauce.
  5. Cook for another 5 minutes.

Drain any excess liquid and serve your shrimp mix in the filled taco shells.

3. Chipotle Chorizo Chicken

This spicy mix is big on flavor and low on calories. You can use wholewheat taco shells to maximize the health benefits of this wholesome dish.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium yellow onion
  • 5 garlic minced cloves
  • 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
  • 3 chorizo sausages with the casings removed
  • 1lb ground chicken
  • 2 T tomato paste
  • ½ cup water or low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 can of black beans
  • 1 avocado
  • Tub of 2% Greek Yogurt or sour cream
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • 2-3t of the following spice mix (as below)

Spice Mix

  • ¼ t each of salt, paprika, ground cumin, and garlic powder
  • ½ t each of black pepper and chili powder
  • 1 t ancho chili powder

Instructions

  1. Chop the onions and mince the peppers.
  2. Heat a small saucepan over low heat and add the black beans and their juice.
  3. Cover and simmer until hot – about 10 minutes.
  4. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat and saute the onions in a tablespoon of olive oil until they’re translucent.
  5. Set the onions aside.
  6. Add the chicken and chorizo to the skillet cook them until done.
  7. Drain off the excess fat.
  8. Add the onion mixture to the skillet and stir.
  9. Add the water or broth, spices and tomato mix.
  10. Stir until the meat is evenly coated and then cook for 5 minutes.
  11. Assemble your tacos with the meat mix, beans, avocado, and yogurt.

 Sprinkle some cilantro over the top and enjoy!

4. Party Taco Ideas

Variety is the life and soul of any party, so why not mix things up at mealtime too? Try some of these quick mixes for a build-your-own taco table that'll be the talk of the town.

  • Steak and baby peppers with lime mayonnaise
  • Pickled daikon radishes, carrots, and spicy Sriracha sauce
  • Blackened shrimp with lima and agave syrup
  • Cabbage and apple slaw with beer-braised chicken
  • Seared scallops and green herb salsa
  • Pork pate, mayo, pulled pork, pickled daikon, carrots, jalapenos, cilantro, lime, and Sriracha
  • Salmon grilled with cumin and chili and cumin, topped with cabbage strips and avocado salsa
  • Tandoori chicken
  • Sweet potato and black bean with goat's cheese
  • Chocolate tacos with strawberries and cream

Hungry yet? You can visit this website for more party taco inspiration. 

5. Vegetarian Cauliflower Tacos

There's no need to miss out on tacos if you don't eat meat. Here's an awesome version for vegetarian diners. 

Ingredients 

  • 1/3 cup olive oil, divided
  • 6 cups of cauliflower, cut into florets
  • 6 T panko breadcrumbs
  • salt and pepper to taste

For the tacos: 

  • 1 avocado
  • ½ T lime juice
  • 1 cup finely shredded red cabbage
  • ½ cup Mexican crema (1/2 cup sour cream mixed with 2 tablespoons milk)

Mango Salsa

  • 1 large mango, peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch cubes
  • ¼ cup finely diced red onion
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced
  • 2 minced garlic cloves
  • ½T lime juice
  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • salt and pepper to taste

Method

  1. Prepare the salsa by combing all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Toss with the lime juice and fold in the cilantro.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and warm half the olive oil. Add half the cauliflower and stir fry for about 7 minutes until it's golden brown.
  3. Toss with half of the panko and cook until the breadcrumbs are light brown – about 3 minutes.
  4. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  5. Transfer the cauliflower to a bowl and keep it warm.
  6. Prepare the remaining cauliflower in the same way.

To serve the tacos, mash the avocado with a generous splash of lime juice and spread a dollop down the center of each taco. Next, add the crispy cauliflower, a spoonful of salsa, a handful of cabbage and a drizzle of the crema.

Be Better at Things

The best taco ideas are only the beginning of the amazing things you can discover online. 

Check out the rest of our blog for all the inside info on everything that makes you wonder, “why didn't I think of that?”.

Whether you want to hire a bartender to buy a roll of bale twine, you'll find out how on our pages.  

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