What Makes a Perfect Texas Taco?
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Many Texans (and Americans in general!) believe that the best tacos, originally a pillar of Mexican food, (What wine goes well with Mexican food?) are found in the Lone Star State. And indeed, we take pride in being America’s taco hotspot, proclaiming the snack as a symbolically Texan dish. Currently, there is a legislative initiative to make the humble taco the state dish of Texas, alongside other favorites such as chili and pecan pie.
The initiative has been spearheaded by taco journalist and expert Mando Rayo and State Representative Gina Hinajosa, from Austin. The proposal to make the taco the state dish of Texas was first filed in 2017. The bill was tackled at the Texas House Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee, however the session ended without any official action. I have searched online to find out any updates, but have been unsuccessful – the bill must be in Texas congress limbo!
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“WHEREAS, one thing Texans can agree on is that, despite the availability of tacos in the other 49 states, the tastiest tacos can be found in the great State of Texas…” reads Rep. Hinajosa’s House Concurrent Resolution 110, which seeks to elevate tacos as the official state dish.
The legislative initiative claims that there is no other place in the US that can attest they have the perfect tacos – only Texas.
What Is In A Texas Taco?
Mexican-style tacos are basically made up of corn tortillas (how long do corn tortillas last?), protein (beef (how long does beef last?), pork, chicken, etc.), salsa, cilantro (how long does cilantro last?), and lime. However, this dish has countless variations, especially in the Lone Star State. You can choose from different tortillas, fillings, meats, cheeses, and salsas, all of which are often influenced by the different geographical regions in the state.
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“Texans have strong opinions about whether flour (how long does flour last?) or corn tortillas reign supreme, and as far as fillings go, we delight in such traditional choices as pork al pastor, (What wine goes well with pork al pastor?) beef barbacoa, (What wine goes well with beef barbacoa?) and chicken fajita, and we also appreciate the more exotic ingredients that have been pressed into service, including everything from octopus to elk to kimchi (how long does kimchi last?) fried rice…” reads part of Rep. Gina Hinajosa’s taco resolution.
As there are countless variations on the taco in Texas, the question is this – how do we determine what should be in the perfect Texas taco?
According to experts, the perfect Texas taco should exemplify the best traits of its main elements: tortilla, protein (filling), salsa, and toppings. Each part of Texas may have its regional taco flavors, but the quality of the main elements in a traditional taco must remain high.
Tortilla – Whether you choose soft or hard taco shells, it's important to remember that any taco is up to 50% tortilla. This means tortillas aren't just a shell for the fillings but must be enjoyable as part of the entire taco meal. Handmade tortillas are by far superior to machine-pressed tortillas, which often contain additives to extend the product's shelf life. Tortillas are usually made from a nixtamal base. The masa flour used to make tortillas is mixed with water and salt (as well as chile powder and lime, if you fancy it!).
Protein – Used as the filling, the protein in a taco is often the most noticeable element. Texas taco meat most commonly consists of seasoned ground beef, carne asada, al pastor, picadillo, chicken fajita, barbacoa or nopales for vegetarians. Carne asada should be well-seasoned, juicy, and smoky. Nopales (edible pads from the prickly pear cactus plant) should be sauteed until they become meaty like grilled mushrooms, while picadillo should be tangy, The shawarma-like al pastor should be shaved directly from the flaming spit into your tortilla.
Salsa – Salsa sauce should add flavor and seasoning to each bite of your Texas taco. This kind of sauce is divided into two categories: red salsa and green salsa. Red salsas are made up of cooked chopped tomatoes or tomato sauce mixed with toasted Mexican chilis, whereas green salsas contain a mixture of fresh cilantro, jalapenos, and tomatillos. A perfect green salsa sauce should be thick and rich in texture, and taste fresh, and tart.
Toppings – Cilantro, lime and onion are classic taco toppings. A great Texas taco should be sprinkled with diced onions and chopped cilantros. These chopped vegetables and herb toppings add extra layers of texture and flavor to your tacos. You can also add some chopped pickled jalapeños for an extra kick.
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So What Makes the Perfect Texas Taco?
The answer is simple: it's the combination of taste, texture, and presentation.
First, we have taste. What makes a Texas taco perfect is its flavor. This can be achieved through spices, herbs, marinades, sauces, and dressings. The perfect taco also has the right amount of toppings—not too much but not too little. The key here is to use fresh ingredients that are in season so that you get the best flavors possible.
Second: texture. Although you have a choice on whether to choose soft or hard shell for your taco, the perfect Texas taco should generally have a soft shell that's been lightly fried so it's crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside; it could have some crisp greens like shredded lettuce for texture contrast; and it could be topped with shredded cheese, like jack cheese or cheddar, to add another layer of soft texture to your bite.
Finally: presentation! Presentation matters because this is what will catch people's eyes when they walk by your stand or booth at an event or market—and if they see something beautiful then they'll probably want to come over and try what looks so good!
Overall, a perfect taco contains all these flavorful elements. But tacos in Texas are so diverse that each definition of taco perfection depends on the taste preference of every person who eats this delicious snack.
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Texas Tacos You Should Try
When it comes to tacos, you can't go wrong with a Tex-Mex classic. As mentioned, Texas is known for its love of tacos, and for good reason. The state is home to some of the best tacos in the world and if you're looking for some great Texas tacos, look no further than these six favorites:
Ground Beef Tacos (What wine goes well with beef tacos?): A simple taco with lean ground beef, cheddar cheese, lettuce, and tomato. To elevate the flavor of your meat mixture, cook it with taco seasoning (how long does taco seasoning last?) or homemade jerk seasoning (how long does jerk seasoning last?) (garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne, cinnamon, chili powder) and red onions. You can top it with salsa, sour cream, or any spicy sauce if you're feeling extra adventurous.
Roasted Chicken (What wine goes well with roasted chicken?) Taco: After the classic beef taco, you simply can't beat chicken tacos. Try one made with roasted chicken thighs, fresh pico de gallo, and avocado crema. This is a meal you'll want to eat every day.
Seasonal Fish Taco: Light but filling, this dish is great for when you're craving seafood. Use firm white fish (What wine goes well with white fish?) seasoned with some homemade taco seasoning for the meat. Then dab chipotle aioli sauce or sour cream on top for even more flavor.
Taco salad: It's a salad with all the best parts of a taco! What more could you ask for?
Taco Bowl: This dish combines all of your favorite taco ingredients into one easy-to-eat meal. It has seasoned lean ground beef, lettuce tomato salsa, and sour cream served over a bed of rice and black beans (how long do black beans last?). So satisfying!
Vegan Tacos: Since veganism is so popular in Austin, it only makes sense that they have their own special version of the traditional taco. This one has jackfruit instead of meat or eggs!
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After browsing recipes online for hours, I found Texas taco tutorials that had been passed down from generation to generation. As a result, it’s safe to say that the taco has gained a kind of cultural legacy in the Lone Star State.
Among these multi-generational tacos is the famed “puffy taco” in San Antonio, invented in the 1950s by two brothers, Henry and Ray Lopez. These delicious fried tacos are made from fresh masa, which is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The Lopez brothers would split and create their own restaurants both serving great food, Ray’s Drive Inn and Henry’s Puffy Tacos. Even today, these two restaurants lay claim to serving the original puffy taco devised almost 70 years ago.
There could be a million answers as to what makes the perfect Texas taco. But, in my opinion, the ultimate answer is pretty simple – the best Texas taco is the one that’s right in front of you, made with your favorite fillings and toppings, and served with a hearty dose of Texas hospitality.
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