Tacos de Canasta are a type of Mexican street food typically sold by vendors from baskets suspended from their shoulders. The tacos are made with a soft, pillowy dough and filled with a variety of fillings, then steamed in the basket until hot and fluffy. They’re usually served with a simple salsa or guacamole on top.
Ingredients
- 1 batch of homemade tortillas (or about 18 store-bought ones)
- 1-2 cups of your favorite taco filling (I like carnitas or shredded chicken)
- 1-2 tablespoons of oil for frying
- salsa and/or guacamole, for serving
Method
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the tortillas to the hot oil and fry until lightly golden and crisp, about 30 seconds per side.
- Drain the fried tortillas on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Assemble the tacos by adding a scoop of your favorite filling to each tortilla, then folding it up and placing it in the basket. Repeat until all the tacos are assembled.
- Place the basket over a steamer basket set inside a large pot of boiling water. Cover the pot and steam the tacos until hot and fluffy, about 10 minutes.
- Serve the tacos with salsa and/or guacamole on top.
Potential changes & improvements
If you’re not a fan of fried foods, you can skip the frying step and just steam the tortillas until soft. The tacos won’t be quite as crispy, but they’ll still be delicious.
Feel free to experiment with different fillings. Some other tasty options include barbacoa beef, chorizo and potatoes, or refried beans.
What other food it works well with
Tacos de Canasta are typically served with a simple salsa or guacamole on top, but you can also try serving them with pico de gallo, quick pickled onions, or chipotle crema. They also go well with a side of charro beans or rice and beans.
Common Mistakes
One common mistake people make when making Tacos de Canasta is not steaming the tacos long enough. Be sure to steam them until they’re hot and fluffy, or else they’ll be dry and tough. Another mistake is not frying the tortillas before adding the filling. This step may seem unnecessary, but it helps to keep the tacos nice and crispy.
Nutritional Information
Tacos de Canasta are typically made with fried tortillas, so they’re not the healthiest option. However, you can make them healthier by skipping the frying step and just steaming the tortillas. For a vegan version, use homemade corn tortillas and fill them with vegan refried beans.
Allergens
Tacos de Canasta may contain wheat, soy, corn, and dairy.