5 Tips for Making Authentic Street Tacos

Having to decide what to eat every day can feel tedious. Resisting the classics is great, but sometimes it’s worth exploring outside your comfort zone. If you want to take your Taco Tuesdays to a new level, this guide is for you.

Authentic street tacos are difficult to duplicate, but you can get close with the right guidance. So allow us to share our five top-secret tips for making street tacos that will impress your family and friends!

Let’s get started.

5 Tips for Making Authentic Street Tacos

1. Make Your Tortillas

We made the first step the most difficult because we know that busy families don’t necessarily have time to make their tortillas.

However, the authenticity of a taco comes from the tortilla. This is the external structure of Taco, and you don’t want to settle for anything mediocre!

Store-bought tortillas aren’t bad, but that authentic taste you get when buying Mexican tacos from a restaurant or food truck is mainly thanks to the house-made tortilla. With that said, it doesn’t have to be a complicated endeavor. You can use a special tortilla pan or even roll out corn tortillas.

Use instant cornflour and add water or stock to it. Then you want to roll the dough thinly and cut out rounded shapes 4 or 6 inches wide. Once you do that, place your tortilla down over a medium-heat dry cast-iron skillet.

Make sure you flip both sides until the tortilla is slightly puffed up. Finally, wrap those homemade tortillas in a towel and store them on a plate until you’re ready to serve.
See? It’s not as complex as you think, and you’ll transform your taco game forever.

2. Ditch the Ground Beef

As you may have noticed, many Tex-Mex-style tacos have a ground beef base. While you’re free to explore all the filling possibilities a taco can offer, there’s nothing wrong with exploring outside the norm.

Consider mixing in spicy Mexican chorizo to give your ground beef an extra layer of bold flavor. This added nuance will add smokiness and spice with only one ingredient.

You can also ditch meat for an incredible (and healthy) vegetarian version of your favorite street taco! You may be skeptical but take a look at this taco recipe for inspiration:

Essential Ingredients:

• Quick-pickled onions.
• Soy Chorizo.
• Creamy avocado dip.
• Refried beans.
• 8 corn tortillas.

Ideal garnishes:

• Salsa verde.
• Shredded green cabbage (for extra crunch).
• Crumbled Cotija or feta cheese.
• Chopped fresh cilantro.
• Lime wedges.

Assemble your tacos by mixing various ingredients, and you’ll wonder why it took so long to switch up the usual ground beef recipe.

3. Finding Balance Is Essential

Part of what makes certain street tacos so delicious is that they can balance their ingredients beautifully. Everything from simple picks like sour cream and lettuce to more inventive options like kimchi and onions can allow you to create a balanced flavor profile.

Feel free to experiment with fillings and toppings but be mindful of how it affects the Taco. The secret is to pair your protein with complementary toppings.

If you use too many fresh toppings, your Taco might be slightly colder than you’d like. Alternatively, using too many sauces and salsas will cause your Taco to be soggy.

Most recipes call for a balance of ingredients, but it’s particularly crucial for authentic street tacos.

You’ll start noticing some trial and error once you incorporate new ingredients. No harm in getting it wrong a couple of times. Even the greatest chefs do.

4. Homemade Sauces for the Win

Another tip for tacos you won’t be able to get enough of is…topping them off with homemade sauces! Although you may have noticed, this is the second time the word homemade has popped up.

It’s for a good reason. Not only is homemade food healthier, but it also tends to taste better (if done right).

Let’s start with salsa. Arguably a crucial component of any traditional street taco recipe. If you cannot make your tortillas, you can at least make your salsa.

Use high-quality ingredients like tomatillos, garlic, jalapenos, cilantro, and serranos.

There’s no way store-bought salsa in a jar can beat the taste of these fresh ingredients.

If this isn’t enough, you can also grill your salsa ingredients! If you’re a fan of spice, understand the heat index of any chiles you’re using. Researching the right things to add to your salsa will guarantee success.

5. Don’t Be Afraid Of Fruit

Before clicking out of the article, hear us out. If you’re a fan of the sweet and salty dynamic, you’ll love adding fruit to your tacos. Add spice and acidity, and you’ve got a winning taco recipe.

One of the more popular options for tacos is pineapple, especially if it’s warm. But you should also explore grilled peaches while you’re at it. Regardless of how you experiment, you will surely be surprised by how much fruit elevates the flavor.

Make Your Authentic Street Tacos

No more scratching your head at what to make for dinner tonight because you’re about to make some delicious authentic street tacos! If you’re new to this world, getting it right may take some trial and error, but don’t give up. You’ll be surprised by the quick learning curve after making a couple of mistakes.

It’s about making a delicious and healthy meal to share with the people you love. The authenticity and flavor are a bonus.