Tacos is a Traditional Mexican dish that is typically made of tortilla. The tortilla used is usually made of either corn tortilla or wheat tortilla. Fillings are added to the tortilla, wrapped around the fillings and then usually eaten by hand. There are however different type of tacos to choose from and each tacos differs on the fillings added to the tortilla. In here, we gave gathered the most popular types of tacos and their respective fillings which makes them unique from one another.
Types Of Tacos
Taco Arabes
The first types of tacos on our list is the Taco Arabes, which is a traditional Mexican taco that comes from the city of Puebla, Mexico. It is also known as Pork Shawarma Taco.
The Flour tortilla (similar to Pita bread) used in making Taco Arabes are then filled with a combination of ingredients such as chipotle salsa, marinated pork, and delicious sauce. The sauce is usually made of lemon juice, garlic, yogurt and parsley.
Al Pastor Tacos
Al Pastor Tacos is also known as Tacos Al Pastor. This Mexican dish consists of thin slices of pork meat (comes from rotating spit), then placed in the tortilla. Topped with additional ingredients such as onions, chopped coriander, pineapple chunks and chili with salsa. The highlight for this type of taco is the addition of pineapple to the dish.
The meat in Al Pastor is first marinated using mixtures of chillies and spices before it will be cooked in a spit. After toppings are added, it is then served with corn tortillas.
Carne Asada Tacos
Carne Asada Tacos , the first taco introduced in the late 1500s. Since then, it has made its way to being one of most popular Mexican dish to date.
Carne Asada taco is a type of Mexican dish that simply means grilled meat. It is made with slices of grilled meat. Grilled meat options includes tenderloin steak, sirloin steak, rib steak or skirt steak. The meat is placed on the tortilla then topped with additional ingredients such as onions, chili peppers, guacamole and lime.
Although aside from grilling the meat, slices of meat can also be seared too. Either way, it will still result to a delicious taco. The marinade mixture is typically made from mixing cumin, citrus juice and other spices.
Tacos De Pescado
Tacos de Pescado is also referred to as Fish Tacos. A native of Baja California in Mexico but at present Tacos de Pescado can now be seen available in most seafood restaurants especially in areas like La Paz, Cabo, Ensenada, and Puerto Vallarta. Fish choices includes a snapper, Flounder, halibut and cod.
If you also go to other beach town in Mexico, you can also find other Fish taco varieties such as Tacos de marlin or Smoked marlin taco, Tacos de Caramon or shrimp tacos. Though you can rarely find octopus taco or Tacos de Pulpo.
The fish filet used in making Tacos de Pescado can either be grilled or fried. Most of the time, the fish filet are added with shredded lettuce and cabbages and then topped with salsa of choice. For added flavor, you can also add sour cream and citrus mayo to the taco.
Tacos De Canasta
Tacos De Canasta is also known as Tacos Al Vapor or Basket Tacos, a Traditional Mexican tacos. Most of Taco varieties are usually eaten after it is being cooked, but not with Tacos De Canasta because these type of tacos are usually made in advance (usually early morning) and are then placed in a basket . The longer it sits on the basket, the better it will taste.
The common fillings of Tacos De Canasta includes Chicharron, refried and Potato. In preparing the basket tacos, the basket is first lined with a plastic bag. In order to the taco to stay warm for a longer period of time, hot oil is poured on the basket and then the bag is sealed.
Basket Tacos are often sold in areas with lots of people such as in soccer or baseballs games, on the streets and even in taco restaurants. Street vendors selling basket tacos usually place the tacos on the basket while riding their bicycle and selling Tacos De Canasta.
Tacos Al Carbon
Another types of tacos is the Tacos Al Carbon that uses grilled meat. The corn flour or wheat flour taco is filled with any type of grilled meat (usually skirt steak) and then topped with onions, belle peppers and coriander. Squeezing lime juice with definitely make it more delicious.
Breakfast Tacos
As the name itself presents, Breakfast Tacos is preferably served in the morning as either the main breakfast meal or a side dish to a meal.
Making Breakfast taco is very easy and simple. All you need to do is to stuffed taco with a typical breakfast ingredients such as pork, eggs, and cheese (yellow cheese). Although it is up to one’s preferences as to what filling you’d like to add to your breakfast taco.
Tacos De Camarones
Taco De Camarones is a delicious seafood taco that contains shrimps as its main ingredient. Other ingredients added as fillings includes tomatoes, coriander, pico de gallo, onions and mayonnaise.
To enrich the dish flavor, squeezing with lime or adding lemon wedges on the side before serving will do the trick.
Tacos Gobernador
This type of taco is called as such because it was named after the Sinaloan Governor.
Preparing this dish is very simple, all you need to do is to warm tortilla then add fillings of grated cheese, onions, coriander, tomatoes and seafood meat such as shrimp. Tortilla are then drizzled with butter and then slowly cook over low to medium heat.
Tacos Gobernador is best pair with lime wedges on the side and hot chili sauce as its accompanying sauce.
Mulita
Mulita is a type of taco that is usually referred to as the Quesadillas on steroid. The crispy tortilla is usually filled with ingredients such as cheese, meat (grilled) and toppings that can either be a salsa or a guacamole.
Since this type of taco is very small, most of the time Mulita is served on top with another mulita taco. To enhance the flavor, it is usually drizzled with lime juice.
Navajo Tacos
Navajo Tacos is sometimes referred to as Indian Taco or Frybread taco. It is not a Mexican dish but rather a traditional American taco native of the Midwest regions such as Oklahoma, Arizona and South Dakota.
With Navajo Taco, they usually use Indian Fry bread. It is then topped with ingredients such as beans, ground beef, cheese (cheddar), shredded lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream. Additional optional ingredients includes salsa, black olives, sliced avocado, pico de gallo and green onions.
Tacos de Lengua
Tacos De Lengua is a classic Mexican taco dish made with beef tongue. The been tongue has been braised with finely chopped onions and garlic. Usually topped with avocadoes and salsa verde.
The ingredients added to this taco will depend on your own preferences. Although beef tongue is usually tender therefore it is best when combined with ingredients mentioned above as well as chopped coriander leaves and squeezed with lime juice.
Tacos De Cabeza
Tacos De Cabeza is another types of Mexican Tacos popularly known as Head taco. This is because cow’s head is steamed and shredded before adding it to the taco. Toppings are then added such as chopped onions, salsa (either red or green) and chopped Coriander.
Although aside from cow’s head, you can also choice other meat options such as the brains, tongue or the eat but the most common meat used is the cow’s head.
Most of the time, Tacos De Cabeza is usually placed on taco stands over metal steamers for it to remain warm before serving.
Tacos De Adobada
Another Mexican tacos is called Tacos De Adobada. It is similar to Tacos Al pastor in terms of using marinated pork and mixed with ingredients such as chili pepper, vinegar and different types of spices. The only difference between Tacos De Adobada and Tacos Al Pastor is the manner of cooking the meat. With Tacos Al pastor, the pork is usually cooked in a trompo (vertical spit), with Tacos de Adobada on the other hand the pork is cooked on a grill or often braised.
Tacos De Adobada usually uses pork shoulder as the meat option of choice. When meat is grilled, it is cut into thin slices but when braised pork is cut into chunks. To enhance the taco, it is topped with radish, diced onions, chopped cilantro and squeezed with lime juice.
Tacos de Papa
Tacos de Papa is another Mexican tacos variety. It is usually filled with potatoes mixed with cumin. The tortilla is first fried until it is crispy and golden brown. Before serving, it is then topped with ingredients such as salsa, tomatoes, chopped onion, cheese and spicy chili peppers.
Tacos de Papa is already called potato tacos. It is usually served and eaten for dinner time and also during Lent Season.
Puffy Taco
Puffy Taco can be your next favorite Mexican snack. It is a crispy taco that was introduced by Siblings Ray and Henry Lopez. The dough that is used in making Puffy Taco is made of water, salt and ground corn masa. Using a tortilla press, the dough is pressed after which it is then deep fried. To make the taco looked like it is curling around, you be needing a spoon to push the taco up to the middle portion.
Toppings for Puffy Taco includes deliciously sweet fried avocados and Carnitas, a type of pulled pork made using pork shoulders. These are tender and juice meat that you’ll surely indulge in after it is cooked.
Although if you are not a fun of greasy and messy meal, Puffy Taco is not the ideal taco for you as when eating this type of taco it is expected that it will definitely be messy and greasy.
Chorizo Tacos
Chorizo Tacos are made using fresh ground pork seasoned with spicy chili peppers. When making Mexican Chorizo tacos, the raw meat is crispy fried. Make sure that the casing is removed before cooking the chorizo.
Add fried chorizo on the Tortilla and then topped with onions and peppers. You can also opt to add chili sauce as well for that extra kick.
Carnitas Tacos
Carnitas Tacos is made of Pulled pork, as previously mentioned. The pork shoulder is the most common part of the park since it contains high fat content allowing the meat to be tender and more juicy especially after it is cooked.
This type of tacos is prepared by either simmering the pork or the braised method. It is then slow cooked in oil, this will help release the flavor of the meat and also makes the meat extra crispy on the outside.
Carnitas Tacos is usually topped with several ingredients such as chopped cilantro leaves, onion, spicy salsa and squeezed with lemon lime.
Cochinita Pibil
Cochinita Pibil is a traditional Mexican dish made of slow roasted pork that is marinated. Achiote paste is usually used to coat the pork and marinade mixture of citric juice. Seasoned with cinnamon and annatto seeds to enhance its flavor and then it is slow cooked roasted.
Cochinit Pibil Tacos are usually topped with red onions and Habanero salsa.
Barbacoa Tacos
Barbacoa is the cooking process, this means how the meat for the taco is cooked. Barbacoa tacos uses either meat from the beef or lamb. The meat is slowly roasted in an open fire.
The meat used in making this delicious tacos depends on the region and location of the tacos. In the US, Barbacoa tacos are made from cattle’s cheeks while in Northern Mexico it is made using goat meat.
Suadero De Res Taco
The term Suadero simply refers to the cut of beef that is taken located in between its ribs and its skin, or basically called the flank steak.
Most of the time, the flank steak is usually cooked in a lard until it turns crispy. After which it is then topped with delicious salsa, chopped onions and chopped cilantro leaves.