Costa Rican tacos are a delightful fusion of traditional Mexican flavors with a unique Costa Rican twist. These tacos are made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, resulting in a vibrant and flavorful dish. The recipes in this article offer a variety of options to cater to different preferences, including classic beef tacos, savory chicken tacos, and a vegetarian-friendly option with grilled vegetables. Each recipe is carefully crafted to balance the bold flavors of traditional Mexican spices with the unique ingredients of Costa Rican cuisine, such as fresh herbs, tangy sauces, and tropical fruits. Whether you're a taco aficionado or simply seeking a new culinary adventure, these Costa Rican tacos are sure to tantalize your taste buds and transport you to the vibrant streets of Costa Rica.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
COSTA RICAN TACOS
A friend in college showed us how to make these tacos, and we've never been able to make it for someone without them raving about it. It's unusual and delicious.... great for impressing someone who's hard to please. It's also nice in that the meat and toppings can all be made the evening before. ENJOY!
Provided by Epi-curious
Categories Roast Beef
Time 2h15m
Yield 12 tacos, 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Brown the roast in a roasting pan using the 2 tbls. of oil. When browned, sprinkle liberally with the abodo seasoning. Use more if you really like your meat flavorful.
- Cook roast in low oven until it's falling apart. Usually about 2 hours.
- While roast is cooking, shred cabbage and put in bowl. Squeeze lemons over cabbage and add salt. Cover with cling film and put in fridge. The lemon and salt with wilt the cabbage slightly, which is exactly what you want. Add more salt to taste, just before serving.
- Now cut up the tomatoes and add the mayonnaise to the tomatoes. As you mix the mayo in, the juice from the tomatoes will begin to make a pink sauce in the bowl. You want it to be the consistency of a thin sour cream. Add more mayo or tomatoes as needed. Cover with cling film and refrigerate.
- When roast is done, let it cool and then shredd beef. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Prepare deep pot of oil for deep frying. Add desired amount of meat to the bottom of a tortilla, fold in half like a taco and submerge in hot oil, using tongs to hold taco together as it fries. Fry each taco until crisp, about 15 seconds. Drain well by tipping to side and letting extra oil drip out onto paper towels. Set tacos aside until all are done frying.
- To serve, slightly open mouth of taco and add tomato/mayo sauce first and then top with cabbage.
- This recipe is supposed to feed 4 people, but most people end up eating more than you think is humanly possible, so be prepared to make extra.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1031.5, Fat 61.3, SaturatedFat 21.2, Cholesterol 158.4, Sodium 2544, Carbohydrate 72, Fiber 12.3, Sugar 12.2, Protein 54
COSTA RICAN TACOS TICOS
Oftentimes people think of taking an ingredient, like a potato or piece of meat, and frying it. This recipe, from Sandra A. Gutierrez' Latin American Street Food, takes an entire dish and fries it. These tacos ticos resemble taquitos, but as you can see, the best part of enjoying them are the toppings. Click here to see 13 Things You Didn't Know You Could Fry
Provided by Latin American Street Food Cookbook
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place the cabbage in a large bowl and add enough boiling water to cover. Let it sit for exactly 1 minute. Drain the cabbage well and return it to the bowl. Add the salt, stir, and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or until cool. Cover and chill for up to 24 hours.
- Working with 1 tortilla at a time, place 2 to 3 tablespoons of the shredded beef on 1 end of it and roll it up tightly, like a cigar (it has to be tight or the beef will escape when the tacos are fried). Tie it snuggly with a piece of twine and set aside. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling.
- Fit a large baking pan with a metal cooling rack and set aside. In a large skillet with high sides, heat 1 to 2 inches of oil to 360 degrees (or use a deep-fryer according to the manufacturer's directions). Working in batches, use tongs to place the tacos in the oil. Fry them until golden, about 3 to 3 ½ minutes, turning them over halfway through. Transfer them to the prepared rack to drain.
- To plate, place 2 tacos on a plate, top with a generous amount of the cabbage, and drizzle with the condiments. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 208 calories, Sugar 1 g, Fat 15 g, Carbohydrate 12 g, Cholesterol 18 mg, Fiber 2 g, Protein 8 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Sodium 220 mg, TransFat 0.2 g
TASTY TACOS
A taco seasoning made from scratch with pantry staples deliciously jazzes up ground beef, turning Tuesday night into an all-out fiesta. Add your favorite toppings, and dinner is served! -Rebecca Levesque, St. George, New Brunswick
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the water and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes or until thickened., Spoon beef mixture into taco shells. Serve with toppings of your choice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 306 calories, Fat 15g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 71mg cholesterol, Sodium 468mg sodium, Carbohydrate 19g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 24g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
PATACONES TICOS (COSTA RICAN FRIED PLANTAINS)
These are a delicious snack I enjoyed while spending a semester in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. One of my profesores there taught me to make these. They go really well with frijoles molidos (refried beans, basically). Plantains can be purchased at most grocery store in the produce section...they look like bananas, but DO NOT try to eat them like bananas - they are NOT the same thing! Get the nice and green ones for this purpose. --Times are approximate--
Provided by godsjoyfulkid
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 22m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Peel plantains completely.
- Slice Plantains into 1/2 inch rounds.
- Heat oil in sauce pan until almost boiling.
- CAREFULLY place a handful of plantain rounds into hot oil, leaving them in until light brown, about 2 minutes.
- CAREFULLY remove plantain rounds from hot oil with slotted spoon (preferably metal) and place on a cutting board covered in parchment paper.
- Plantain pieces should be on only half of the parchment paper. Fold second half of parchment paper over them, and with a second board or other hard, flat surface press firmly on the paper-covered plantain rounds.
- The rounds should now be smushed-looking, yet still intact.
- *This can also be done using a metal tortilla press, if available. What I use is like a tortilla press, but is specifically designed for patacones, and I bought it at a supermarket in Costa Rica.
- With slotted spoon, replace pieces of plantain in the oil until golden brown.
- Remove pieces with slotted spoon and place on paper towel. Pieces should be slightly crispy.
- Repeat with another handful of rounds, until all have been cooked.
- Sprinkle with salt, to taste.
- Dip in warm refried beans, or also good with ceviche.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 591, Fat 54.8, SaturatedFat 7.2, Sodium 42.3, Carbohydrate 28.5, Fiber 2.1, Sugar 13.4, Protein 1.2
Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients: This will make a big difference in the flavor of your tacos.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different fillings: There are endless possibilities, so get creative and try something new.
- Make sure your tortillas are warm: This will help them to fold and hold their shape better.
- Load up your tacos with toppings: Guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and cheese are all classic favorites.
- Serve your tacos with a side of rice and beans: This will make a complete and satisfying meal.
Conclusion:
Costa Rican tacos are an easy and delicious way to enjoy a taste of this beautiful country. With their simple ingredients and bold flavors, these tacos are sure to be a hit with everyone at your table. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting taco recipe, give these Costa Rican tacos a try. You won't be disappointed!
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