Dammit... Nothing green goes on a taco

[Ohio Joe]

No freakin lettuce and none of that abomination guacamole.

A proper taco has the taco meat on the bottom. Cheese next, then the salsa, raw onion and last is tomato cut into wedges, one on each side so you can hold everything in. Of course, the so called "soft shell" is never used.

Any variation may taste ok but is simply not a taco.

That is all.

[mix]

1. El Taco Tote

heaven
http://www.tacotote.com/

[hippywife]

2. I love a taco

with cheese, onion, lettuce and sour cream. Nothing else.

So there!

Edited to add: And guac is awesome stuff! :9

[Ohio Joe]

8. OK, Sour Cream can be allowed

But guacamole scares me, keep it away :scared:

[hippywife]

15. I didn't like it either

before I started making my own. Fresh made at home is the best.

[mix]

10. love the avocado

cilantro lime salt too
:hi:

[jobycom]

3. Have you started cooking your meat yet, or you still boycotting fire?

[Ohio Joe]

9. Just finished off 8 tacos

mmmmmm, tasty :9

[Kali]

4. um you clearly live in Ohio?

tacos are as diverse as any other "sandwich" and the form of tortilla base varies as much as any breads.

You are describing a taco durado and they are actually rare south of the border. I see cabage used more than lettuce but yes, lots have no green. slices of avacodo are often added, guacamole is usually on the side, although sometimes it can be on the them.

[Ohio Joe]

7. For the moment

In the next month or so I will be moving back to MA but really... I'm still a Jersey boy :D

[trof]

5. Sez you.

Ha!

[femmocrat]

6. What, no jalapeno?

;)

[MissMillie]

54. I'm w/ you, I want the jalepeno

I also want the lettuce

[XemaSab]

11. By "soft shell" you mean just a heated tortilla?

I don't know what part of Mexico you're from, but over here that's the authentic style.

[Ohio Joe]

12. I'm from the Jersey section of Mexico

:rofl:

[mix]

13. green chile is good on a taco too (after being roasted and diced)

[Xipe Totec]

14. A taco is a shape

and that shape is a cylinder.

and that cylinder contains, among other things, green stuff like cilantro, jalapeños, and guacamole.

What they call a taco here is a chalupa.

[Pool Hall Ace]

57. I believe you are a Mexpert around here

so I will take your word for it! :thumbsup: :)

[Throd]

16. How about a few shakes of "El Yucateco"?

If you can handle it.

[Ohio Joe]

18. I've been warned about shaking El Yucateco, he does not like it

heh, what is El Yucateco?

[Ptah]

17. You're not from around here, are you?

[merh]

19. lettuce is a must

no guacamole or cabbage

soft tacos preferred.

I'm hungry now.

[mix]

20. i like a little lettuce but do not miss it

[merh]

24. oh, never overpowering with lettuce

If I want a taco, I eat a taco

If I want a taco salad, I use more lettuce.

cheese and sourcream is important on both the taco and the taco salad.

[Ohio Joe]

21. I suggest you go make some

Wicked easy to do and way better then any you buy :9

[merh]

23. I use ground turkey

I'm trying to remember if I have any in the freezer.

:9

[Lex]

22. I've had similar discussions about hotdogs and pizzas.

"This is not what you put on hotdogs!" ETC.

[tishaLA]

25. Cilantro is green

and it definitely goes on a taco. Proper tacos have the following ingredients: meat (carne asada preferred), soft shell, salsa, onion, and cilantro. Nothing more.

[Ohio Joe]

45. I'm pretty sure cilantro is poison

:P

[Xithras]

26. Tonto americano

A taco is a soft corn tortilla any topping you can imagine piled on it. Traditional Mexican tacos have everything from vegetables to seafood on them.

The hard shelled tacos you describe are as American as the hamburger and are an abomination to the name "taco".

[Kali]

27. you can get tacos durados in northern Mexico, but yes soft is normal

[Xithras]

29. Deseo tacos pescados.

yumm....

And tacos durados aren't the same thing as hard shelled tacos. Tacos dorados are cooked with the meat already inside the tortilla, like a flauta or a taquito. The hard shelled taco's so popular in the U.S. have no equivalent in traditional Mexican cooking that I'm aware of.

[MineralMan]

33. Tacos de lengua o de cabeza por favor....

[Xithras]

Repugante!

I'm thoroughly American when it comes to that. Lenguas y menudo estan muy repugante.

[MineralMan]

38. No way. El taco de lengua esta el mejor.

[Xithras]

42. You're entitled to your opinion on that.

I find lenguas to be chewy and bland.

Of course, most taco purists are horrified by my wifes pinapple carnitas (carnitas del pina), and I love the things, so to each his own I guess :)

[MineralMan]

44. Those carnitas sound great.

Actually, I have eaten almost every possible taco over the years, and get really excited when I find a variety I haven't tried. My latest find was tacos de pulpo (octopus) at a small restaurant here. Estupendo!

[Xithras]

48. I find it interesting that you can get that kind of authenticity that far east now.

I live in an area where nearly half the population is hispanic, so you can't hardly throw a rock around here without it hitting a taco truck, a taqueria, a carniceria, a street vendor, or someone else selling GOOD Mexican food. I had to take a trip to Wisconsin about 15 years ago and was floored when the closest thing I could find to a Mexican restauraunt was a damned Taco Bell. When I complained about it to the concierge at the hotel, she told me "What do you expect, this isn't California!"

[Kali]

49. when the xenophobes complain about the Mexican invasion I say

YES! That is a GOOD thing. I have been to places that don't have edible Mexican food. That sucks.

You want to hear funny? My father found Mexican food in Siberia! Green chili chicken enchiladas - said they were even edible.:rofl:

[MineralMan]

53. The Twin Cities has a large and thriving hispanic population,

so it has businesses that cater to it. Best of all, that population comes from all areas of Mexico, Central America, and even Argentina, so the cuisine of all those places can be found here.

Lucky for me. I lived in southern California almost all my life, so I thought I'll miss out when I moved to Minnesota. As it turns out, I needn't have worried. There's even a terrific tortilla maker not far from my home, where I can buy tortillas frescas when I need them. They also sell freshly prepared masa year-round so I can make tamales anytime.

As they say here, it's not so bad living here.

[MineralMan]

43. You probably wouldn't like tacos de ojo, either.

Hard to find, too.

[Xithras]

46. You're right. I've seen it, and I wouldn't eat it.

I rank that up there with eating testicles. Just because you can cook something doesn't mean you should cook something.

As an aside, I've got an awesome little taqueria about five minutes from my house run by a bunch of people from different parts of Mexico, and it has a Mexican market and meat counter next door. You can order any Mexican dish from any part of Mexico, on the menu or not, and they'll make it for you even if they have to walk next door and buy the ingredients to do so.

Did I mention that my wife is also an awesome cook? I've jokingly told friends that I married her for her carnitas. :)

[MineralMan]

55. Tacos de ojo aren't one of my favorites, either, but I've

eaten them on a bet that I wouldn't. Actually, not bad at all.

I'm working on my Norwegian-heritage in-laws, introducing the cuisine little by little. My wife loves it all, but her family here is a bit skeptical. However, I did make a big batch of pork tamales last Christmas, and made a mild sauce for them. They were a big hit. Lots of work, but worth it.

[Kali]

34. yes I agree

premade shells don't exist in Mexican cooking that I have ever seen, although at home I like to build tacos buffet style with the shells seperate (and when I do them I fry my own - I NEVER buy those freak things in a box)

[MineralMan]

37. Damn...it's too late to visit the taco truck!

Even in Saint Paul, we have several fine taco trucks, and I know where they usually park. We also have a fantastic market with a cafeteria-style restaurant where you can get tacos made in the styles of every Mexican state. It's an adventure.

But...it's too late tonight, and I already ate. Damn and double damn! But...there is tomorrow...and three tacos de cabeza are calling me to Cesar Chaves Blvd.

[MineralMan]

31. Tienes razon!

[MineralMan]

28. A guy from Ohio is telling us what a taco is?

C'est pour rire.

You, my friend, are not eating tacos. What you describe is some sort of meal, but it is not a taco.

Here is a plate of tacos al pastor:

[Ohio Joe]

30. It's worse then that...

I'm really a guy from Jersey :D

[MineralMan]

32. There are no tacos in New Jersey...trust me....

There is food they call tacos there, but they have no relationship to tacos.

[Kali]

36. its like that old Pace hot sauce comercial

:P

why this says it's made in New Jersey!
git a rope

[Ohio Joe]

40. heh, I remember that

Variations on it became popular where I was working at the time... Hey! that idea came from Jersey... git a rope

I was unfortunately, the only one from Jersey, hahahahahahahaha

[MineralMan]

41. And I feel that way about Pace. Blech! Yuck! Feh!

My favorite salsa for tacos is Pico Pica, made in California, but available online from a couple of places. It is the best I've had. I buy half a dozen bottles each time I'm in California, and bring them back in my suitcase, carefully enclosed in socks.

[Kali]

47. I've never had it but the comercial was cute

I make most all my salsa type stuff except for everyday use we use the El Pato in the green can - and I mean every day - usually 2 cans a day - the youngest son is a Mexican kid totally, except for the not speaking much Spanish. Kid could live on beans, tortillas, and eggs for weeks.

[mix]

35. omg that looks good

:applause:

[MineralMan]

39. Doesn't it? Taco truck delight. Sliced off the stack.

Tacos al pastor are always a safe choice where they are available, and that's almost everywhere.

[hippywife]

50. Oh! I almost forgot!

This is green and totally awesome tasting! :9

Avocado Tomatillo Sauce:
http://www.fsafood.com/fsacom/Recipes/Recipe+Index/A-Z+Listing/A/Avocado-Tomatillo+Sauce.htm

I love it so much better than red tomato salsa.

[BreweryYardRat]

51. I've had broccoli on a taco. Wasn't bad.

And man, give me a soft shell any day of the week. Those hard shells are nasty.

[bridgit]

52. ^

:9 :thumbsup:

[mtnester]

56. Jeezus, you are surrounded where you are by some of the best authentic Mexican eats joints

in Central Ohio...get thee to one, and try a taco with some tomatillo sauce, chopped cilantro and onion. Tomato does not belong!

AND, if the taco crunches, you are in the wrong place dammit!

Don't make me drive from the east side to Sawmill Road to call you out on this on some dang street corner.

:)

[datasuspect]

58. nope, try again

a TRUE taco has ONLY meat (carne asada, chicken, barbacoa, intestines, brains, fish, carnitas, or other MEAT), cilantro, and onions.

these items are placed on two CORN tortillas and a lime wedge is the only garnish aside from your choice of salsas: arbol, verde, rojo.