Authentic Tacos de Canasta Recipe (Mexican Basket Tacos)

Inside: Prepare these delicious tacos de canasta, or basket tacos, for a picnic or to eat at home. They are delicious, filling, and authentic Mexican food. 

Para Espanol, Haz Click Aqui. 

Tacos de Canasta, which literally means “basket tacos”, is an authentic Mexican street food that you will find throughout Mexico. Unlike other street foods like esquites, chicharrones, and fruit which are made to order, tacos de canasta are a complete meal. 

Throughout Mexico you may see these tacos called by different names. For example, in some places they are called “tacos al vapor”, tacos sudados, and just street tacos. 

What are Tacos de Canasta and how do you make them?

Tacos de canasta get their name because they are often sold in the streets of Mexico in baskets. The method of cooking them includes leaving them in a large lined basket after cooking them, which allows the steam to finish the cooking process. 

You will start by lining the inside of the basket (you can use a large pot or even a box if you prefer) with a layer of aluminum foil to help keep in the heat. Then, you will continue lining the basket with a large towel. After adding the towel, you will add a large plastic bag (one from the store or even just a large clean trash bag). You then add a layer of butcher paper where you will place the already prepared tacos and the oil based salsa. You can then continue adding additional layers of butcher paper and tacos before closing the bag and covering with the towel and aluminum paper. 

The tacos themselves are made by adding the filling to the tortilla and folding over like a normal taco. 

This method allows the tacos to continue cooking with the steam and that is where some of the othe names come from. The purpose of this method is to ensure that the tacos, which are made in advance, are still hot when people buy them in the streets.

What Goes Inside Tacos De Canasta

You can include many different types of fillings in tacos de canasta, including chicharron, chorizo and potatoes, and even just beans. They are all delicious and they are accompanied by a salsa roja or salsa verde. The steam is created by adding a hot oil based salsa on top of the tacos prior to covering them up. That salsa makes them even more delicious!

Have any of you tried these tacos? Let me know in the comments!

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Tacos de Canasta

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: tacos

Servings: 20 Tacos

Calories: 199kcal

Author: Charbel Barker

Ingredients

• 20 corn tortillas
• 1 cup salsa verde
• 1 large onion sliced

For the Filling

• 3 large potatoes
• 1 lb chorizo
• 1/4 white onion diced
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp salt

For the Oil-Based Salsa

• 1 cup canola oil
• 2 guajillo peppers de-seeded
• 1/4 white onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 2 bay leaves

Instructions

For the Filling

• Boil the potatoes with salt until they are soft and mash with butter and milk or however you prefer.
• Cook the chorizo over medium heat in a frying pan and once cooked, add the mashed potatoes, the onions, the garlic and mix well. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 5 additional minutes. Set aside.

For the Oil Based Salsa

• Start by roasting the onion, garlic, and peppers until browned.
• Add the oil and the bay leaves and fry everything.
• Once fried, blend everything in a blender and strain the mixture.
• Add back to the frying pan so that it the salsa is hot again.

To Form The Tacos

• Heat the tortillas and add a small amount of the filling to each, folding the tortilla in half in the form of a taco.
• Place the tacos in a row and top with the onion slices and then add butcher paper on top and form additional layers.
• Once you have formed all of the layers, add the oil based salsa and then seal the bag and cover the basket. Let rest for one hour before serving.

For the Basket

• In a basket or a large pot cover the inside with aluminum paper, then add a large towel.
• Next, add a plastic bag that is big enough for the basket or pot that you are using.
• Finally, add the first layer of butcher paper to absorb some of the salsa. You will add a new layer of butcher paper on top of each layer of tacos and then you will seal the bag and cover with the remaining part of the towel until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 2g | Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 551mg | Potassium: 312mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 163IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 2mg

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