Chicken Puffy Tacos Recipes

PUFFY TACOS

Steps:

• For the taco shells: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat, heat 3 inches oil to 375 degrees F or preheat your fryer to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a wire rack.
• Mix the masa harina and 1 teaspoon salt together in medium bowl. Add the warm water and combine until it comes together, about 30 seconds. Cover the dough and let rest for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Divide the dough into 8 equal portions and roll each into a smooth ball. Keep covered and work quickly.
• Cut two 8-inch squares of parchment and line a tortilla press. Add a dough ball, then top with the other piece of parchment and press into disc, 5- to 6-inches in diameter.
• Carefully remove the tortilla and place in the hot oil. Fry the tortilla until it begins to puff, 25 to 30 seconds, then flip the tortilla, cooking another 25 to 30 seconds. Press down in the center of the tortilla with a metal spatula to form a taco shell, submerging the tortilla completely. Fry until golden brown and the taco shell holds its shape, another 30 to 45 seconds.
• Let drain on a wire rack lined baking sheet, then season with salt and reserve. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• For the filling: Heat a 12-inch cast-iron pan over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring to break up; sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook the ground beef fully, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and onion, stirring to prevent burning. Meanwhile, combine the cumin, chili powder, Mexican oregano and cayenne in a bowl, stirring to combine. Once the garlic and onion begin to turn translucent, about 1 minute, add the seasoning mixture and stir to combine. Add the crushed tomatoes to the same bowl and stir to combine, collecting any remaining spices, then add to the pan. Stir together until the beef is coated and allow to simmer until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Equally divide the taco meat into the puffy taco shells. Add equal amounts lettuce, sour cream and pico de gallo to each taco. Grate Cheddar over each taco with a rasp grater. Serve with lime wedges.

CHIPOTLE CHICKEN PUFFY TACOS

Steps:

• In medium bowl, make guacamole by mixing avocados, green chiles, lime juice, red onion and cilantro, mashing slightly; set aside.
• Plate Chipotle Sauce ingredients in blender or food processor. Cover; blend on high speed until smooth. Pour half of sauce in 10-inch skillet over medium heat with chicken, reserving 1/2 cup for topping. Cover skillet; heat chicken and sauce until warm.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tortilla. Cook until starting to puff up, then turn over. Once second side is puffed up, remove from skillet; drain on paper towels.
• Fold each tortilla in half, and top with slightly less than 1/3 cup chicken mixture. Top with guacamole, a drizzle of reserved sauce, lettuce, tomato and cheese.

YUCATAN CHICKEN PUFFY TACOS WITH PEANUT-RED CHILI BBQ SAUCE AND RED CABBAGE SLAW

Steps:

• Whisk together orange and lime juices, chili and garlic in a shallow baking dish, add the chicken thighs, turn to coat and marinate 1 to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
• Preheat grill to high or grill pan over high heat. Remove thighs from the marinade and season with salt and pepper on both sides. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until just cooked through. Brush with some of the peanut sauce during the last few minutes of grilling.
• Place tacos, chicken, peanut-red chili sauce, red cabbage slaw and relish in bowls and on serving platters and serve.
• Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan. Add the onions and cook until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for an additional 30 to 40 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally.
• Transfer the mixture to a food processor and puree until smooth, season with salt and pepper, to taste. Pour into a bowl and allow to cool at room temperature. Sauce will keep for 1 week in the refrigerator stored in a tightly sealed container.
• Heat the oil in medium saucepan over medium heat; add the ginger and cook until soft. Increase heat to high, add the BBQ sauce and chicken stock and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half.
• Whisk in the soy sauce and peanut butter and cook for 5 to 7 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place cabbage and onion in a large bowl. Whisk together the vinegar, orange juice, oil and honey and pour over the cabbage. Add the cilantro and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with mint. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving.
• Combine the masa mix, salt and warm water in a large bowl and mix until a smooth dough forms. Pull off pieces of dough and roll them into balls about the size of a ping pong ball.
• Cut a quart size resealable plastic bag open down both sides, to form a rectangle. Use the bag to line the tortilla press as you shape the tortillas so they do not stick: Lay 1 side of the plastic over the bottom of the press. Place a ball of dough in the center, and fold the other side of the plastic over the dough. Shut the top of the tortilla and press firmly down on the dough to shape the tortilla.
• Meanwhile, pour 2 inches of vegetable oil into a large deep pot and heat to 350 degrees F.
• Drop a tortilla into the hot oil and, using a metal spatula, repeatedly douse the tortilla with the hot oil until it begins to puff up. Flip it over and, using the spatula, make an indentation in the center of the tortilla to form a taco shape. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Fill each taco with 2 tablespoons of shredded chicken, guacamole, beans and cheese or your favorite filling.
• Combine all ingredients in a small bowl just before serving.

PUFFY TACOS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. When the dough is consistent begin rolling dough balls about the size of a ping pong ball. Using a tortilla press that is lined in a thick plastic, press out the dough. You use the plastic (it can be a ziploc bag that has been cut) so that the dough does not stick to the tortilla press. Meanwhile have a deep pot filled with cooking oil approximately 2 inches high and heated to 250 degrees. Drop the flat tortilla in the hot oil and using a metal spatula repeatedly douse with the oil. You will see that it will begin to puff up. Flip it over and using the spatula make an indention in the middle of the tortilla to forma taco shape. Remove from oil and allow to drain. Fill with ground meat, shredded chicken, guacamole, bean and cheese or your favorite filling. Top with shredded lettuce and diced tomato.
• Caution; Be very careful when making these. Make sure there is proper ventilation and do not allow the oil to get too hot. Also, if you can't get your hands on a tortilla press then use a clean counter. You will still need the plastic so that the dough does not stick to the counter. Place your dough ball on the plastic and cover with more plastic and then using something heavy to press it out.

CHICKEN PUFFY TACOS

Steps:

• Place everything except the tortillas and oil in a crockpot or slow cooker and set to high for three hours or until meat is easily removed from the bone (the thickest part of chicken should read 180 degrees on a meat thermometer).
• Remove chicken and let cool, leaving sauce in the vessel.
• When cool enough to handle, pull the chicken meat from the bone and shred. Add shredded meat back into the sauce. Discard chicken skin and bones.
• Reduce crockpot or slow cooker to low and simmer meat in sauce for at least one additional hour (the longer the better).
• Meanwhile, pour vegetable oil into a frying pan until 1/4" deep. Heat oil to 350 degrees or until a flour tortilla "puffs" up and browns quickly.
• Add one flour tortilla at a time into oil and fry one side until lightly browned.
• Using tongs, fold the tortilla over so that the browned side is on the inside.
• Fry the outside until lightly browned.
• Remove from oil, add a pinch of kosher salt and place on a cooling rack.
• Repeat until desired number of Puffy Taco Shells are done.
• Note: Don't dare cut out the onion and/or garlic, as the meat will not tenderize nearly as well.