Hard Shell Tacos Recipes

DOUBLE DECKER TACOS

Steps:

• Place the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, and sprinkle about 3/4 of the packet of taco seasoning over the meat. Cook and stir the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks, until the beef is browned and crumbly, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the excess grease.
• Mash the refried beans with the water in a small saucepan, and sprinkle with the rest of the seasoning packet. Heat the refried beans over low heat until simmering.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Place the crisp taco shells on a baking sheet, and warm them in the preheated oven for 3 to 5 minutes.
• To make the guacamole, peel, seed, and mash the avocados in a bowl with 1 tablespoon of sour cream, the lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste, and set aside.
• To build the tacos, spread each flour tortilla with about 2 tablespoons of heated refried beans. Wrap the tortilla gently around a crisp tortilla shell. Spread about 2 tablespoons of ground beef along the bottom of the crisp shell, and sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of shredded Cheddar cheese on top of the meat. Top the cheese with shredded lettuce, a sprinkle of chopped tomato and onion, and a dollop of sour cream and guacamole.

HARD TACO SHELLS

Steps:

• Heat about 1 inch of oil in a heavy skillet over medium to medium-high heat to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• Use tongs to place one tortilla at a time into the oil. It should start to sizzle right away. Cook for about 15 seconds, then flip over and fold the shell in half, holding in place with the tongs until crispy, about 15 seconds. You may need a little practice at first. Drain on paper towels, and sprinkle with salt while still hot. Use for tacos right away, or they may become chewy. Leftovers may be heated in the oven for crisping.

TACO NIGHT DONE RIGHT: RACH'S BEEF + CHORIZO HARD SHELL TACOS

Steps:

• For the tacos, heat a large cast-iron or other skillet over medium-high heat, brown and crumble the chorizo and remove to paper towel-lined plate to drain
• Wipe pan, add olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
• Add onions, chilies and garlic, season with salt, soften 5 minutes, add ½ cup water and let it absorb
• Add beef to onions and crumble, then season with chili powder, cumin, coriander, salt and pepper
• If using, add cayenne pepper sauce
• Brown, then add ½ cup water, reduce heat to low, and add chorizo back to pan
• Heat oven to 400˚F
• Arrange taco shells on baking sheet and line each with cheese, bake 3 to 4 minutes to toast shell and melt cheeses
• Fill tacos with meat and top with lettuce, salsa and/or taco sauce, guac, pickled peppers and onions
• For the salsa verde, line a small tray with foil and arrange tomatillos, peppers, onion and garlic and place rack 1 rung above center
• Broil the ingredients to char evenly, cool to handle, peel and stem the peppers
• Remove garlic from skins
• Place ingredients and juices in food processor and add juice of 2 limes, salt and pepper, cumin, agave, cilantro and process
• For the traditional guacamole, with a sharp knife, cut the avocados in half lengthwise
• Remove the pit and scrape the flesh with a spoon into a small bowl
• Transfer half to a medium bowl and use the back of a fork to mash it until a paste forms
• Add the jalapeño, lime juice, onion, cilantro and salt and stir to combine
• Add the reserved avocado half, mix gently and season with salt, as needed

CLASSIC HARD SHELL TACOS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and dried oregano. Set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add onions and saute for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent.
• Add ground beef and break up into smaller chunks using a wooden spoon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is completely browned, about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add small bowl of taco seasoning and tomato paste. Mix thoroughly until tomato paste is completely combined with all the meat.
• Add water, mix to combine and remove the taco meat from the heat.
• Heat up hard taco shells according to package instructions.
• Divide meat mixture into taco shells and top with shredded cheese, lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream and salsa. Serve immediately.

HARD SHELL TACOS

Steps:

• Heat the taco shells according to the instructions on the packet.
• Warm refried beans in a pan on low-medium heat for a few minutes, until warm all the way through.
• Prepare the fillings and place them in bowls with appropriate serving utensils.
• Arrange the shells on a large plate with the fillings around them on the table.
• ENJOY! :).

HARD-SHELL TEX-MEX TACO

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat; add the onions and cook until translucent. Add the cayenne, chile powder, cumin and Mexican oregano and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the beef and cook until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce and apple cider vinegar and cook until the sauce reduces slightly, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Build the tacos in this order: cheese on the bottom, followed by the beef, tomatoes, avocados, lettuce and jalapenos. Serve the sour cream on the taco or on the side for dipping.

TEMPEH TACOS

Steps:

• In a large (12-inch) skillet, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the tempeh and onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook, undisturbed, until deep brown, 2 minutes. Stir and cook until browned all over, 3 to 5 minutes. Add more oil as needed if the pan looks dry.
• Add the tomato paste, cumin, chili powder, nutritional yeast and smoked paprika. Season with salt and cook, stirring constantly, until brick red and beginning to stick to the skillet, 5 to 7 minutes. Try not to rush this step; if it begins to burn, deglaze with a bit of water and reduce the heat.
• Add 1 cup water and the hot sauce, if using. Cook, stirring and scraping up browned bits, until thickened and the mixture is sizzling, 2 to 4 minutes. Season to taste with salt and hot sauce.
• Divide the filling between the taco shells, then top with chosen toppings.