Tarantula Tacos Recipes

STEAK BANH MI TACOS

Steps:

• In a blender, combine the fish sauce, vegetable oil, brown sugar, garlic, shallot, 2 teaspoons salt, a few grinds of black pepper and 1/4 cup cold water. Blend until smooth. Place the steak in a 1-gallon resealable plastic bag. Pour the marinade into the bag, seal, and toss to coat. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, combine the granulated sugar, vinegar, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup cold water in a small saucepot. Bring to a boil and then pour the hot pickling liquid over the carrots and jicama. Let sit until cooled to room temperature. Use at room temperature or refrigerate, covered, for later use.
• Prepare a grill for high heat. Remove the steak from the marinade and pat dry. Grill the steak for 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium. Remove from the grill, let rest for 5 minutes, and then cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Warm the tortillas in a dry saute pan or in a 350-degree oven, wrapped in a foil pouch, for 10 minutes (you can also heat them over a gas burner until charred in spots). Spread some of the mayonnaise on one side of each tortilla. Top with some steak, cucumbers, chiles and pickled carrots and jicama. Sprinkle with cilantro and cotija.

TARANTULA TACOS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Heat taco shells in oven as directed on box.
• Meanwhile, in 10-inch skillet, cook ground beef over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in taco seasoning mix and water. Reduce heat to medium; cook uncovered about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until water has evaporated. Remove from heat.
• Spoon beef mixture into heated taco shells. Top with cheese, lettuce and tomato.
• Spoon sour cream into small resealable food-storage plastic bag. Seal bag; cut tiny hole in corner of bag. Pipe sour cream over top of each taco to resemble spiderweb.
• For each spider, top taco with 1 olive, pitted end down. Cut second olive lengthwise into 8 pieces; place around olive for legs. For eyes, squeeze 2 dots of sour cream onto top of olive.

DEEP-FRIED TARANTULA SPIDER

Steps:

• In a deep saucepan or deep-fat fryer, heat the oil to 350°F.
• With a sharp knife, sever and discard the abdomens from the two tarantulas. Singe off any of the spider's body hairs with a crème brûlée torch or butane cigarette lighter.
• Dip each spider into the tempura batter to thoroughly coat. Use a slotted spoon or your hands to make sure each spider is spread-eagled (so to speak) and not clumped together before dropping it into the hot oil.
• Deep-fry the spiders, one at a time, until the batter is lightly browned, about 1 minute. Remove each spider from the oil and place it on paper towels to drain.
• Use a sharp knife to cut each spider in two lengthwise. Sprinkle with the paprika and serve. Encourage your guests to try the legs first and, if still hungry, to nibble on the meat-filled mesothorax, avoiding the spider's paired fangs, which are tucked away in the head region.

EASY TILAPIA TACOS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tilapia fillets and sprinkle with garlic powder and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, turn, and continue cooking until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 5 more minutes. Break fillets apart with a spatula, remove from the heat, and allow to cool. Wipe skillet clean with a paper towel.
• While fish is cooling, mash avocado in a small bowl for guacamole. Mix in sour cream and season with garlic powder and salt.
• Place 1 tortilla in the cleaned skillet and cook over low heat until warm, about 1 minute. Remove tortilla and set on a plate with the uncooked side facing up. Cover one half of the tortilla with 2 lettuce leaves and salsa. Spread guacamole on the other half, then add 1/4 of the fish. Fold halves together. Repeat to make the remaining tacos.

TARANTULA TOSTADAS (OR TACOS)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Heat tostada or taco shells in oven as directed on box, usually just a couple of minutes.
• In a 10-inch skillet, cook ground beef over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain.
• Stir in taco seasoning mix and water.
• Reduce heat to medium and cook uncovered about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until water has evaporated. Remove from heat.
• Spoon beef mixture into heated tostada or taco shells. Top with cheese, lettuce and tomato.
• Spoon sour cream into small resealable food-storage plastic bag. Seal bag; cut VERY tiny hole in corner of bag. Pipe sour cream over top of each taco to resemble spider web.
• For each spider, top taco with 1 olive, pitted end down. Cut second olive lengthwise into 8 pieces; place around whole olive for legs. For eyes, squeeze 2 dots of sour cream onto top of olive.
• BOO!