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Basket Tacos

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Basket tacos are a classic Mexican street-food favorite, made with soft corn tortillas filled with seasoned chicharrón and steamed to perfection, offering a rich, savory flavor with a smoky depth from the fried chiles and tomatoes.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 tacos
Course: Main Course, Party Food, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 250

Ingredients
  

For the Filling
  • 200 g pressed beef rind (corteza de ternera prensada) This is the chicharrón used for the filling. You can shred it if large pieces are present.
  • 2 units guajillo chiles Rehydrated and fried briefly for color and flavor.
  • 2 units chiles de árbol or bird’s eye chiles For heat; use fewer if you prefer milder tacos.
  • 2 units tomatoes (jitomates) Ripe, for frying into the salsa.
  • 1/3 unit onion For frying and blending.
  • 1 clove garlic Briefly fried with the vegetables.
For Serving
  • 8 units tomatillos For a bright, tangy salsa to serve on the side.
  • 1 bunch cilantro Chopped, for garnish.
  • 1 unit onion Finely chopped, to garnish.
  • 2-3 tbsp oil For frying; a neutral oil like vegetable or sunflower works well.
  • to taste Pulla chiles Adjust per heat preference.
For the Tortillas
  • 6 units corn tortillas Small street-taco size. Fresh, pliable tortillas give the best result.

Method
 

Preparation of Ingredients
  1. Heat 2–3 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the guajillo and árbol chiles, tomatoes, 1/3 onion, and garlic. Fry until the tomatoes are blistered and the chiles are fragrant, about 4–6 minutes. Watch closely so nothing burns.
  2. Transfer the fried chiles, tomatoes, onion, and garlic to a blender. Add a few tablespoons of water and blend until smooth and homogeneous. Strain if you prefer a finer salsa.
Cooking the Filling
  1. Return a tablespoon of the frying oil to the skillet. Pour in the blended salsa and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently. Season with salt to taste. After it simmers and the flavors combine (3–5 minutes), add the shredded pressed beef rind (chicharrón).
  2. Cook the mixture, stirring, until the salsa reduces and clings to the chicharrón — you want it moist but not soupy and not stuck to the pan. Remove from heat and reserve a few spoonfuls of salsa for serving.
Preparing Tortillas
  1. Reheat the remaining frying oil to hot but not smoking. Quickly pass each corn tortilla through the hot oil for just 1–2 seconds per side — this gives them color and a little crispness. Drain briefly and immediately fill each tortilla with 1–2 tablespoons of the chicharrón filling. Set filled tacos aside on a tray.
Assembling the Basket
  1. To make the basket: line a shallow basket or container with a cloth napkin, then a piece of clean plastic, another cloth napkin, and finally paper. Stack the tacos inside and cover to let them 'sweat' for 10–20 minutes; this softens the tortillas and melds flavors.
Serving
  1. Serve warm. Spoon the reserved salsa over tacos and garnish with chopped cilantro and onion.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 15gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 500mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2g

Notes

Store filled or unfilled tacos in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Freeze the filling (without tortillas) in a sealed container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Rewarm filling in a skillet over low heat, adding a tablespoon of water if it’s too dry.
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