Taco treasures: Diverse, delicious ways to enjoy a Mexican classic

One of the most popular treats in Mexican cuisine that we can easily prepare ourselves is tacos. The advantage of tacos is their versatility—they can be made in countless ways, each offering a true feast for the palate.

The basis of the Mexican snack is a tortilla, a corn flour flatbread usually with a smaller diameter for tacos. You can also use corn shells available in stores, which are hard, folded in half, and have space for stuffing (especially popular in the United States). Before adding the filling, the tortilla should be toasted in a pan, and the shell should be heated in a microwave or oven.

Mexicans especially like pork tacos, but not ground pork; instead, they chop or cut it into thin strips. For example, you can use pork neck (450 grams), which is then coated in adobo paste made from ground chilli peppers (30 grams) and sprinkled with cumin (5 grams), salt, and pepper. Set it aside for half an hour in a cool place, then fry until browned. Prepare salsa from diced pineapple, finely chopped red onion, and fresh cilantro leaves. Place the meat and a portion of pineapple salsa on the heated tortillas. Serve immediately.

Cut the chicken breast (450 grams) into thin strips, season with smoked paprika, salt, and freshly ground pepper, and fry in hot olive oil until the meat turns golden. Meanwhile, prepare the salsa: dice ripe mangoes (2 pieces) and mix with finely chopped red onion and jalapeño pepper. Season with lime juice and a few cilantro leaves. Place pieces of chicken and a portion of mango salsa on the heated tortillas. Serve immediately.

Delicious taco fillings can include seafood, such as shrimp. One pound (450 grams) of these crustaceans, peeled and cleaned, seasoned with lime juice (15 ml), olive oil (15 ml), chilli powder (5 grams), salt, and pepper, then fry in a pan. Prepare guacamole by mashing the flesh of two avocados with a fork, adding finely chopped tomato and red onion, pressed garlic (1 clove), lime juice (15 ml), salt, and pepper, and mix thoroughly. Place the shrimp and a large spoonful of guacamole on each tortilla. Serve immediately.

The basis for a delicious taco filling can also be ground beef (450 grams), which is placed in a pan with previously sautéed finely chopped red onion. Add pressed garlic (2 cloves). When the meat is browned, add canned diced tomatoes, and season with cumin and chili powder (5 grams each), salt, and pepper. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the salsa by combining finely chopped habanero pepper with fresh cilantro and a small amount of salt. Place the meat and a spoonful of salsa on the tortilla and serve the dish hot.

If you don't eat meat, fish, or seafood, you can make a tasty taco filling with tofu, a soy milk curd that has been a dietary staple for Asians for centuries. Cut the tofu (400 grams) into cubes and marinate for fifteen minutes in soy sauce (15 ml) with the addition of smoked paprika (5 grams). Then sauté until golden. In a separate pan, sauté vegetables cut into strips: red and yellow bell peppers and zucchini. Season with salt and pepper. Place a portion of tofu and vegetables on the heated tortillas and serve immediately.