Description
Crispy San Antonio puffy tacos bring Mexican street food magic right to home kitchens. Delicate corn tortilla shells puff up when fried, creating light, airy wrappers that cradle savory fillings you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp chili powder
Tortilla and Frying:
- 2 cups masa harina
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
Toppings:
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup diced onions
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Mix ground beef with salt, black pepper, and chili powder in a skillet, breaking meat into small crumbles while cooking over medium-high heat until browned and fully cooked, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Combine masa harina, water, and salt in a mixing bowl, kneading until a smooth, pliable dough forms that doesn’t stick to hands.
- Divide dough into small golf ball-sized portions, using wet hands to prevent sticking.
- Press each dough ball between two pieces of plastic wrap or parchment paper using a tortilla press or heavy flat-bottomed pan, creating thin, circular shapes.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet to 350°F, ensuring oil is hot enough for immediate puffing.
- Carefully place pressed dough into hot oil, gently pressing center with a spatula to create a puffy, three-dimensional shape, cooking each side until golden and crisp, about 1-2 minutes per side.
- Remove puffy tortillas with tongs, draining excess oil on paper towels.
- Fill each puffy tortilla with prepared ground beef, then layer with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, diced onions, and a dollop of sour cream.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve immediately while tortillas remain crisp and warm.
Notes
- Master the meat seasoning by using freshly ground black pepper and high-quality chili powder for deeper flavor complexity.
- Control masa dough consistency by adding water gradually, ensuring a smooth texture that doesn’t crack during frying.
- Maintain precise oil temperature around 350°F for perfectly crispy, golden puffy tortillas that puff evenly without absorbing excess oil.
- Customize taco fillings by substituting ground beef with shredded chicken, plant-based crumbles, or seasoned black beans for dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 800
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 50 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg