Description
Enjoy authentic Mexican street food at home with this easy Tacos de Canasta recipe. These soft, steamed corn tortillas filled with mashed potatoes, chorizo, and refried beans offer a flavorful, comforting experience. Perfect for beginners, quick to prepare, and highly customizable, these tacos bring vibrant, traditional tastes right to your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 12 soft fresh corn tortillas
- 2 cups mashed or roasted potatoes
- 1 cup cooked chorizo or preferred protein
- 1 cup refried beans
- 1/4 cup adobo or chile sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 cup mild melting cheese such as Oaxaca or quesillo, shredded
- 2 tablespoons oil or melted butter
Instructions
- Prepare the Fillings: Cook your chosen protein, such as chorizo, until fully browned and flavorful. In a separate pot, boil and mash potatoes until smooth. Mix mashed potatoes with refried beans and gently fold in the cooked protein, adjusting seasoning to taste.
- Warm and Soften the Tortillas: Heat corn tortillas on a skillet or directly over a flame until warm and pliable to prevent cracking and help them absorb moisture during steaming.
- Assemble the Tacos: Spoon a generous amount of filling onto each tortilla, then carefully fold the tortilla in half. Brush the outside lightly with oil or melted butter to help keep them moist.
- Prepare for Steaming: Layer the tacos in a covered basket or steaming container. Add paper towels between layers if stacking multiple tacos to prevent sogginess. Cover the batch with a warm cloth to retain heat and moisture.
- Steam the Tacos: Steam for 20 to 30 minutes over medium heat to soften tortillas and meld flavors, creating the iconic texture of tacos de canasta.
Notes
- Use freshly made or store-bought soft corn tortillas for best results.
- Brush oil lightly on tortillas before steaming to prevent drying out.
- Position tacos snugly but gently in the basket for even steaming.
- Cover with a warm cloth after stacking to maintain consistent temperature.
- Taste and adjust seasoning of fillings before assembling.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, separating tortillas from filling if possible.
- Freeze assembled tacos wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil for up to 1 month.
- Reheat gently in a steamer or microwave with a damp paper towel to keep tortillas moist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Steaming
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tacos
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: Tacos de Canasta, Mexican tacos, steamed tacos, easy tacos recipe, street food tacos, gluten free tacos