Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

It’s Better than the Caramilk Secret.

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Which really isn’t a secret at all. Um, hello? Food Network? They tour those candy plants all the time. It’s called “Unwrapped.”

But what’s better than the Caramilk secret, you ask? The secret to truly delicious tacos. And having just spent a week in the Mayan Riviera, Mexico – courtesy of Transat Holidays – I consider myself to be quite the expert on the subject.
photo (4)Above, you’re looking at the trio of tacos… beef, shrimp and chicken, prepared at Azul Fives Hotel, by Karisma in the Mayan Riviera. Azul Fives is a gourmet inclusive hotel, which means – you guessed it – we had sinfully delicious food for the entire week. However, even though I was confronted with limitless options, I tended to come back to the humble taco… every. single. day.

They were THAT good.

And after a while, I began questioning, why are they so scrumptious? What makes them better than any taco I’ve had? The seasoning was on point, the fixin’s were average, and the tortillas were pretty standard fare. But there was just something about the way they all came together, in magic harmony, that set them apart. So I did what I do best: I painstakingly dissected the meal until I discovered the hidden secrets. (Okay, so maybe I dissected several meals. It’s called research!)

I have good news.

You too can create authentic-tasting Mexican tacos at home. You can even go ahead and grab your favourite dinner kit if you don’t want to start from scratch, because I’ve come to realize that it’s all in the condiments. So here’s what you need:

1. Chipotle Mayonnaise. Almost all of the tacos I enjoyed came with a chipotle mayonnaise for dipping, were pre-drizzled with the stuff, or both. Hence, I’ve decided that it’s an absolutely mandatory accompaniment to all tacos. The smoky, creamy sauce adds an additional layer of heat while smoothing out the more peppery flavours. You can purchase chipotle mayonnaise from a well-stocked specialty food store, or simply search for a recipe online (a recent search yielded about 2,270,000 results). 

2. Queso Oaxaca. Stop putting shredded cheddar or Monterrey Jack on your tacos. Just stop. It’s a crime against cuisine. Don’t put any cheese at all; it’s such an American drive-thru thing to do. However, if your taco just won’t be complete without a cheesy fix, use Queso Oaxaca. Oaxaca is the Mexican name for a semi-soft, white, string-type, Hispanic-style cheese made from cow’s milk. One of the artisanal cheeses, Oaxaca has savory mellow buttery flavor and is a great melting cheese. In Canada, find it at Hispanic grocery stores.

3. Red Cabbage. The only way to get a satisfying crunch and burst of colour. I admit that I’ve prepared tacos with shredded lettuce for years, but now, I have seen the light. Red cabbage soaks up juices without wilting, and keeps its integrity even when paired with a piping hot protein. The resulting combination is gastronomic perfection.

4. Cilantro. If you don’t like it, learn to love it. Because it literally makes every Mexican food better, including tacos. The trick is to build an affinity to it in small doses; start with only half a teaspoon of the finely chopped herb, and once you’ve acclimated to the pungent flavour, add more. Soon, you’ll be consuming the leaves straight off the stalk, reveling in the unique taste profile.

5. Fresh Lime. Every taco needs a hit of acid. It balances the sweet and savoury components and intensifies the heat. And nature’s perfect acid comes via the lime; fresh, tangy and pucker-your-lips sour, it’s an essential complement to all spicy cuisine. But don’t even think of adding bottled lime juice or lime juice concentrate – only freshly squeezed lime will do. Of course, depending on the time of year, limes can be expensive, so don’t be afraid to freeze leftover juice in ice cube trays (it’s a great alternative to the bottled stuff).

So there you have it – secrets to the perfect tacos at home. Enjoy! I’ll be dreaming about my vacation, and the food we enjoyed, for the next few months… or until we take off on our next epic culinary adventure. Adios amigos!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Chandra Christine O'Connor

    my mouth is watering. I was expecting a story about chocolate from the title but yum I do enjoy shrimp tacos.

  4. Judy Cowan

    They look really good! Thanks for all the tips, not sure I will be able to get my family to change from their normal taco toppings but it might be worth a try.

  5. Treen Goodwin

    That totally look so good right now , wow i so wanna try that out …. yummy looking mouth watering :) thanks for sharing :)

  6. Lynda Cook

    You did such an awesome writeup of the perfect taco, now when I have one it’s just not going to seem to be tasty..lol your review wants me to jump on a plane and go get me a excellent taco, thanks for making me hungry now..lol

  7. Anne Taylor

    I now want a taco! (or two) lol I hear you about the cilantro, but I’ve tried for years to enjoy it and I just can’t :-(

  12. Jenn Erin

    Oh my goodness, Lena! But really, I probably would go back every day for a delicious taco as well- who am I kidding!

  17. Guppy

    I’m such a philistine as I love cheese with my Mexican inspired foods – actually I believe cheese makes any food better! :D

  19. tasha may

    Omg just reading this makes me so hungry!! I’ve never tried this but I love tacos, I will definitely be trying this!! :o)

  20. Flora M

    You can hold the red cabbage for mine (I love the stuff, but it doesn’t love me) LOL
    That Chipotle mayonnaise sounds heavenly though and the trio of beef, shrimp and chicken in a taco sounds even better ;)

  22. Chandra Christine O'Connor

    Im so hungryyyyy. fridge empty payday for hubby still a week away. sick of canned tuna lol

  26. Samantha Dick

    We tried the Old el Paso Baja Fish Kit last week and it was delicious! I was quite impressed! Just like at the restaurant.

  27. Wanda Tracey

    I am definitely going to make these tacos.Your great review of how to put them together …& mmmm.. and with the lime and cilantro added has inspired the chef in me.Thank you.

  29. Rick F

    I have a tortilla press. Would love to be able to make my own fresh tortillas for tacos. STill don’t have the knack yet.

  30. Susan

    Wow — I’m drooling just reading your post! Those tacos sound amazing. Thanks for the tips to making really yummy tacos!

  31. Terrie Charest

    Thanks for clearing up what is a real taco. We are headed to Cancun via Air Transat at Spring break. I can’t wait. Wejust received a foot of snow.

  32. Emilia

    No cheese on the tacos, I had no idea. I need to travel more to learn about the true culture. Lime and red cabbage who knew this. I will try this combination.

  36. Alexa Nernberg

    Great looking tacos. Hope to incorporate your tips in the near future. Thanks for sharing.

  41. Susan T.

    I completely agree with this list! Especially cilantro and Chipotle Mayonnaise!

  42. Debbie White Beattie

    I like the shrimp version the best. I wish I knew how they made the dip and I love the red cabbage idea

  47. Debbie White Beattie

    This all sounds great except I love cheese and it’s another way to get calcium in everyone’s diet