Synopses & Reviews
Roasted tomato–mint salsa Served with chips, this is the salsa that greets you when you sit down at Tacolicious. We make others, of course, but this is the one that seems to hit home with everyone. Although the ingredients are mostly expected, the uplifting note of fresh mint keeps diners guessing. The recipe was inspired by a chef whom Joe came of age with—Reed Hearon, one of San Francisco’s former greats who cooked at Restaurant LuLu and Cafe Marimba. In our house, Hearon’s cookbook, La Parrilla, is well worn and loved. Don’t just limit this salsa to chips. It also pairs wonderfully with Three-chile bistec adobado (page 110), Carnitas (page 124), and Achiote-rubbed grilled chicken (page 134).
Makes about 2-1/2 cups
6 small Roma tomatoes, halved lengthwise
1/2 large yellow onion, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
1 small jalapeño chile, stemmed
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup packed chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons packed chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Position a rack on the top level of the oven, about 4 inches from the broiler. Turn on the broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the tomato halves, cut side down; the onion slices; and the chile on the prepared baking sheet and broil for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft and a bit charred. Let cool to room temperature.
In a food processor, combine the roasted vegetables and any juices from the pan with the vinegar, cilantro, mint, and salt and pulse until the mixture is almost, but not quite, smooth. If necessary, add up to 1/4 cup water to achieve a consistency similar to that of a thick soup.
Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary.
Serve now or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Synopsis
SARA DESERAN is the co-owner of Tacolicious with her husband Joe, and deputy editor at
San Franciscomagazine. The author of three cookbooks (
Sake,
Picnics, and
Asian Vegetables), she worked as a senior editor at
7x7 magazine and has contributed to
Food & Wine,
Sunset,
Saveur, and
Food Arts. Her writing has been chosen for multiple
Best Food Writing anthologies. Deseran is the co-founder of Chefs Feed, a mobile app and culinary guide to the US.
JOE HARGRAVE has spent his career heading operations for restaurants such as Restaurant Lulu, Rose Pistola, Azie, and Frisson. In 2007, he opened Laïola, a casual Spanish concept that garnered three stars from the San Francisco Chronicle, that he ultimately closed in 2009 to make way for Tacolicious. He lives with Deseran and their three kids in San Francisco. Tacolicious now has two locations in San Francisco and a third in Palo Alto, California.
About the Author
A collection of recipes for fun, accessible taqueria fare--including colorful salsas, tasty snacks, irresistible cocktails, and of course tacos galore--from the wildly popular San Francisco restaurants and food stall, Tacolicious. As their legions of fans can attest, Tacolicious is all about delicious, authentic, fresh Cal-Mexican fare--eaten in a fun, communal atmosphere. Tacolicious translates the vibrant, festive food of the restaurant into book form, with scores of recipes for fresh, easy, and downright delicious tacos and accompaniments. Whether you're looking for a quick and family-friendly weeknight meal or inspiration for a fabulous Mexican taco fiesta,Tacolicious has something for everyone. Taco recipes range from the familiar--Pork al Pastor, Carnitas, Chile Verde--to new favorites like Three-Chili Bistec Adobado and Guajillo-Braised Beef Short Rib. Chapters on snacks; salsas; cocktails, mocktails, and aguas frescas; and other party essentials round out this entertaining collection.
Table of Contents
Gracias
Introduction
How to cook from this book
Salsas, Pickles + More
Roasted tomato–mint salsa
Tomatillo-avocado salsa
Just-hot-enough habanero salsa
Lazy salsa, two ways
Smoky chipotle–tomatillo salsa
Grilled tomato–habanero salsa
Guajillo chile salsa
The legendary orange sauce
Cal-Mex corn salsa with tomatoes and basil
Cumin-lime crema
El Jefe’s glove-box recado
Tamarind-habanero glaze
Pickled red onions
Pickled cauliflower, carrots, and jalapeños
Lime-cured cucumber, habanero, and onion
Snacks + Sides
Mexican party mix
Chile con queso
Classic guacamole
Melon, mango, and cucumber with chile, salt, and lime
Grilled corn on the cob with glove-box recado
Donnie’s halibut crudo with citrus and capers
A summer’s night shrimp cocktail
Aquachile with avocado and cucumber
Shrimp cakes with corn-basil salsa
The ultimate torta
Tuna tostadas, Contramar style
Cheater’s panucho
Quesadillas with squash blossoms, sweet peppers, and goat cheese
Flaky potato-and-greens empanadas with salsa verde
Ms. Reyes’s most awesome tamales
Albóndigas in tomato-chipotle sauce
Spicy tamarind-glazed pork ribs with jicama salad
La hamburguesa, DF style
Bacon-wrapped hot dogs with jalapeño-cucumber relish
Rice-o-licious
Not really refried beans
Frijoles borrachos
Cebollitas
Tacos, Tacos + Tacos
Guajillo-braised beef short rib taco
Telmo’s taco de lengua
Potato and homemade chorizo taco
Everything you need to know about corn tortillas
Three-chile bistec adobado taco with cebollitas
Old-school taco
Birria de chivo taco
Lamb adobo taco with spices and orange
Off-the-spit pork al pastor taco
Carnitas taco
Cochinita pibil taco
Mama Virginia’s chile verde taco
Shot-and-a-beer braised chicken taco
Spring booty taco
Tangy achiote-rubbed grilled chicken taco
Baja-style fish taco
Puerto Nuevo–style lobster taco
Lone Star breakfast taco
Butternut squash, kale, and crunchy pepitas taco
Nopal, egg, and tomato taco
La Taquiza
Twenty 20-minute (max) tacos del día
Cocktails, Aguas Frescas + More
Syrups, salts, and infusions
Agave syrup
Cinnamon-and-chile agave syrup
Pink peppercorn salt
Chile salt
Toasted-coconut salt
Chile vinegar
Apple-ginger cocktail salsa
Cucumber juice
Hibiscus tea
Infused tequilas
Habanero-infused tequila
Pineapple-infused tequila
Cocktails
The Tacolicious margarita
Margarita picante
Paloma
Pasión
Lolita squeeze
Mucho gusto
If Honey could drink
La siesta
Mexican traitor
Flor de Jamaica
El sangre
Michelada
Bucanero
Sangrita
Bloody Maria
Tequila: the CliffsNotes
Agua frescas and other G-rated drinks
Cantaloupe-ginger agua fresca
Cucumber-mint agua fresca
Mango agua fresca
Pineapple-coconut agua fresca
Kiwi agua fresca
White nectarine–blueberry agua fresca
Homemade horchata
Mia
Silas
Moss
Ingredients glossary
Mail-order sources
Restaurants we love
Index