Taco Tuesdays
Text by Daniela Sustac
Quite a famous weeknight feast on the other side of the Atlantic, “Taco Nights” seem not as popular here in Switzerland. I like having tacos because, firstly, they are easy to prepare. Secondly, the ingredients and toppings are so versatile that you can satisfy even your picky toddler.
Teaming up with a few American moms (including your BCT co-chairs, Amanda and Morgan), I present a few ideas about making and eating tacos in and around Basel.
Let’s start with the shops.
Check out Aggarwal (Claragraben 78 – tram stop Claraplatz). Their fridge section offers corn tortillas. And there are also black bean cans and various hot salsas.
Indeed, they have one aisle dedicated to Latin American ingredients, including tortilla chips and chicken mole. I recommend you buy some fresh cilantro and, if you dare, some of their spicy salsas.
Alternatively, Amanda proposes Andina Latino Produkte, located on Spalenring 150. The shop sells good corn tortillas and black beans.
Continuing with the recipes:
Amanda advises this basic recipe for beef tacos. You can substitute beef for sweet potatoes and black beans if you are vegetarian.
On the other hand, Morgan prefers this recipe from budget bytes for vegetarian tacos.
I like this fish tacos recipe from Natasha’s kitchen. Also, this Taco Raisu originates from Japan’s southern island, Okinawa.
Next up: A few adventures and tips for cooking tacos.
Okinawan Taco Rice:
You might be surprised to learn that this dish requires no fancy Japanese ingredients.
For example, if I am in a hurry, I use a store-bought taco mix for the beef and add a few tablespoons of soy sauce.
Serve the meat on a bed of warm rice with tomatoes, lettuce, onions, shredded cheddar and some salsa. I’ve successfully replaced ground beef with ground soya for a vegetarian meal.
Chicken Tacos:
I recommend marinating the chicken overnight with cumin, paprika, and lime juice. After that, you can choose to fry or grill the chicken pieces and combine them with some chopped tomatoes, mango, red onions, and fresh coriander. Delicious.
The unconventional Sweet Potato and Black Beans Tacos:
We tried it at home, and I was a happy mother. Despite not favouring the sweet potatoes, my toddler devoured the black beans and the corn tortilla.
Amanda has a valuable tip for corn tortillas:
Warm them up in a skillet, so they don’t fall apart. Please don’t use the oven like I did, because they will turn to shreds.
A final suggestion:
If you are in the mood for authentic Mexican tacos, head to Tacos la Piratita in Allschwil. You will find the best and most authentic-tasting tacos in the Basel area. I especially like their yummy “Al Pastor”.
Then there is also Klara in Klein Basel. My husband particularly enjoys the tacos there.
Here are a few photos of a few tacos. As you can see, I used corn tortilla wraps from Aggarwal (in place of shells).
Okinawan Taco Rice
