National Taco Day is Wednesday, October 4th this year. You can join in on the celebration by cooking up some of your favorite taco recipes. From pork and chicken to beans and fish, there are lots of ways to fill a taco. In fact, here are 7 unusual ideas that you can try on National Taco Day:
Mashed Potatoes
Tacos de papa is a popular Mexican dish. Maybe you’ve tried sweet potato or russet potatoes cut up on your taco or burrito. But, have you tried mashed potatoes on your taco?
To make this recipe, start by boiling peeled potatoes. After they’re cooked through, mash your potatoes while adding a little bit of crema. Then, fill your cooked taco shells with the mashed potatoes along with salsa verde, sour cream, lettuce, and other favorite toppings.
Asparagus
There are lots of vegetarian options for tacos. Most of the veggie recipes involve beans. If you want to stray from lentils and black beans, try asparagus tacos. These are made by topping corn tortillas with grilled asparagus, salsa, cilantro, queso fresco, and pitted cherries. The tartness of the cherries gives the tacos an extra zing of flavor and complements the flavors of the asparagus.
Pasta
Do you love Mexican food and Italian food? Then, why not put them together? Spaghetti tacos are a great way to do this.
To make them, cook your angel hair pasta as you normally would. Then, add your favorite spaghetti sauce to the pasta noodles. After placing the pasta on your crispy taco shells, top it with meatballs, tomatoes, guacamole, and your favorite cheese.
If you love macaroni and cheese, try eating it on a crispy taco shell. Top your taco with your favorite chili, crumbled bacon, onions, salsa, jalapenos, and other toppings you enjoy.
Chili Dog
Maybe you have all the ingredients for the perfect chili dog except the bun. Before you rush to the store, consider grabbing a corn tortilla instead. Put the hot dog at the bottom of your tortilla. Then, smother it with your favorite chili. Top it with your favorite chili toppings: cheese, sour cream, onions, chives, peppers, crushed bacon, salsa, crushed tortilla chips, corn, etc.
Pizza
According to a study from the Department of Agriculture, 13% of Americans eat pizza on a given day. If you decide to be part of the 13% of Americans eating pizza on October 4th, you could at least eat it in your taco. All you need is your favorite toppings, such as pepperoni, sausage, steak, Canadian bacon, mozzarella cheese, green peppers, olives, and jalapenos. Put these ingredients on a tortilla with your favorite spaghetti sauce and voila!
Waffle Shells
If you’re looking for a fresh take on the tortilla for your taco, try a waffle shell. All you have to do is replace the tortilla with a waffle, and add your favorite toppings. You could have a breakfast taco with eggs, sausage, bacon, salsa, and cheese. Or, try a dessert taco with ice cream, Nutella, and chocolate. Of course, you could have your waffle for lunch or dinner with chicken or pulled pork and your usual taco toppings. You could even try chili with a cornbread waffle mix for the perfect dinner taco, too.
How do you plan to celebrate National Taco Day this year? Will you pick up some unique toppings at your grocery store for your tacos? Will you eat out at your favorite Mexican restaurant? Tell us about it in the comments below.