The Signs Were All Pointing To Me Cooking Today…
It all started with a sign…this one above, which I came across on the streets of New York – it intrigued me…then came a second sign: The Washington Post’s Voraciously food column shared a recipe for making “Smash Burger Tacos” at home the very next day – well, that was it, I had to make one – and after looking online, it seems I will be trying to make one to look like this:
Now, an immediate caveat: The Post’s recipe has a special sauce and I have included the recipe for it here, but since I had just purchased a bottle of “Chick-fil-A” sauce, which I love, I used that instead…. but for those who want to make their own…
For The Special Sauce:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 teaspoon Cajun pepper hot sauce, such as Frank’s RedHot
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder Fine salt
Freshly ground black pepper
In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, relish, ketchup, hot sauce and garlic powder until combined. Taste, and season with salt and pepper, as desired.
For The Tacos:
1 pound ground beef, preferably 80 percent lean
Six (6-inch) flour tortillas
Fine salt
Freshly ground black pepper
6 slices American or cheddar cheese
Sliced dill pickles, shredded lettuce, diced onions and sesame seeds, for serving
Heat a stainless-steel skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Meanwhile, divide the meat into six equal portions, about 2 1/2 ounces each, and press each portion onto one side of a tortilla to cover the entire surface.
Take a look:
Lightly season each patty with salt and pepper.
Step 3
In batches, depending on the size of your griddle or skillet, add the tortillas to the hot skillet meat side down and cook, pressing each regularly with a spatula, until a nice brown crust forms, about 3 minutes.
Check it out:
The next part is equally fun: flip the tortillas over, top with a slice of cheese and cook until the tortillas are crisp on the bottom and the cheese has melted, about 1 minute more.
Check it out:
Now just load them up with pickles, lettuce, onions, the sauce and sesame seeds if you have them; they are ready to love!
I always enjoy a healthy slathering of condiments:
I gingerly slid my fingers underneath and carefully folded it in half like a taco:
Here’s my taste test:
As you can see, it looks like a giant soft taco – could I have used smaller taco shells? Sure, but I managed to finish it all!
I’m glad I used pickle relish – it worked well with the slightly crispy beef and melted cheese…and crisp lettuce is always a nice touch as well…a delicious and very filling meal – that reminded me of something I ate a few years ago!
Remember this? I realized that a “smash burger” taco is what America’s oldest family-owned Mexican restaurant created! – click here to see their original “beef taco” recipe that used a fully formed beef patty as well!
I will note that there were not really any seasoning to give the smash burger a “taco” vibe…you can and probably should take that one yourself…like when I made Linda Ronstadt’s tradition Sonoran food:
She included the flavors of southern Arizona to be sure – click here for the delciious recipe from her memoir about her food growing up!
I store all of these recipes on my food website “Bite! Eat! Repeat!” – it’s your site for all things food – if you like what you see, please click on my link and follow this blog as well!
Let me know wha tyou think of this “smash burger taco” – and if you like this story, please share eon social media!
Categories: 52 In 22!, Bite Eat Swallow, Bite! Eat! Repeat!, Cheeseburgers, Cookbooks, Eat This!, Fast Food, Food, Food Pictures, Food Porn, Recipes, Wacky Food, World's Wildest Food
Bite! Eat! Repeat! 
A new recipe for taco Tuesday. Perfect!
Yes indeed…I said in my story that there weren’t many “taco” spices in there but you can add them to liven it up!
I so know some kiddies and grownups who would love these it will up my street cred with them for sure…Thanx John I will be making these at the weekend…
They are fun and delicious…since the meat in a taco is normally crumbled, this patty version is unique as well!