“Taquitos” is the word used in Mexico to say “small tacos”. However they are not always so small. Taquitos are eaten in Mexico very commonly and the filling changes depending on the occasion, parties, gatherings or Mexican holidays! Enjoy!

Name in English: Beef Taquitos

Name in Spanish: Tacos de carne de res

National Language: Spanish (Mexico)

Why Little Chefs love Mexico? Children in Mexico have a lot of fun at their birthday parties. The “Piñata” is originally a Mexican child party activity were traditionally children used to beat with a stick a “piñata” made of ceramic and decorated with colorful papers. Nowadays kids chose any kind of figure they want, from their favorite superheroes to their favorite princess, and the best part is… all piñatas always have candy inside!

What problems children living in Mexico face? A lot of children in Mexico live in poverty and they need to walk many miles to attend school, especially in low populated areas, also known as rural areas. Children in Mexico would be benefited if we donate to associations dedicated to building more schools and take education to every corner of the country.

Why is this recipe special? Some of my Mexican friends celebrate Cinco de Mayo, and because I love Mexican food and all its various ingredients I decided it was time to give it a try and make a very common recipe that in Mexico is actually food for any occasion, but here you can particularly enjoy it this weekend even if you don’t celebrate Cinco de Mayo. I assure you! You will be left craving for more!

Why Big Chef’s care? Tortilla is an excellent source of fiber; they have a beneficial effect on your digestive tract, thanks to their fiber content. This intake of fiber through tortillas is very beneficial in the long run.

Why Little Chef’s care? Taquitos are traditionally finger food. But the best part is that you can add anything you want to your ‘taquito’. So you prepare it as you want it to be!

Tortillas are traditionally made by hand in Mexico. Moms all over that country have a special item to make them perfectly round; it’s called a tortilla press. (Almost every other house in Mexico has one).

Ingredients:

• Lettuce (3 cups)
• Mild Salsa
• Beef (1/2 pound)
• Mazeca Flour (1 cup)
• Cream (1 cup)
• Beans (1 cup, refried beans)
• Avocado (1)
• Onion (1/2 cup chopped)
• Fresh Cheese

Little Chef Prep work: If the big chef decides to make the tortilla by hand, then tortilla pressing is a very fun activity for the children! It’s just like playing with dough, they just need to put a little ball in the middle and press until the tortilla dough is round and thin.

Big Chef Prep work: Big chefs can decide if they prefer to make the tortilla by hand or if they want to buy it. There are many tortilla brands; some of them are even organic. What is very important is to have soft tortillas in the end. Now to the cooking!

Instructions:

• Hand made tortillas: Take a cup of the Mazeca flour and put in a big mixing bowl. Then throw a small vegetable oil spoon and blend it together by hand. Or using a spoon, preferably wood or silicon.
• Use a flat pan to make the tortillas, most families outside of Mexico don’t have a ‘comal’ a traditional Mexican cooking platform that is used to make the tortillas. But do not worry a flat pan works just fine.
• Add a little water to your tortilla dough, until you can make small balls that are not too soft, nor too hard.
• Then add a little oil to your flat pan, and once you have pressed the tortilla (if you don’t have a tortilla press, don’t worry! Use a big plate; a flat surface and a plastic cover for both ends). Put the round ball of dough floor in the middle of the plate and push hard until you feel the surface has become flat.
• Now take the tortilla and carefully place in the pan. The middle and then the rest of the tortilla area will change colors. Once you see this then switch the tortilla (like a pancake) and wait for the other side to be thoroughly cooked!
• Beef recipe: For the beef you can cook it as you please the most. And even change the recipe if you don’t like beef. You can use chicken. Cook the beef with sauce of your preference. I used tomato mixed with onion and pepper.
• Taquito preparation: Warm the beans and use the beans and the beef as a filler for the taquitos.
• Cut your lettuce and shred your cheese, that will be on top of the taquitos.
• Put your taquitos in a plate and on the top add lettuce, salsa, cheese and cream. You can top with guacamole or sliced avocado.

And now as they say in Mexico: Buen Provecho!