7 Tips for How to Make Tacos at Home

It's hard to generalize about tacos. There's an amazing variety of them out there—some made from heirloom blue corn tortillas, others featuring ingredients like bitter orange or grasshoppers. But most have a few key things in common. When thinking about upgrading tacos at home, we'll focus on these basics.

As every brushstroke plays a role in a painting, so does every ingredient in a taco. These tips target a variety of elements, all tailored to help you make yours terrific.

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Mind your tortillas.

Whether corn or flour, a tortilla is a taco's foundation. Simply put, the tortilla can make or break the taco. If you don't live near a shop that makes fresh tortillas, head to your local Mexican market for some. They're surprisingly affordable even when made with great skill and intention. Plus, they'll keep in the fridge a few weeks. If you don't have a local Mexican market, you can track down specialty tortillas online. Failing that, simply begin with the best tortillas you can. Set them aside while you prepare the fillings.

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Acid is key.

In just about any dish, especially meat-rich tacos, you'll want acid as part of the flavor balance. Salsa lends acid. So does crema, vinegar-based slaw, grilled fruit, or a squeeze of lime.

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Pickles are your friend.

Just a few lengths or rings of pickled vegetables can work magic. Whether onions, carrots, radish, or jalapeño, pickles bring a fresh taste and textural dimension to many tacos. Purple cabbage makes for a crisp bite and visual drama. You can't go wrong, either, with a quick, classic topping of pickled red onion.

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Consider the salsa.

When building tacos, salsas with a smoky component, created by charring chiles or vegetables, are generally a good idea. In considering salsa, you should try to use the freshest you can find or make. Don't add salsa too soon, especially if using salsa chilled from the fridge, because this could cool the whole taco.

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Don't forget about your main filling.

You've gone through all this care to build a great taco. Now don't skimp on the main filling! If using grilled steak for carne asada, give it a hard char. If going Tex Mex with a barbecue-style brisket taco, take your time on the meat. Make sure the fillings are warm and lovingly prepared, and then, with the rest of these tips handy, you're sure to build a better taco.

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Heat your tortillas right.

Warming tortillas should be your last step before taco assembly. While meat rests and vegetables cool, once your salsas are out, your limes are cut, and your cheese is ready, it's time to warm tortillas. Once each tortilla has been heated, wrap it in a cloth, keeping temperature while you finish toasting the others. Cold tortillas are the kiss of taco death.

The best way to heat tortillas is on a comal (a Mexican griddle), but a regular griddle or pan will do. Set the stove to medium-high. Once the griddle gets hot, toast each tortilla for about a minute on each side. If the tortilla is fresh, it might briefly inflate, like a balloon.

You can also give tortillas a quick warming in the toaster oven. If all else fails, there's always the microwave, though it'll soften tortillas. Before you toast tortillas, sprinkle them with a few drops of water.

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