5 weirdly tasty tacos you’ve never tried

Is there a more versatile, hard-working, and downright delicious food than the taco? It isn’t even a cuisine. The humble taco is a vessel for delivering delicious things to your mouth. Corn or flour tortillas, hard or soft, we’re all in. On National Taco Day, and every day.

You’re certainly familiar with the classic variations of this Mexican export. Seasoned beef or pork tacos, shrimp or fish tacos, and even vegetarian tacos come to mind, topped with the works: spicy crema, salsa, guacamole, pickled jalapeños, and a sprinkling of queso fresco. But have you ever had a taco for breakfast or dessert?

Photo Credit: iStock.com/ ricka_kinamoto

Whip up a batch of your favourite waffles, then decide whether it’s dinner or dessert. Fill folded waffles with bacon and eggs, meat, and cheese (even fried chicken!) for a hearty meal. For a sweet finish, try peanut butter or hazelnut spread topped with berries and whip cream, or fashion your waffle into the ultimate banana split with ice cream, chocolate syrup, and plenty of sprinkles.

This is an awesome hack that delivers your favourite burger flavours in taco form. Use a rolling pin to flatten split burger buns, then add a slice of cheese to bun halves and fold gently in half. Toast in the toaster until cheese melts and taco keeps it shape. Top with ground beef, chopped pickles, shredded lettuce, and that famous burger sauce.

Will you top a pizza with all the taco fixin’s or stuff your favourite pizza toppings into a taco shell? Hint: there is no wrong answer here.

Someone once had the genius idea to make a taco shell from woven bacon strips. We wish it was us. Try this at home by weaving bacon strips tightly together and cooking in the oven until crisp. Trim cooked bacon into circles with kitchen shears and fill the folded weave with scrambled eggs, shredded cheese, sliced avocado, and a splash of hot sauce.

Is tonight pasta night or taco night? Surprise! It’s BOTH. That’s right. Spaghetti and meatballs that you can eat with your hands! Plus garlic bread. Start by breaking your spaghetti noodles in half before cooking to avoid extra slurping. Make your favourite sauce and meatballs and mix with cooked pasta in a large pot. Brush flour tortillas with garlic butter and sprinkle with parsley. Sandwich Parmesan shavings between two tortillas and melt slightly in a hot skillet. Remove and fill with saucy pasta and top with 2-3 meatballs and a handful of Parmesan cheese.

Don’t want to taco ‘bout cooking on National Taco Day? (see what we did there?)  No worries. Use the YP search engine to find a taqueria near you for a tasty takeout or delivery meal.