Breakfast tacos: Love at first bite
RECIPE: Tortilla makes cheesy eggs, ripe avocado and hot sauce totally portable
Long before I knew that the origin of breakfast tacos were a hotly debated topic, I was eating them and loving them.
I had my first breakfast taco many years ago in Houston and have enjoyed many more in Austin, Texas.
But, I am not about to give birthright credit to any particular city because I am fairly certain that Mexican immigrants all grew up with their mother’s version of “breakfast tacos.”
The beauty of the tortilla is that it makes normal fork and knife foods like scrambled eggs (and pork barbecue, steak, fish, etc.), portable. And, regardless of where you had your first breakfast taco, if you are like me, you crave them and must make them yourself at home.
I am a “no beans and no rice” kind of girl and prefer my breakfast tacos like my favourite egg sandwich but rolled, or folded over in a flour tortilla.
To me, the essential ingredients must be cheesy eggs, a dash of hot sauce and cool slices of ripe avocado.
I love bacon and prefer to serve it on the side where it stays crisp — but feel free to add it into the eggs.
Not many places add slices of avocado unless you ask for it, but for me, the avocado is what makes it a Tex Mex breakfast taco instead of just eggs in a tortilla.
When I have tomatoes and white onions on hand, I add those to my cheesy eggs and I am one happy girl.
I like breakfast tacos so much that I have been known to have them for lunch and/or dinner as well.
The truth is that you can put any of your favourite cheese and egg addins in your breakfast taco.
In Texas, the potato, egg and cheese combo reigns king as does the classic eggs and bacon.
If you are a fan of chorizo, chorizo and crispy potatoes make a perfect match especially with some blistered poblano peppers thrown in for good measure.
Breakfast Tacos
Servings: 8 Start to finish: 20 minutes
8 slices of bacon, cut into 1/2inch (1.25-cm) pieces and cooked, optional or serve whole slices on the side Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper 8 6-inch (15-cm) flour tortillas, warmed on a griddle
3 tbsp (45 ml) unsalted butter, divided 1 small white onion, diced 1 medium tomato, diced 8 large eggs 1 cup white cheddar or Monterey Jack with jalapenos, shredded 1 avocado, thinly sliced for serving Hot sauce
Cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 10-12 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain (do not pour off fat from skillet).
Using a large non-stick skillet, add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of butter and onions to skillet and cook, stirring often, until translucent and tender, 2-3 minutes.
Add tomatoes and season lightly with salt and pepper. Remove skillet from heat.
Meanwhile, whisk eggs in a large bowl to blend; add the remaining 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of butter in the non-stick skillet over medium heat and let melt.
Pour eggs in evenly over the tomatoes and onions.
Cook eggs, stirring occasionally to mix in onions and tomatoes, and scraping bottom of skillet with a heatproof spatula or fork to form large curds, about 1-2 minutes.
Add cheese and stir to mix in and finish cooking.
Do not increase the heat to cook everything faster or the eggs may burn.
Remove eggs from heat and mix in bacon if using or serve on the side.
Fill tortillas with cheesy egg mixture and top with avocado. Serve with hot sauce.