Easy Does It Tacos
Easy Does It: Hickory Smoked Pulled Pork, Brisket & Chicken Tacos
A September Wedding Delight: Taco Appetizers
This past September, I was delighted to be the chef for a 200 plus farm wedding in Princeton, New Jersey at the Cherry Valley Cooperative Farm. The farm is a working and teaching farm that teaches new generations of farmers, permaculture and holistic wellness. It's open to the public, too. I get most of my produce there and thinking about all the fresh farm produce available to me, I set out to build a wonderful farm fresh menu for the guests. The bride and groom, Alec and Lauren own and work the farm they got married on and what a day it was. Now feeding 200 plus people isn't an everyday thing but we set out to impress the guests from the start. The appetizers. So we got to work on our hickory smoked pork butt, brisket and chicken flour tortillas.
I use flour tortillas because they are pliable and easy to hold and, I feel taste great, too. So whether cooking for 200 plus people or your home crew, here's the easy way to make a great taco. I like putting out all the condiments and sides so people can build their own taco, but during the wedding, we made them and the servers walked around handing them out to the guests. And, they went fast!
Okay, let's get your taco on and make these outstanding tacos. Cha, cha, cha, hombre!
Taco and Mango Salsa Ingredients
- 5lbs. Chicken, Pork or Beef, Depending on amount of guests
- 1 head each Red & White Cabbage
- 2 each Red and Green Bell Peppers
- 2 Onion Red Onions
- 2 Mango Mangoes
- 1 Bunch Cilantro
- 2 Packs Soft Flour Tortillas, or Corn
- 3 Tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar
- 3 Tbsp. Cane Sugar
- 3 Tbsp. Chili Powder
- 3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- Aioli Sauces Aioli Sauces
- 2 Cups Mayonnaise
- 2 Cups Whole Milk Yogurt
- 3Tbsp Sriracha Hot Sauce
- 3Tbsp Sweet Chili Sauce
Instructions: Chicken, Pulled Pork or Beef Brisket Tacos
- Place a stove-top-pan on the stove and cut up your choice of meat or poultry into strips and season with your choice of seasoning: Chili Powder, Cane Sugar, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Paprika powder. Use what you like. I also use Spanish seasoning like Adobo and Cajun Seasoning at times. There's no limit to the fun tastes you can create with seasoning and spices. Just relax and have fun with it.
- Get your pan going: Medium heat. Add 3Tbsp of olive oil (More if needed) and toss in the seasoned meat of your choosing.
- Continue cooking the meats in the pan until done. Now if you want your chicken or meats to be fork tender and falling apart, put in a bottle of beer or 3 cups of water, cover and place in the oven at 320 degree and let cook for 3 hours. Covering the meat with liquid and cooking at a low temperature (320 Degree) for 3 to 8 hours will break down any meats to be fork tender and falling apart.
Stove Top Pan That Can Be Transferred To Oven
Hickory Smoked Pork Butt And Beef Brisket for 200 person wedding 70lbs Of meat 320 Degree For 12 Hours
Hickory Smoked Pulled Pork
Taco Toppings: Mixed Red and White Cabbage, Mango Salsa and Aioli Sauces
Sounds like a lot of work, right? Well, its not...really, its not. Ready for this?
1) Cabbage Slaw: Thinly slice both red and white cabbage and mix together. Done
2) Mango Salsa: Dice onions, red and green bell peppers, mango and chop cilantro and mix in bowl, add tablespoon of sugar and plash with red vinegar and mix. Done
3) Aioli Sauces: Can be store purchased but I make my own or make your own like I do. You can add anything to it, like hot sauces, mustard, wasabi, soy sauce or harissa spice.
a) Add 2 cups of Mayonnaise and 2 cups of whole milk yogurt and mix in a bowl.
b) Add flavors you like. 3 tablespoons of wasabi or 3 tablespoons of mustard or 3 tablespoons of hot sauce or 3 tablespoons of sweet chili sauce or 3 tablespoons of sriracha sauce. Done
See how easy that was Gringo! Done! Now let's put this all together and eat. Its fiesta time! Get the Tequila out! Shot Glasses! Whoop Whoop! Put on some awesome Mexican music. "Hey Alexa, play me some Mexican fiesta music!!
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Homemade Aioli Sauces
Soft Shell Flour Taco, Pulled Pork, Brisket or Chicken, Mango Salsa, Cabbage Slaw, Aioli Sauces & Cilantro
1) Place Flour Tortillas on plate (You can also heat the tortillas on the stove top. No oil needed)
2) Place Meat on Tortillas
3) Spoon on Mango Salsa
4 Put some Cabbage Mix on top
5) Squeeze or spoon on some Aioli on top
6) Sprinkle some Chopped Cilantro on top
7) Pour yourself a shot of tequila and get a cerveza (beer)
8) Dig in and enjoy! -The Drunk Chef
Easy Does It Tacos
Alec & Lauren's Farmers Wedding: Mamma, Bride and newest member of the family, "Miss Sassy Pants"
Angela's Fantastic Fruit & Meat Platter
The Happy Couple
