Recipes

Tacos de Papa Hwy 99 (Potato Tacos)

  • Serves

    serves 6

  • Cook

    1 hour

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMULO YANES

Inspired by the potato tacos at Loncheria Otro Rollo in Bakersfield, these Tacolicious versions are stuffed with fluffy mashed potatoes and pan-fried until crisp. The accompanying smoky ranchero sauce also would be great as an accompaniment for meat or fish or spooned over eggs.

Ingredients

  • 5 tbsp. olive oil
  • 6 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 small white onion, roughly chopped
  • 4 canned chipotle chiles en adobo
  • 1 (15-oz.) can whole, peeled tomatoes
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • 1 12 lb. russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
  • 2 tsp. ground cumin
  • 12 (6") corn tortillas
  • 12 cup canola oil
  • Thinly sliced green and red cabbage and red radishes, for garnish
  • Crumbled queso fresco, for garnish

Instructions

Step 1

Heat 3 tbsp. olive oil in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium. Cook garlic and onion until soft, about 5 minutes; transfer to a blender. Add chiles, tomatoes, and salt; purée until smooth and set sauce aside.

Step 2

Cook potatoes in a 4-qt. saucepan of salted boiling water until cooked through, about 15 minutes; drain and return to pan over medium. Add remaining olive oil, the cumin, and salt; mash potatoes.

Step 3

Working in batches, place about 1⁄4 cup potato in the center of a tortilla; fold tortilla in half and secure with a toothpick. Heat canola oil in a 12" skillet over medium. Fry tacos, flipping once, until golden and crisp, 2–3 minutes. Discard toothpicks and transfer tacos to a platter; top with reserved sauce, the cabbage, radishes, and queso fresco.

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