Crispy cheese tacos

Crispy cheese tacos

15 min
Crispy cheese tacos – so easy and delicious! Fry mini tortillas with melted grated cheddar and voila – you have a taco with crispy cheese! This recipe adds a spicy bean filling, but you can use whatever filling you like – leftover meat, salsa, or avocado. Tacos are a true street food classic that you can eat them in a few bites as soon as it’s assembled. Serve your crispy cheese tacos with chilli con carne, or other varieties of tacos for a true Mexican feast.
https://www.arlafoods.co.uk/recipes/crispy-cheese-tacos/

Instructions

Spicy bean filling
  • Thinly slice the pepper and the red onion, then fry in a pan with some oil for about 2 minutes.
  • Add beans and spices and fry them with the vegetables for 1 minute.
Crispy cheese tacos
  • Melt about 40 g grated cheddar (¼ of the bag) in a pan over medium heat.
  • Place a tortilla on top of the melted cheese and give it a light press so that it sticks to the cheese.
  • Let it fry for 1 minute.
  • Flip the crispy cheese taco and place the filling on top of the crispy cheese while it cooks on the bread side.
  • Fold it in half and place it on a wire rack while you repeat the process with the remaining tortillas.
For serving
  • Serve with fresh coriander, lime, and chilli.
Enjoy!

Questions about crispy cheese tacos

Tacos are a staple in Mexican food. Keep reading below if you want to learn more about our crispy cheese tacos version.

Why are my fried tacos soggy?
Make sure that your oil is hot enough before you start frying. You’re looking for a temperature between 175 °C and 185 °C, anything below this will result in the tortilla soaking up some of the oil and turning soggy, instead of frying.
What makes a crispy cheese taco different from a regular taco?
This recipe is the taco of all tacos and adds a crispy, tangy layer of grilled cheese to the classic tortilla-filling-topping way of enjoying this Mexican street food. Easily overlooked, most only discover the grilled cheddar when they bite into their taco and for most, there’s no going back to a regular taco after experiencing this new contrast in flavour and texture.
How can someone add some heat to their crispy cheese tacos?
Adding finely diced, fresh chilli to the cheese so that it forms part of the melted layer is a great way of introducing extra heat to this recipe. You can also sprinkle a dusting of chilli powder or cayenne pepper onto the cheese, just be sure to serve them separately or let your guests know so that they don’t land on the wrong plate.
How do I best store my leftover crispy cheese tacos?
While best enjoyed fresh out of the pan, you can refrigerate your cheese tacos in an airtight container for up to four days.

Ingredients

Spicy bean filling
Green pepper
½
Red onion
½
Rapeseed oil
1 tsp
Drained black beans
½ can
Paprika
¼ tsp
Ground cumin
¼ tsp
Coarse salt
½ tsp
Crispy cheese tacos
Grated red cheddar cheese
175 g
Small tortillas
4
For serving
Fresh coriander
1 handful
Lime fruit, cut into wedges
½
Chilli, thinly sliced
1

Hold on tight, it’s about to get cheesy!

Take your standard taco dinner to a whole new level with this cheesy take on the much-loved classic. The melted cheddar adds a smoky, crunchy layer that compliments the softer beans and vegetables on both a flavour and texture level. Feel free to sprinkle some extra cheddar over your assembled taco for an even cheesier experience!

Mix and match the filling

Part of a taco dinner’s charm is its versatility and the amount of fillings are endless. In this recipe, we use spicy beans, paired with coriander, lime and chilli as toppings but your fillings repertoire can easily be expanded with anything from shredded chicken to breaded and fried fish (a flaky white fish like cod or tilapia works especially well), or even grilled corn. While you’re at it, expand your toppings by adding a bowl of creamy guacamole, spicy salsa, and sour cream to the mix.

The best way to please a crowd

Serving this dinner buffet-style to let each guest build their own taco is one of the best, and most popular, ways of enjoying this meal. Either serve each guest with small portions of every filling and topping, or create a central ‘taco bar’ where the tortillas, fillings and toppings are spread out on trays and colourful bowls.