Tacos Dorados de Papa (Potato Tacos)

Updated March 10, 2022

Tacos Dorados de Papa (Potato Tacos)
Johnny Miller for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Rebecca Jurkevich.
Total Time
50 minutes
Rating
4(507)
Comments
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Everyone loves crispy potato tacos. Throughout Mexico, there are a variety of recipes with different ingredients, preparation styles and garnishes that make this dish unique in each household. In this version, cooked potatoes are seasoned with tomato, onion and garlic for an extra flavor, then topped with sour cream and cabbage coated in lemon juice for the perfect balance of creaminess and crunch. You could also pair the potatoes with cooked soyrizo for an even more memorable plant-based meal — make these your own with the fillings and garnishes you have on hand. Boil the potatoes ahead of time and store them in the fridge for up to a week until ready to use to make this an even quicker weeknight meal.

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Ingredients

Yield:20 tacos (4 to 6 servings)
  • 2medium tomatoes, quartered
  • 1small yellow onion, roughly chopped
  • 2large garlic cloves, peeled
  • cups neutral oil, such as grapeseed oil, plus more as needed
  • 4medium russet potatoes, peeled and boiled until fork-tender
  • 1tablespoon kosher salt (Diamond Crystal), plus more to taste
  • ½teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional)
  • 6ounces purple cabbage, thinly shredded (about 2½ cups)
  • 1teaspoon lemon juice
  • 20(6-inch) corn tortillas
  • Sour cream, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

886 calories; 67 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 11 grams monounsaturated fat; 46 grams polyunsaturated fat; 68 grams carbohydrates; 9 grams dietary fiber; 5 grams sugars; 10 grams protein; 873 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Add the tomatoes, onion and garlic to a blender, and blend until smooth.

  2. Step 2

    Heat a pot (preferably the same pot used to cook the potatoes to save on dishes) over medium and add ¼ cup of oil. Once hot and shimmering, add the blended tomato mixture. Cook until it starts to reduce and darken, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Add the cooked potatoes to the pot and mash with a bean or potato masher until fully incorporated with the tomato mixture and just slightly chunky, but mostly smooth. Add salt, cumin and nutritional yeast, if using, and stir to combine. Turn off the heat. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

  4. Step 4

    Add the shredded cabbage to a bowl with the lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Toss to incorporate, and set aside.

  5. Step 5

    Heat a dry (12-inch) skillet over medium. Warm all of the tortillas on each side in the dry skillet until soft and pliable, about 1 minute, and stack in a dish towel to keep warm. Add about ¼ cup of the potato mixture to half of each tortilla and fold over to cover. Try to keep the potato mixture completely tucked inside, then place the stuffed tortilla on a tray or plate lined with paper towels. Repeat with all of the tortillas.

  6. Step 6

    Meanwhile, heat remaining 1½ cups of oil in a separate skillet over medium. Test the oil temperature by dipping an end of a tortilla to check for bubbling. Once the oil is hot, add 4 to 5 tacos at a time to the skillet. Cook the first side for 1 to 3 minutes, then gently flip and cook for an additional 1 to 3 minutes until crispy and golden.

  7. Step 7

    Carefully remove the tacos from the hot oil and return to the paper towel-lined tray or plate to drain off excess oil. Cook the remaining tacos, adding additional oil as needed and scooping out any potato bits with a slotted spoon.

  8. Step 8

    Serve immediately with sour cream and shredded cabbage.

Ratings

4 out of 5
507 user ratings
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Comments

Here's a heart healthy riff on your otherwise fantastic recipe (wishing I could still eat that!): Chop the tomatoes, mince the onions and garlic and add to hot lightly mashed potatoes. Rest of steps 3 +4; then heat the taco shells in dry skillet or choose low sodium tortilla chips to scoop up the mix--just about as great, but nearly fat free!

Making tacos dorados are a staple here in Arizona. To keep myself from standing over a hot frying pan, I have learned to: Coat sheet pan with oil, lay 6-8 tortillas on the pan and turn to coat both sides. Place whatever filling on one side and bake for about two minutes. (This will soften the tortillas so you can fold them.) Remove sheet pan, fold the tacos and let cook for another 5-7 minutes. Crunchy, yummy tacos dorados (done hands free while you prep the salsa.

I want to try this. However I don't see how the tacos can be fried without drowning in the 1 1/2 cup of oil (about 1/2 inch deep in a frying pan. Less oil? Though the recipe says this much. Has the recipe actually been tested with this much oil?

This took me 2 1/2 hours, because I didn’t have pre-cooked potatoes on hand, and frying multiple batches takes time, too. Time of 50 min was misleading!

It's winter and here in the US tomatoes are pale imitations of their seasonal selves. I'm using a drained can of diced tomatoes instead. No other changes. Chef's kiss 💋

Anyone know if you can prepare in advance and freeze?

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