Tacos Envenenados – Poisoned Tacos

Sponsored by Olé Mexican Foods

Poisoned tacos. Yes, you read that right. The story of these tacos originates in the 1940’s in a small taco stand in Zacatecas. Legend says Don Lauro, the stand’s owner, sold these magnificent tacos made with a mixture of refried beans, potatoes, chorizo, and cheese.  The tacos were then deep fried and sold to customers who absolutely loved them.

Celebrate Dia de Muertos with Crispy Tacos Envenenados – Poisoned Tacos

Don Lauro’s taco stand was located next to a railroad station. He took advantage of his stand’s location and set up a large sheet in front of his business that said, “Si te quieres envenenar, come tacos.” –“If you want to poison yourself, eat tacos.” From then on, customers began calling his famous tacos “poisoned tacos.” And every time fans of his food asked him what made these tacos so mouthwatering, he answered by saying that “the secret was in the poison.”

My grandmother was a big fan of these tacos. She loved to tell me that story over and over again every time she prepared them for the family.  They were unforgettable. Now, I wanted to recreate them for my family.  Tacos envenenados are generally made fried with large corn tortillas.  But I wanted to make these with fried flour tortillas to give it that thin crispy bite. Boy, they did not disappoint! I used La Banderita soft taco flour tortillas and fried them lightly in vegetable oil. You can also enjoy them as a soft taco. No frying is needed. But if you want that crunch, definitely give frying a try.

If you are planning a Día de Muertos menu this year, give these delicious tacos a try. You will love the mixture of flavors with the added crispy crunch in each bite. Don’t forget to serve them with roasted serrano peppers or your favorite salsa. From now on, you’ll be able to tell your family and friends that you experienced poisoned tacos and you lived to tell about their unforgettable flavor.

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