Best Zesty Light Tacos Recipes

SPICY GROUND BEEF TACOS

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, cumin, coriander, paprika, oregano and garlic powder; cook, stirring, until the onion is coated, about 1 minute.
• Add the beef, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, hot sauce and 1/4 cup water and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the juices are slightly thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, warm the taco shells as the label directs. Fill with the beef mixture and top with lettuce, cheese and/or pickled jalapenos.

ZESTY CARNITAS TACOS

Steps:

• Carnitas: Trim fat from pork. Cut pork into 2- to 3-inch pieces; transfer to a 4-quart slow cooker. Stir in onion, orange juice, cumin, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, oregano, and cayenne.
• Cover and cook on Low 8 to 10 hours, or on High 4 to 5 hours. Transfer pork to a large bowl; shred using 2 forks. Add enough cooking liquid from slow cooker to moisten.
• Lime Crema: Add 2 tablespoons lime juice to a small bowl. Stir in yogurt and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Dust with chili powder.
• Tacos: Serve pork in tortillas with cabbage, red onion, and pico de gallo (if using). Garnish with crema and lime zest.

LIGHT TACOS

Steps:

• For the steak: Scatter half the orange slices, half the onion slices, and half the garlic pieces on the bottom of a glass dish large enough to hold the flank steak. Sprinkle the flank steak all over with salt and pepper and place in the prepared baking dish. Scatter the remaining oranges, onions, and garlic over the flank steak and pour the beer over. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand for 1 hour at room temperature or overnight in the fridge.
• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill.
• Remove the meat from the marinade. Discard the marinade. Grill the steak to desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Let the steak rest for 10 minutes. Transfer the grilled flank steak to a cutting board and cut crosswise into strips.
• For the salsa: In a small bowl mix together the salsa ingredients.
• To assemble: Using the butter lettuce leaves, make tacos using slices of flank steak and avocados. Drizzle with the salsa.
• Cook's Note: The marinated steak can also be broiled.

ZESTY LIME FISH TACOS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200 degrees F. Cut each fish fillet lengthwise into 4 strips. In shallow glass dish, mix garlic and 7 tablespoons lime juice. Add the fish strips to the mixture and turn to coat. Let stand while preparing the biscuits.
• On a work surface, mix the flour and cornmeal. Separate the dough into 8 biscuits. Press both sides of each biscuit into the flour mixture, then press or roll into 6 to 7-inch rounds.
• In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil over medium heat. Add 2 biscuit rounds and cook about 1 minute on each side or until golden brown and cooked through. Place on a cookie sheet and keep warm in the oven. Cook the remaining rounds, adding 1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil to the skillet for each batch. Wipe the skillet clean.
• Heat the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fish and lime juice mixture, chipotle chiles, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook about 5 minutes, turning fish once, until fish flakes easily with fork.
• In a small bowl, mix the salsa, sour cream, and remaining 1 tablespoon lime juice.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove the fish and divide evenly among the biscuit rounds. Top each round with shredded cabbage and 1 to 2 tablespoons salsa mixture. Fold the biscuit rounds in half over filling. Serve with any remaining salsa mixture. Garnish with lime wedges, if desired.

LIGHTER CHICKEN TACOS

Steps:

• Mix the oil with the cumin and paprika on a large plate. Sit the chicken on the plate and rub the spiced oil all over it. Season with pepper and a pinch of salt, then cover and set aside while you prepare the salsa.
• Heat the grill to high for 10 mins. Meanwhile, line a large baking tray with foil and lay the tomatoes (cut-side up) on it, along with the pepper and red onion. Brush the oil over the onion, and season the tomatoes and onion with pepper. Grill for 12-15 mins, turning the tomatoes and onion halfway through, until well charred. Remove (leaving the grill on) and set aside to cool - put the pepper in a bowl and cover with cling film so that it's easier to skin later.
• For the guacamole, put the avocado in a bowl and briefly mash with a fork, leaving some chunky pieces for texture. Gently mix in the lime juice, spring onions, coriander and chilli flakes. Season with pepper and a pinch of salt.
• Re-line the baking tray with foil and lay the chicken on it, plump-side up. Grill for about 10 mins until cooked - there is no need to turn it. Meanwhile, scoop out and discard as much of the seeds and juice from the tomatoes as you can (so the salsa isn't too wet), leaving the pulp and charred skin. When the pepper is cool enough to handle, peel off and discard the skin. Chop the tomatoes and onion, and dice the pepper. Combine in a bowl with the lime juice, cumin, chilli flakes, some pepper and a pinch of salt.
• When the chicken is cooked, remove from the grill, cover loosely with foil and set aside for 5 mins.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Cut the chicken into chunky slices and spoon over the juices. When ready to serve, lay the taco shells on a baking sheet and warm through for 2-3 mins. Serve the chicken, taco shells, yogurt, lettuce, coriander and lime wedges in separate bowls, so that everyone can build their own tacos.