Plus, is the word “taco” Mexican? Spanish? 

Both?

If you’ve ever wondered about these things, this article is for you! Keep on reading as we answer what a taco is, as well as other related questions about this delicious Mexican dish. We’ll definitely try to give you more than 5 facts about tacos.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

A quick disclaimer

If you think you’re weird thinking about things like “What qualifies as a taco?” or “What’s a taco?”, you’re not. Heck, there are even Google searches about “What does it mean to be a taco?” Now THAT’s weird!

Okay? Okay. Let’s move on!

What is a taco?

First things first: let’s talk about the definition of a taco. According to Wikipedia, a taco is Mexican food that is composed of two things. The first component is a small, hand-sized corn tortilla. 

Do take note that the tortilla can also be made of wheat.

The second component is the filling of the taco. That’s where the delicious part is, because the filling can be made of various ingredients, such as beef, pork, chicken, vegetables, and cheese. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, as you can put a whole lot more!

But if you think that a taco ends there, you’re wrong. You can add garnish with salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and more for additional flavor and kick!

Where did tacos come from?

The unique thing about Mexican cuisine is that it uses ingredients that other cuisines don’t, such as beans, avocados, and cilantro. Just like hawker foods in Singapore, Mexican food is considered by UNESCO as an “intangible cultural heritage contribution to humanity.” 

But what’s the history of tacos? Where did it start? 

According to Wikipedia, it’s really Mexican cuisine, since the taco already existed in Mexico way before the Spaniards arrived in Mexico. Apparently, there was already evidence that people living in Mexico were already eating a form of fish tacos.

But the fish taco back then didn’t contain cheese, fresh tomatoes, lettuce, or any other filling that the modern taco has now. In fact, the word taco is even a modern term!

Twisted Taco says that the word taco originated from Mexican silver miners in the 18th century. They would wrap gunpowder up in paper that looked like a taco and blow up rocks in the mining process. 

The miners were also known for eating tacos, which was a practical way of getting nutritious meals. That resulted in this street food becoming called “tacos de minero” or miner’s tacos, and we guess, eventually just got shortened as tacos, but that’s speculation on our part.

These particular tacos weren’t the hard tacos that we know – it was just corn tortilla with a spicy filling.

Years later, the taco was introduced to the United States by Mexican immigrants. They were sold in taco stands sold by women called “chili queens.” And by 1920, the taco started to get fused with American ingredients and become the modern taco that we know today.

Are tacos soft or hard?

We don’t know about you, but if we were asked what’s a taco, we would answer that it’s the one with a hard shell, like the ones being sold in Taco Bell. But did you know that tacos started out as soft?

Traditional tacos are served on flat pieces of tortillas. Hardshell tacos, on the other hand, are an American creation.

Nowadays, since people prefer different things, based on our experience, hardshell tacos are called tacos, while traditional tacos are called soft tacos.

Is a taco a sandwich?

Since a taco is composed of bread plus fillings, can we say that a taco is a sandwich? 

Well, aside from the fact that any Mexican who hears you asking that question will look at you like you have two heads, a taco doesn’t fit the traditional definition of a sandwich. 

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines a sandwich as either “two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between” or “one slice of bread covered with food”. Since a taco doesn’t meet either of those definitions, we can consider a taco something resembling a sandwich. 

They’re probably better classified as wraps or rolls, like a shawarma.

What is the difference between a taco and a burrito?

Taco and burrito are commonly confused words. But what’s the difference? 

According to La Mesa Mexican Restaurant, the main difference is the shell size. Tacos are lighter, while a burrito is a bigger meal.

Also, burritos are always tortillas filled with a large number of vegetables, cheese, beans, seasoned meat, and more. Tacos, on the other hand, as mentioned above, can be soft or hard, tend to have only one type of meat, and have much lighter fillings or toppings.

Finally, burritos are always folded into themselves, compacting everything into a round wrap or roll. Tacos tend to fall apart more easily.

Are there different kinds of tacos?

Yes! In fact, there are many different kinds of tacos, such as:

Tacos al pastor

Tacos al pastor are tacos composed of thin pork steaks that have adobo seasoning, then skewered and put on top of one another on a vertical rotisserie. As the rotisserie spins, the meat is cooked and flame-broiled.

Red tacos

Red tacos are also known as Quesabirria tacos. You make them with tender beef slow-cooked with spices, place them into tortillas with cheese, and usually fried crispy with beef fat.

Breakfast tacos

A breakfast taco is not strictly Mexican cuisine. It’s more of Tex-Mex cuisine. Aside from the soft flour tortilla, breakfast tacos have meat, eggs, cheese, and other ingredients. They’re called breakfast tacos because, well, people eat them for breakfast!

Tacos de asador

Tacos de asador can be any of the following: carne asada tacos, tripe tacos, or chorizo tacos. Any of them are served on two overlapping tortillas and garnished with guacamole, salsa, onions, and cilantro. They can be served with salsa.

Indian tacos

Indian tacos are also called Navajo or Native American tacos. They are a combination of beans or ground beef, lettuce, fresh tomatoes, and cheese. The bread is crispy or fried.

Tacos Gobernador

Literally called “governor’s tacos”, these tacos are named after a Sinaloan governor. These tacos are composed of warm tortillas, shrimps, cheese, coriander, onions, and tomatoes. Fold the tortillas in half, brush them with butter, and cook on a griddle over medium heat.

Serve them with lime wedges and hot chili sauce!

Tacos de camarones

These are literally shrimp tacos. The shrimp on the tortilla can be grilled or fried accompanied with lettuce, cabbage, pico de gallo, avocado, sour cream or citrus mayonnaise sauce.

Korean tacos

Korean tacos are a fusion of Korean and Mexican cuisine that become popular in urban areas in the US and Canada. This street food consists of Korean fillings such as bulgogi and kimchi eaten in Mexican tortillas.   

Tacos de lengua 

Tacos de lengua are beef tongue tacos. The beef is cooked in water with onions, garlic and bay leaves for many hours until the beef becomes tender and soft. You then slice them and sautee the tongues in oil.

Tacos de pescado

Tacos de pescado are fish tacos. The fish can be grilled or fried and eaten with lettuce, cabbage, pico de gallo, and sour cream or mayonnaise sauce all on top of the soft tortilla.

Tacos dorados

The name literally means “golden tacos”, and this is their name probably because they’re deep-fried until crisp. They are also called flautas or flute tacos because of the shape – they don’t look like conventional tacos! However, they also contain chicken or beef, just like the traditional tacos.

Want to learn how to make tacos?

Do you want the ability to just make your own tacos without having to rely on restaurants or food trucks? 

Well, if you love Mexican food that much, we have the solution for you. You should check out our latest class with Chef Max Nadin: Terrific Tacos!

That’s right: you’ll learn to make tacos from scratch! We guarantee that’s going to be better than any store-bought or store-made tacos!

First, you’ll learn to make soft flour tortillas . After that, Chef Max will show you his secrets on making three different taco flavors:

• Birria Tacos – Pan fried broth soaked tortillas with a flavorful braised beef filling served with a side of beef consommè (a soup)
• Pork Carnitas – Slow-cooked delectable shredded pork and fresh herbs filling up that soft tortilla (YUM)
• Chicken Carnitas – A delicious and earthy chicken taco filling with cheese and herbs wrapped in a soft flour tortilla

But the class doesn’t stop there! You’ll also get four bonus recipes of Mexican foods to complement the tacos you’re going to make!

• Pico De Gallo 
• Guacamole 
• Salsa 
• Elotes

So what are you waiting for? Sign up at The Bailiwick Academy and get started making tacos! 

You never know, you might go from relying on the presence of a food truck to get your Mexican food fix to starting your own food truck for your food business! They’re that good!

See you inside!

P.S. Enroll now and get 20% off from the original price, PLUS a Php500 voucher for any of his current and future classes! 

This special offer is good only up to 8:30 PM today, October 23, 2022!

Enroll now! 

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Keep coming back to The Bailiwick Academy blog for more kitchen tips, tricks, and much more!

The post What is a Taco? appeared first on Online Baking and Cooking Classes - The Bailiwick Academy.

So if you didn’t know that, and you’ve been eating eggs the same way all your life, we’re here to tell you to live a little. In fact, this article is for you. It’s going to take up not only how you can cook your eggs differently, but also how else you can use them for a delicious breakfast meal.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

The different ways of cooking eggs

Like we said, you don’t only have to cook your eggs in one way over and over again. Here are different methods for cooking them. Make sure to memorize these so you know what to answer the next time you’re at a breakfast buffet and the chef asks how do you like your eggs!

Scrambled eggs

One of the most basic ways to cook and enjoy an egg. Break open the desired number of eggs in a bowl, add some salt, then start beating them until the yolks and whites have completely combined. Put them in a pan and start cooking. 

Some mix their eggs with butter and milk for more creaminess.

Sunny-side up eggs

Sunny side up eggs are another of the more well-known ways to prepare an egg. It’s a way of cooking where the egg whites are solid but the yellow yolk in the middle is still runny. That’s why it’s called sunny-side up: the round yolk looks like the sun.

Hard boiled

When you hard boil an egg, that means you’re cooking the egg without breaking the shell by putting them in water brought to a boil. The whole inside of the egg should be solid for you to consider an egg as hard boiled.

So how do you eat one after? Let it cool, break open the shell, and start peeling. Add salt for more flavor!

Soft boiled eggs

You often see soft boiled eggs placed in ramen, but you can also eat them by themselves. They also look like hard boiled eggs but there’s a difference!

Remember that you make hard boiled eggs by putting eggs in cold water that you boil. Soft boiled eggs, on the other hand, are placed in water that’s already boiling. 

How do you know it’s a soft boiled egg? Look for an egg that has been cooked in its shell with whites that have a custard-like texture and yolks that are creamy, ranging from runny to jammy consistency.

Pressure-cooked

Have a pressure cooker? Then you basically have the shortcut for making soft boiled and hard boiled eggs. The result will depend on the minutes of cooking.

And if you have an air fryer, even better: you won’t need water at all

Poached eggs

Poached eggs, in our opinion, are beautiful. You have egg whites that are very firm to contain an oozy yolk in a nice, round shape. Then when you cut the circle open… 

Oh, that burst of yellow. So beautiful!

Poached eggs have a reputation for being difficult to make, but you just need plenty of practice. 

How do you poach an egg, exactly? Keep that question in mind – we’ll get to it later.

Over easy

Eggs over easy are simply sunny-side ups that you flip over. You’ll also get a runny yolk, which is great for dipping stuff into. 

How to eat eggs for breakfast

Now that you know how to cook eggs in different ways, you should also know how to eat them in whatever way they’re cooked! Here are a few ideas.

As the main course

Whether you’re going to eat eggs with rice, or egg with bread, or just eggs ‘cause you’re on a keto diet, eggs are more than good enough to become the main course for breakfast. We’d recommend eating more than one, too. Contrary to popular belief, eggs aren’t really as bad for your cholesterol as we’d like to think.
Hey, the Mayo Clinic said it – who are we to argue, right?

As a side

This is the usual state of eggs: a supplement to whatever protein we crave in the morning. That’s not really a bad thing. It just means more protein, more tastes, and more to eat. 

We really can’t find a way to complain about that.

As an omelet

Think of an egg surrounding a filling like meat, mushrooms, other vegetables, and so on. That’s an omelet. The ingredients are incorporated into the egg. 

One of the more popular ones here in the Philippines is the tortang talong. Yes, that’s an omelet! 

Why not just eat the ingredient and the egg separately? Well, we’re guessing psychologically, it’s more filling since the egg gets thicker as it merges with the filling of your choice, but again, that’s just a guess.

In a sandwich

If you don’t want rice and eggs together, another option is to make a sandwich with either egg as the main ingredient or added with more proteins, like ham or a meat patty. As you can see with one of the fast food brands here, that combo is very popular.

Speaking of eggs and sandwiches…

We hope this article gives you more ideas on how to enjoy your eggs! And hopefully, it has revived your love for this simple but versatile breakfast protein.

And speaking of love for eggs, because we love eggs so much, we produced a class dedicated to eggs! 

Or well, to one particular sandwich, at least.

Have you heard of Eggs Benedict?

It’s a traditional American breakfast or brunch item. It’s an open faced sandwich composed of 2 halves of an English muffin, bacon or ham, runny poached eggs (told you we’d get back to this!)…

AND… it’s topped with a delicious, rich, and silky Hollandaise sauce. Add a few herbs as well, and what you have is pure INDULGENCE.

If reading that makes you hungry, well, don’t worry: Chef Max Nadin is back with another class for you!

And if you guessed that it will show you how to make restaurant-quality Eggs Benedict, from poaching eggs, to making Hollandaise sauce and to putting everything together – you got it right!

The best part? Just like Chef Max’s Roasted Garlic class, this one is also FREE for all The Bailiwick Academy students! 

Just go over to your Student Dashboard and look for FREE COURSES:

You’ll see this class:

Just click on it and you’ll be ready to get started!

All you need to do to get access is to sign up at The Bailiwick Academy! It’s that simple.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up, go to your Student Dashboard, and start on one tasty eggs-perience!

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Keep coming back to The Bailiwick Academy blog for more kitchen tips, tricks, and much more!

The post Eggs Ideas for Your Next Breakfast! appeared first on Online Baking and Cooking Classes - The Bailiwick Academy.

What is onigiri, you ask?

Well, that’s a good question, especially if you’re not familiar with Japanese food. It’s a popular snack in Japan that you can easily get in convenience stores. We say that it’s especially convenient because these rice balls (or rice triangles) wrapped with nori and stuffed with various fillings are easy to unpeel and eat while on the go.

It’s a snack we’re sure Filipinos will appreciate since it’s made of rice. That’s something we’re sure of as even 7-11 here has started selling onigiri.

But in order for us to TRULY appreciate something, we need to learn more about it. Do you agree?

If yes, then join us as we take a closer look at onigiri! 

Why is it called onigiri?

To be honest, there’s no real answer to where the name comes from. According to the Japanese Products blog, the origin of the word “onigiri” comes from the act of grasping rice.

Another theory is from Matcha Japan. Onigiri was apparently named after two of the creation gods from Japanese mythology. 

Whatever the origin, we’re just glad that the Japanese came up with this rice snack. But how did it come about, exactly?

What is the history of onigiri?

According to Wikipedia, there were various records of this rice meal, even before it was called onigiri, such as: 

• In the 11th century, people often consumed rice balls during picnics. 
• During the seventeenth century, samurai had rice balls wrapped in bamboo sheaths as quick meals.
• During the Nara period, rice was commonly rolled into a small ball so it could be picked up easily.
• In the Heian period, people shaped rice into small rectangular shapes to pile them on plates and easily eat them.
• Cooks during the Kamakura period to the early Edo period started serving onigiri as a quick meal. The onigiri version during this period was simply a ball of rice flavored with salt.

Tokyo Restaurants Guide provides us with additional historical facts about onigiri, such as:

• Carbonized rice was discovered in late Yayoi Period ruins. They were wrapped in bamboo leaves shaped like corn, then boiled or steamed.
• Onigiri started to be eaten as rations or packed lunches during the Sengoku period. 
• Onigiri wrapped with nori originated during the Genroku era of the Edo period. It was also during this time that common people started to bring onigiri to firework displays and cherry blossom viewing parties, and where travelers started to seriously bring them as portable food.
• It was in 1885 when onigiri started to be sold as lunches for train passengers in Utsunomiya Station in Tochigi Prefecture.
• In the 1970s, convenience stores started to pop up in Japan. These stores then started selling onigiri with nori. From there, innovation after innovation happened, until the modern onigiri was developed.

Is onigiri the same as sushi?

Now, both are from Japan, and both have rice. Does that mean onigiri is equivalent to sushi?

The answer is no. They do look similar, but they’re different meals.

Onigiri, for instance, doesn’t ever have raw fish. Plus, onigiri is shaped differently from sushi. And while onigiri is an everyday meal in Japan, sushi is something considered special, usually enjoyed on special occasions.

And besides, the origins of sushi are way different from the origins of onigiri.

Check out this very helpful illustration by Onigiri Kororin to further differentiate the two:

If you do want sushi, though, you can check out our Modern Sushi and Maki class.

What is the difference between omusubi and onigiri?

So you might have been doing your own research, and you find out that onigiri is also being called omusubi. Is there a difference between the two?

Unlike sushi, omusubi can also indeed mean onigiri. Both are rice balls with the same contents. They are simply called by different names depending on which Japanese region you’re in.

We prefer using onigiri, probably because it rolls off our tongues better. How about you?

Is onigiri a snack?

Well, we could say it can count as both a snack and as a real meal. After all, it has rice and various flavors. 

We guess it would really be up to you and how you would define a snack and a real meal, right?

Can onigiri be sweet?

Onigiri is usually rice stuffed with savory flavors, but if you’re making your own onigiri, there’s no one to stop you from whatever combination you want to pair with rice, right?

For your reference, though, SoraNews24 does say that there are already sweet onigiri cakes in Japan:

We’d definitely like to try these out, especially if someday, the concept catches on in the Philippines!

What is onigiri made of?

At the very core, onigiri is made up of rice, nori, and any sour or salty ingredient that acts as a natural preservative. 

What rice is used for onigiri, you ask? Normally, you would use boiled rice, but there are rice variants that have been used already, such as glutinous rice cooked or steamed with vegetables, cooked rice with preferred ingredients, and even fried rice.

What can onigiri be filled with?

What does onigiri have in it? Well, there are plenty of options:

• Tuna with mayonnaise
• Pickled Japanese plums
• Salmon
• Beef short ribs
• Salmon Roe
• Dried bonito flakes
• Seaweed
• Shrimp with mayonnaise
• Fermented tuna
• Dried mackerel
• Pork
• Miso
• Tempura

Again, if you’re the one making your own rice balls, then you have the freedom to choose what you want to put in it! 

Can onigiri be made the night before?

Let’s say you want to enjoy onigiri for tomorrow, but you don’t want to get up early just to make it. Can you make onigiri at night and eat it in the morning?

Well, you can, but you’re going to have to do some extra steps to make sure the rice doesn’t become hard and fall apart. Here are Just Hungry’s tips to ensure fresh-tasting onigiri in the morning:

• For the rice, use sushi rice. The other kinds of rice don’t really stay moist. 
• And speaking of rice, make sure you make onigiri with freshly cooked rice, not room-temperature rice. Your onigiri will not stick and will dry out quickly.
• Wrap your rice ball in plastic wrap before placing them in the refrigerator. That way, the moisture is trapped and your onigiri will not dry out. 
• To keep the nori crispy, bring it separately, and do not place it in the ref!

What is the shelf life of onigiri?

How long is it good for before you have to throw them out? Well, since they don’t contain preservatives, and rice is perishable, they are good for 18 hours.  

Now, if you’re wondering if onigiri can be frozen to make them last longer. The answer is a yes! When you plan to eat them, pop them in the microwave. 

It might take you a while to get the right setting, but once you do, your onigiri will taste like they were freshly made.

Is onigiri good?

Yes, onigiri is delicious – nothing else needs to be said! Hey, rice plus your filling of choice – what else would you need?

Besides, if its only main selling point is convenience to eat, we’re sure it wouldn’t have lasted as long as it has in Japan!

So our advice is not to delay, and go taste some onigiri today!

Where can I find onigiri near me?

Well, we did mention convenience stores carrying onigiri… But wouldn’t you rather make your own? That way, you have the freedom to choose the rice you want to eat, and the fillings you want to place.

No idea how to do it? Then watch this video featuring Chef Max Nadin! His last free class involved roasted garlic – this time, he’s going to teach you how to make onigiri!

This is a free treat from The Bailiwick Academy! Make sure to watch the whole video to get the techniques down pat.

Find this valuable and super amazing? Then sign up at The Bailiwick Academy for even more valuable and amazing content. It’s worth it, we promise!

Especially if you want to learn how to cook or bake delicious food, AND start a food business.

See you inside!

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Keep coming back to The Bailiwick Academy blog for more kitchen tips, tricks, and much more!

The post What is Onigiri? (And Other Onigiri Questions, Answered) appeared first on Online Baking and Cooking Classes - The Bailiwick Academy.

Well, if you love garlic as much as I do, then you can probably relate to me! Aside from garlic adding flavor, it also has a bunch of great health benefits. That just makes me want to eat it more!

But if you are looking for an excuse to just eat garlic with anything, look no more. I have compiled a list of what to eat roasted garlic with as well as… Well, just ideas for roasted garlic!

So what is roasted garlic good on? In no particular order, here are some ideas: 

1. Pizza
2. Chicken
3. Mashed potatoes
4. Soup
5. Steak
6. By itself
7. Hummus
8. Bread
9. Pesto

Let’s take a closer look at each one!

Use it for pizza!

Garlic is a great way to add flavor to your pizza. Imagine eating it and experiencing its delicious flavor paired with cheese and other toppings. Yum!

How to put roasted garlic on pizza, you ask? Well, just add it to your pizza dough or pizza sauce and enjoy! Try it out with the pizza you can make in our Asian Breads class.

Plus, using the roasted version means your breath won’t smell like a stink bomb went off in your mouth. That’s important if you want to eat garlic but have a meeting or gathering immediately after!

Roasted garlic with chicken? Yum!

Garlic and chicken go well together! Not only can you add the flavor of the garlic to the chicken before you cook the chicken, but you can also EAT the garlic with the chicken after.

In other words, savory perfection!

Mash them in mash potatoes.

Mashed potatoes are already pretty delicious. But when you add in some roasted garlic, they become even tastier. Spice up your mashed potatoes with the roasted vegetable and enjoy!

Enjoy roasted garlic with or in your soup.

Add roasted garlic to your soup for that additional garlic flavor. You can add as much or as little as you want according to your taste, whether you want richer or just subtle.  This is a great way to get the health benefits of garlic as well, especially when you’re feeling under the weather and need some soup.

Try it and you will see how delicious it is!

Eat it with steak.

A big juicy steak is already something that we all enjoy. Make the eating experience even better with some roasted garlic to add flavor. Imagine steak, garlic, and some seasoning of your choice. 

Mmmmm!

Eat roasted garlic directly as a snack.

As I type this, I’m already imagining eating the garlic directly. It makes for a great appetizer (with some biscuits) or even just roasted garlic itself. Mix some butter with it to make it taste even better!

Mix roasted garlic into your hummus.

You’ve heard about hummus before, right? Well, at least you did if you read our article about our favorite Middle Eastern foods. If you haven’t, read it!

Anyway, going back to the actual topic, roasted garlic hummus is definitely something you should try! It’s much tastier than store-bought hummus too. You’ll get a rich, flavorful taste that is super good, your taste buds will thank you!

Roasted garlic with warm bread? Oh, so good and comforting!

Who doesn’t like warm, freshly made bread? I definitely do. And warm bread, whatever kind it may be, is infinitely better with some roasted garlic!

Don’t believe me? Try squeezing some garlic onto the fresh bread and then taking a bite.

Now that’s some garlic bread!

Pesto + roasted garlic = HEAVEN.

Roasted garlic is sweet and nutty, while pesto is savory and herbaceous. Together, they make a delicious and easy-to-make snack or dip. This mix is also great for pasta!

How do you roast garlic?

Roasting is a pretty simple concept, but do you want the kind of roasting that is super delicious and can be used for your food business?

Well, here’s what you should do: sign up at The Bailiwick Academy.

Why? 

Well, because we have free classes for our students! See?

When you click on it and scroll all the way down, you’ll see this class:

That’s right! You’ll get a free class all about roasting garlic taught by Chef Max Nadin! (If you haven’t enrolled in his Donburi class, by the way, you should!)

All you have to do to get access is to sign up at The Bailiwick Academy. It’s that simple!

So if you LOVE garlic, what are you waiting for? Enroll now and learn one of the best methods ever for roasting garlic!

And of course, see you in one of our classes soon!

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Keep coming back to The Bailiwick Academy blog for more kitchen tips, tricks, and much more!

The post What to Use Roasted Garlic For: 9 Different Ways! appeared first on Online Baking and Cooking Classes - The Bailiwick Academy.