One of my favorite ways to entertain is to set up a D-I-Y station or interactive bar and one of my favorites is a DIY Taco Bar. You can dress it down or make it more upscale- that all depends on your budget and your crowd.
THE MENU
The centerpiece of my DIY taco baris always mySlow Roasted Chipotle Pork recipe and/or, based on my budget, my Tequila Lime Tuna. They are both so good- insidea taco or on their own.Add a couple of salsas... I always haveone mild, one spicy, and one spicy-sweet like my Pineapple Tomato Salsafor the perfect fresh toppings.
When building a taco bar, it is important to consider the flavor of everything you offer; the flavors need to work well together.Your guests will love this easy to make, easy to servemenu and you can have fun at your own party!
Other options for your tacos are hamburger, chicken, shrimp, or steak.Provide two or three options so guests have a choice. Keep the meat warm in a warmer, slow cooker, or on the stove.
SET UP
Start witha big basket of chips. Use two kinds if you can find them; I used corn and blue corn. Add sliced limes, cilantro, salsas,a hot Queso dip, creamy guacamole, pico de gallo, sliced jalapenos, lettuce, and cheese for the condiments. I like to warm the tortillas in a damp kitchen towel in the microwave. Or put them into the oven; wrap in foil with a damp paper towel inside to steam them slightly. I prefercorn tortillas. If your store doesn't have them, inquire at your favorite Mexican restaurant.(I always pick up tortilla chips from my favorite Mexican restaurant. Serve them warm and hit them with a pinch of salt... soooo much better than store bought chips!)
For a big crowd, there is no shame in using paper plates and napkins for serving to make clean up easy. I like the square, white Chinet plates you can find at the grocery store. They are made in the USA from recycled material andare biodegradable for home composting.I LOVE that. Caspari makes pretty plates and napkins in all sorts of patterns and themes. Find athigher end gift or specialty stores.. The folks at SustyParty.com (they were on Shark Tank) make hip and environmentally friendly paper products that you can now find at Target. You can find a million different options of inexpensive paper productsat the party store.
You can have a taco party without margaritas... but why would you?
Pre-mix drinks ahead and put them in a dispenser or pitcher so guests can help themselves. No bartending duties. Offer options for non-drinkers and designated drivers, too. I love pomegranate juice on ice topped with club soda for fizz. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Arrange your ingredients in an organized and visually appealing manner. Use colorful bowls, serving dishes, and platters for your ingredients, arrange toppings by color, set up signs with heat levels for your sauces, and add a colorful table cloth as a flashy backdrop to your taco feast.
Taco toppings – group the together to make it easy for guests to choose! Have the cheeses grouped together, the vegetables, the fruit, the dips, and then the garnish.
How much ground beef per taco? Each taco shell or small soft taco-size tortilla fits about 2 ounces or 1/4 cup of meat. If you add diced onions, you could stretch a pound of ground beef to make about a dozen tacos. With just the meat and spices, you can make about 8 tacos from a pound of meat.
Take a clean dish towel and get it slightly damp. You'll want to wrap your warmed tortillas in the towel (you can warm in the oven, on a pan, in the microwave) and keep them sealed until you are ready to use. You can put the towel in a basket or something with a lid to seal in even more heat.
Introduction: My name is Lidia Grady, I am a thankful, fine, glamorous, lucky, lively, pleasant, shiny person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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