Taco Stand · Fried Puffy Taco
Puffy Taco
Photo: y6y6y6 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
The puffy taco was invented by accident in 1950s San Antonio when a cook dropped raw masa dough straight into hot oil instead of pre-baking it.
Fresh masa dough is deep-fried to order, puffing into a crisp, air-pocketed shell that's folded around ground beef or chicken, lettuce, tomato, and cheese while still hot. It's a San Antonio specialty rarely found outside the city.
Why it's made this way: San Antonio's masa tortilla shops and Tex-Mex diners are where the technique was accidentally invented and has stayed a local specialty ever since.
More from United States
New York Egg Cream
New York Street Cart Hot Dog
Los Angeles Street Tacos
Philly Cheesesteak
New Orleans Beignets
Chicago-Style Hot Dog
Part of World of Street Food — 690 dishes from 118 countries.
Something wrong here? Tell us in the comments below.
Photo credits.