Adios Taco Bell: Steak and queso crunchwrap sliders that take the ‘Tex’ out of Tex-Mex

There are amended things to eat. I cognize that. You cognize that. God knows that, and He’s astir apt a small disappointed successful some of us. There are Michelin-starred restaurants, hand-crafted empanadas from abuelas with flour-dusted hands, integrated blueberries and kale. But erstwhile I sojourn household successful the United States, my level lands and wrong 10 minutes, I’m begging my brother-in-law to propulsion implicit astatine Taco Bell.

Before you judge, beloved reader, recognize this: I cognize it’s not “real” Mexican food. I cognize it’s a sodium-laced, cheese-blasted, faux-fiesta of questionable nutrient substances and culinary shortcuts. And still, I emotion it. I emotion it the mode a antheral loves a worn-out sofa helium recovered connected the curb.

Ok, yes, this isn’t remotely Mexico. But with a fewer tweaks, it could be. (Eat This)

Taco Bell doesn’t unreal to beryllium thing it’s not. It doesn’t telephone itself “authentic” oregon “farm-to-table” oregon “ethically sourced.”  Taco Bell is honest. It’s the accelerated nutrient equivalent of binge watching “Love connected the Spectrum” with a large vessel of crystal cream: axenic wholesome comfort.

What truly gets me, though, is the creativity. Every month, immoderate unhinged selling wizard astatine Taco Bell HQ says, “What if we wrapped a quesadilla wrong different quesadilla, but made the 2nd 1 a burrito?” And they bash it. And we devour it. And it’s good. There’s thing comfortingly postmodern astir it all. The mode the chain’s chalupas defy each structural logic. The mode it tries to talk Spanish but someway ends up inventing caller words. With names similar Enchirito, Quesarito and Crispalupa, Taco Bell’s paper has go a benignant of culinary Esperanto— a connection of hunger.

Taco Bell, successful its infinite and somewhat chaotic wisdom, has decided the crunchwrap wasn’t portable enough. Enter crunchwrap sliders, bite-sized parcels of molten food and questionable beingness choices. Each 1 is simply a tiny hexagon of hope, filled with steak, queso and that signature furniture of crunchy something-or-other that defies classification. Is it a tostada? Is it a chip? Is it the shattered remains of my self-control? Hard to say.

You don’t devour crunchwrap sliders. You inhale them. You achromatic retired determination betwixt the 3rd and fourth, and erstwhile you travel to, you’re surrounded by crumpled wrappers and a vague consciousness of joy. It’s the culinary equivalent of texting your ex: astir apt a mistake, but thrilling successful the moment.

Here’s a look I enactment unneurotic to marque this ultra-portable snack. If you determine to marque it, fto maine cognize what you deliberation successful the comments!

Crunchwrap steak sliders 

(Whiskey Riff)

Ingredients

For the steak:

• 1 lb flank oregon skirt steak, thinly sliced
  
• 1 tbsp olive oil
  
• 1 tsp ail powder
  
• 1 tsp cumin
  
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
  
• Salt and capsicum to taste
  
• Juice of fractional a lime
  

For the crunchwraps:

• 12 tiny (6-inch) flour tortillas
  
• 12 mini tostada shells oregon a large fistful of tortilla chips
  
• 1 cupful nacho food sauce
  
• 1 cupful sour cream
  
• 1 cupful shredded lettuce
  
• 1 cupful diced tomatoes
  
• 1 cupful shredded cheddar cheese
  
• Butter oregon cooking spray for grilling
  

Instructions

1. Cook the steak: Toss sliced steak with olive oil, spices, salt, capsicum and lime juice. Sear successful a blistery skillet implicit medium-high vigor until cooked done and somewhat charred (about 5-7 minutes). Set aside.
2. Prep your station: Warm tortillas somewhat truthful they are pliable. Lay retired each toppings for casual assembly.
3. Assemble the sliders: For each crunchwrap, spot a spoonful of steak successful the halfway of the tortilla. Drizzle with lukewarm nacho cheese. Add a mini tostada ammunition oregon a fewer sturdy tortilla chips for crunch. Top with a dollop of sour cream, immoderate shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and a sprinkle of cheddar. Carefully fold the edges of the tortilla up and astir the filling successful a hexagonal pattern, afloat enclosing it. If your tortilla is excessively tiny to close, spot a chopped tortilla circular connected apical of the fillings earlier folding.
4. Grill the sliders: Heat a nonstick skillet oregon griddle implicit mean vigor and grease with food oregon cooking spray. Place each folded wrapper seam-side down and navigator for 2–3 minutes, until aureate and sealed. Flip and grill the apical broadside for different 2–3 minutes.
   

5. Serve hot: Serve with other food sauce, salsa, guacamole oregon a acold Baja Blast. Serves 12.