Texas – FoodWatcher

Epic Breakfast Tacos

This breakfast tacos recipe has irresistible Tex Mex flavor! Whip them up as a fast and easy breakfast idea everyone will love. When it comes to a special breakfast…this one might be our new favorite. Try this epic Breakfast Tacos recipe! These tacos are solidly in Tex Mex, stuffed to the brim with breakfast potatoes, cheesy eggs, cilantro and pickled onions. Alex was inspired by the flavors of breakfast tacos he had in Austin with our native Texan friend, and finally we’ve got a recipe that can recreate some of the magic. It’s the perfect fast and easy breakfast idea to jump start your morning. The back story of breakfast tacos…a Tex Mex tradition Breakfast tacos are a signature of Tex Mex cuisine: a fusion between American and Mexican styles. The idea of the breakfast taquito has been around since the 1950’s. But it was Austin, Texas where the phrase “breakfast tacos” was born, served at the staple Austin restaurant Tamale House. The concept caught on and spread all over Austin, and around the country. The traditional breakfast tacos were simple: a flour tortilla with scrambled eggs, bacon, salsa and cheese. For these breakfast tacos, we’ve created our own spin […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This breakfast tacos recipe has irresistible Tex Mex flavor! Whip them up as a fast and easy breakfast idea everyone will love.

When it comes to a special breakfast…this one might be our new favorite. Try this epic Breakfast Tacos recipe! These tacos are solidly in Tex Mex, stuffed to the brim with breakfast potatoes, cheesy eggs, cilantro and pickled onions. Alex was inspired by the flavors of breakfast tacos he had in Austin with our native Texan friend, and finally we’ve got a recipe that can recreate some of the magic. It’s the perfect fast and easy breakfast idea to jump start your morning.

The back story of breakfast tacos…a Tex Mex tradition

Breakfast tacos are a signature of Tex Mex cuisine: a fusion between American and Mexican styles. The idea of the breakfast taquito has been around since the 1950’s. But it was Austin, Texas where the phrase “breakfast tacos” was born, served at the staple Austin restaurant Tamale House. The concept caught on and spread all over Austin, and around the country.

The traditional breakfast tacos were simple: a flour tortilla with scrambled eggs, bacon, salsa and cheese. For these breakfast tacos, we’ve created our own spin but kept this straightforward Tex Mex take.

Ingredients for breakfast tacos

Ready to whip up your own version of this breakfast-time delicacy? This recipe is quick and easy to make. Here are the ingredients for these breakfast tacos:

Frozen diced hash brown potatoes: The fried potatoes are reminiscent of another popular taco served at Tamale House, and add fantastic flavor and texture. You can substitute regular frozen hash browns if you can’t find the diced variety. (Of course, you can also make homemade hashbrowns out of real potatoes.)
Scrambled eggs: The other staple in a breakfast taco? Scrambled eggs! Mix them with cheddar cheese to get them nice and gooey.
Hot sauce and salsa: They’re always a necessity!
Cilantro: A little fresh cilantro is crucial for flavor.
Pickled onions: Pickled onions add a zing and a crunch. If you can, make a batch in advance.

You can also add fresh or pickled jalapenos, if you like even more heat! They’re not necessary, but they add great flavor.

More topping ideas

Of course, the sky’s the limit when it comes to breakfast taco toppings! Simple is best with this type of taco, so don’t over do it! But you can use anything else that strikes your fancy, like:

Avocado
Bacon or coconut bacon
Queso fresco or Cotija crumbles
Seasoned black beans
Refried beans (homemade or canned)
Vegan taco meat
Lettuce
Tomatoes

Variation: 5 minute egg tacos!

Want to make an even faster version of these breakfast tacos? Or don’t have potatoes on hand and don’t want to run to the store? Try our 5 Minute Egg Tacos! The egg filling in these tacos is incredible: adding a few simple spices makes it taste more like chorizo than eggs. We highly recommend them: head over to the recipe for more.

Vegan variation

Can you make vegan breakfast tacos? Absolutely! The best way to make this recipe vegan is to substitute our Tofu Scramble for the scrambled eggs. It magically looks and tastes a lot like eggs! Or, you can use our Vegan Taco Meat in place of the eggs. Either one makes for an incredibly tasty vegan breakfast taco.

Tip: warm your tortillas

The other most important thing to note about breakfast tacos: you must warm your tortillas! There’s nothing worse than a cold, tough tortilla. There are a few different methods for doing so. Here’s how to warm tortillas like a pro:

Place them over the flame of a gas burner (preferred!). Place each tortilla directly on a gas burner for a few seconds per side, turning with tongs. This lightly chars the edges and warms the tortillas (so they’ll look like the photos). Then throw them into a tortilla warmer!
Warm them in the oven. If you don’t have a gas burner, you can warm them in the oven. Go to How to Warm Tortillas.

More breakfast recipes

Need more inspiration to start the day? Here are some of our favorite breakfast recipes to power your morning:

Make eggs all the ways: scrambled, sunny side up, over easy, over medium, or over hard
Infuse more veggies with Breakfast Vegetable Scramble or Easy Tofu Scramble
Go for a Breakfast Pizza topped with scrambled eggs
Opt for a Classic Omelette

This breakfast tacos recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, substitute Tofu Scramble for the eggs. Or, go to Black Bean Tacos or Refried Bean Tacos.

Epic Breakfast Tacos

(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

5 from 5 reviews

Author: Sonja Overhiser
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings; 8 small tacos
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

This breakfast tacos recipe has irresistible Tex Mex flavor! Whip them up as a fast and easy breakfast idea everyone will love.

Ingredients

3 cups frozen diced hash brown potatoes (12 ounces)*
1/4 cup olive oil
Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
2 tablespoons butter, divided
6 eggs (or substitute Tofu Scramble for vegan)
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, plus more for topping
8 small tortillas (flour for authentic, corn for gluten-free)
Fresh cilantro, torn
Salsa
Hot sauce (optional)
Pickled red onions (optional)
Jalapeno slices or pickled jalapeños (optional)

Instructions

Cook the potatoes: Cook the diced hash brown potatoes from frozen, according to the package instructions. Or heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a skillet and add the potatoes, cooking 12 to 15 minutes and stirring occasionally until browned. In the last minute or so, add 1 tablespoon butter. Season with about 1/4 teaspoon salt and fresh ground black pepper.
Scramble the eggs: In a medium bowl, crack the eggs and whisk them together until well-beaten. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and plenty of fresh ground pepper. In a skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Tilt the pan to ensure the entire pan is coated in the melted butter. Pour in the eggs. Keep the heat on medium. When the eggs just start to set, use a flat spatula to slowly scrape sections of eggs, creating folds. Scrape occasionally until the eggs form soft folds, about 1 to 2 minutes total. Add the cheese and remove them from the heat just before they are fully hardened.
Warm the tortillas: Warm and char the tortillas by placing them on an open gas flame on medium for a few seconds per side, flipping with tongs, until they are slightly blackened and warm. (See How to Warm Tortillas.)
Assemble the tacos: Place the potatoes and scrambled eggs into the warmed tortillas. Top with pickled onions, fresh cilantro, salsa, hot sauce, pickled onions, and jalapeno slices. Serve immediately.

Notes

*Or, use frozen hash browns.

Category: Breakfast
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Tex Mex

Keywords: Breakfast tacos, Breakfast tacos recipe

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Texas Peach Cobbler

Peach Cobbler has become the most requested dessert around here this summer. I don’t think Romain had ever had a cobbler – I usually make crisps, which the French call crumbles. But I’ve been revisiting some cookbooks on my shelf that I hadn’t used for a while and pulled down The Pastry Queen by Rebecca Rather, who was the owner of several bakeries in Texas….

Peach Cobbler has become the most requested dessert around here this summer. I don’t think Romain had ever had a cobbler – I usually make crisps, which the French call crumbles. But I’ve been revisiting some cookbooks on my shelf that I hadn’t used for a while and pulled down The Pastry Queen by Rebecca Rather, who was the owner of several bakeries in Texas.

I met Rebecca when my first book, Room for Dessert, was coming out and I was slated to do a book tour that included Texas. I had never done a book tour and I had been in a very bad car accident and was worried about navigating and getting myself from place-to-place in an unfamiliar state, and doing baking demonstrations, which require a lot of planning and organization. I don’t know how we came to meet each other but Rebecca had a bakery in Texas and, being Texan, knew how to get around the massive state (someone told me the entire country of France could fit inside Texas), and she knew how to bake. So we became a team

Continue Reading Texas Peach Cobbler...

Texas Caviar (Cowboy Caviar)

This Texas caviar (Cowboy caviar) will have everyone crowded around the bowl! It’s full of big, zesty flavor and perfect for parties and cookouts. Here’s a tasty dip with a party vibe: Texas caviar! Cowboy caviar, as it’s also known, was invented in Texas and has now spread all over the US. This combo of black eyed peas, veggies and a vinaigrette dressing is equal parts zesty and comforting: and you can use it as a dip or healthy side dish. Our favorite recipe has loads of colorful veggies, cilantro and jalapenos, and a simple zingy dressing with the perfect flavor. Even better: this party dip happens to be vegan, full of plant-based protein. Here’s how to make it! Ingredients in Texas caviar, aka Cowboy Caviar Just like a good potato salad, everyone has their own spin on the ingredients in Texas caviar. The common denominator: you absolutely must use black eyed peas! From there, there are all sorts of variations on the vegetables and dressing. Here are the essential fresh ingredients you need for the salad: Black eyed peas, canned or cooked (see below) Black beans, canned or cooked Corn Red bell pepper Cherry tomatoes Green onions Jalapeno Cilantro […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This Texas caviar (Cowboy caviar) will have everyone crowded around the bowl! It’s full of big, zesty flavor and perfect for parties and cookouts.

Here’s a tasty dip with a party vibe: Texas caviar! Cowboy caviar, as it’s also known, was invented in Texas and has now spread all over the US. This combo of black eyed peas, veggies and a vinaigrette dressing is equal parts zesty and comforting: and you can use it as a dip or healthy side dish. Our favorite recipe has loads of colorful veggies, cilantro and jalapenos, and a simple zingy dressing with the perfect flavor. Even better: this party dip happens to be vegan, full of plant-based protein. Here’s how to make it!

Ingredients in Texas caviar, aka Cowboy Caviar

Just like a good potato salad, everyone has their own spin on the ingredients in Texas caviar. The common denominator: you absolutely must use black eyed peas! From there, there are all sorts of variations on the vegetables and dressing. Here are the essential fresh ingredients you need for the salad:

Black eyed peas, canned or cooked (see below)
Black beans, canned or cooked
Corn
Red bell pepper
Cherry tomatoes
Green onions
Jalapeno
Cilantro

Texas caviar dressing

Now, let’s talk Cowboy caviar dressing. A common variation of this recipe uses store-bought Italian dressing. But of course you must make homemade! The dressing is simple to whip up using just a few ingredients you’ll likely already have in your pantry and spice drawer. Here’s what’s in this Texas caviar dressing:

Lime juice
Apple cider vinegar
Sugar
Spices: Garlic powder, cumin, and oregano
Olive oil

How to make Texas caviar: simply chop all the veggies, then whisk up the dressing and stir it together. Easy as that! Jump to the recipe below for the specifics.

Why is it called Cowboy caviar?

Some people call this dip Cowboy caviar, which is a nickname for Texas caviar. Texas caviar is named for its birthplace: Texas! It was created around 1940 by a woman named Helen Corbitt. She first served it on New Year’s Eve at a country club (perhaps because black eyed peas are known as a lucky New Year’s Eve food). When she later served it at a Texas hotel, it was dubbed “Texas caviar” as a play on the real caviar, a fancy appetizer made with fish roe. The name stuck!

What are black eyed peas, anyway?

Black eye peas are not really not peas at all. They’re beans! Black eyed peas are part of the legume family with black beans and chickpeas. While they’re often eaten in the American South, are eaten all over the world.

One of the most popular black eyed peas recipes in the US is as a lucky New Year’s Day tradition: Hoppin’ John, a dish with rice and pork. But there are so many other ways to serve them, like Texas caviar! A few of our other favorites as black eyed pea salad or as a side dish.

Canned vs cooked black eyed peas

For Texas caviar, we like using canned black eyed peas because they’re quick and easy! They also have a beautifully soft texture. But some stores don’t carry them (at least here in Indiana!). So you also can cook your black eyed peas from dry. Here’s what to do:

Place 1/2 pound dried black eyed peas in a large pot with 2 cups vegetable broth, 2 cups water and 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt. (You can also cook the entire pound and double these ingredients! Then you’ll have leftovers.)
Cook 40 to 50 minutes until they’re tender but still hold together. Then drain.

How to serve Texas caviar

There are lots of ways to serve Texas caviar or Cowboy caviar, but the most popular is with chips! Here are a few more ideas to get your wheels turning:

Chips: It’s sublime with our Baked Tortilla Chips hot from the oven!
Fish: Bake or grill fish (like Grilled Salmon), then add Texas caviar on top.
Shrimp: Serve as a side with Perfect Grilled Shrimp or Garlic Butter Shrimp.
Burgers: It’s a protein-packed side for veggie burgers like Portobello Burgers or Chickpea Burgers.
Tacos or Fajitas: Serve it alongside Crispy Avocado Tacos or Best Vegan Fajitas.

This Texas caviar recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.