Trejo's Tacos: Recipes and Stories from L.A.: A Cookbook

This has way more than tacos in it. I haven't had time to try any recipes yet, I just wanted to be the first with a Machete reference. That confessed, just thumbing through the book, I would look at a recipe and think "Oh, I need to try that". Some of the recipes just scream CALIFORNIA, like the Roasted Cauliflower Taco recipe. Update: This is a very impressive cookbook. Deceptively so. Every component described here is easily within the grasp of the home cook and the recipes have been scaled for family dining. But when it ultimately comes down to creating the final presented dish, these are composed restaurant dishes designed by professional chefs. Let me give you an example. Chicken Tikka Burritos. There is a "Master Recipe" for Chicken Tikka. Anyone who can boil water could follow this recipe. So what do we need for the Chicken Tikka Burrito? Chicken Tikka (p. 88), of course. flour tortillas, shredded Mexican-style cheese, Spanish Rice (p. 171), Basic Black Beans (p. 170), Pico de Gallo (p. 48), Salsa Roja (p. 53), Escabeche-Mint Crema (p. 58). So to build 4 Trejo Chicken Tikka burritos, you need to make 6 recipes provided in this book. None of them are difficult - some are very easy. This is the way professional chefs in a restaurant setting build dishes that are so good that they can keep the restaurant in business. For the home cook, this is a day's worth of cooking to make 4 burritos. The recipes here look delicious and there will be many Saturdays in the next year when I will spend the time necessary to make all the components for one of these dishes. I expect the leftovers to be amazing. I plan on doubling the Chicken Tikka recipe because there's no way I will be able to make the burritos before I've eaten half of it. Not all of the recipes are so complicated. The Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Red Chimichurri don't require any additional recipes. Likewise the Shrimp Tostadas. The Bacon Cheeseburger Tacos only require "Gringo Seasoning" (p. 116) which is a simple blend of dry herbs and spices which a sensible person might make a few ounces of ahead of time and store in a jar. In addition to his chain of taco restaurants, Mr Trejo has a donut shop (Trejo's Donuts and Coffee). He includes recipes for the donuts in this book. He ends the book with a collection of beverage recipes which leans rather heavily toward margaritas but also has horchata, micheladas and strawberry lemonade. This really is a terrific book. Highly recommended.

Great recipes and stories

So glad I bought this cook book!! Recipes are easy and options to make bowls or burritos. So far recipes I've made have been delicious.

Amazing recipes that are super delish and easy to make from Hollywood larger than life legend Danny Trejo! I loved reading this as the stories that Danny weaves into the recipes are very enjoyable to read and hear about his amazing life journey. I loved making the fresh salsa and taco recipes and they remind me of my favorite taqueria and now I want make the donuts!

We are enjoying working our way through this cookbook. So far tried three recipes: the Blackened Salmon Tacos, Beer battered fish tacos, and the Chicken Tikka tacos. The salmon tacos and the beer battered fish tacos were out of this world and we’ll definitely go on our repeat list. Trejos recipes for cremas and fixings that go into eac taco are so flavorful! We found the tikka sauce in the chicken tikka recipe a tad too bitter. I noticed there was a whole tablespoon of turmeric in the recipe. As an experienced Indian cook, I’ve never used that much turmeric before in any recipe as it is a bitter spice. Would make again but with only 1 teaspoon of turmeric. We can’t wait to make all the other recipes, especially all the fish and shrimp tacos. I like how each recipe can be made as a taco, a burrito, or a bowl by adding different sauces and toppings. A great addition to our cookbook collection! The best taco book out there!

First, I have to say that it combined two of my favorite things: Tacos and Danny Trejo. After taking the time to devour Mr. Trejo's life journey, beginning with his stints in state prisons, getting clean and sober, working on 300+ movies, becoming a father, and becoming a drug counselor - heading back to the penitentiaries to counsel those still inside - I was enamoured. His memories of his mother, growing up in LA and coming back to it as an adult, the recipes and food being a staple of his homelife whether there was little or plenty, and how his mother's kitchen was a safe haven growing up touched my heart. It was nice to learn more about a man I've always liked since first seeing him on a Monk episode. From that very first tv show, I've searched out the other shows and movies Mr. Trejo played on because something about that first performance led me to like him, even if I didn't personally know him. The history, honesty, and reflection within this book make me appreciate the person who is an actor. Whether I've loved him in roles in Monk or Spy Kids, Nash Bridges, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or any other part, there's something about him as a human being that draws you in and makes you want to learn more. You may not know him personally, but he's one of those people you can't help but respect and wish well. Reading his cookbook on how to cook the Trejo way was fun, insightful, and delicious. I started writing down notes on what to keep on hand in my spice cabinet, and then I realized, I can't just rent this book, I have to buy it for my very own! The recipes had my mouth watering, and there were too many to try. His salsas, pestos, and sauces were delectable looking. The Mushroom Assada and Roasted Cauliflower Tacos had me writing a shopping list - which grew longer the more I found in this book. Another uplifting part of this book was how it made me think of my dad. We used to eat tacos when I'd go over and visit him on a Friday or Saturday night. They'd be simple, no-fuss tacos, but they always seemed to be the best I'd ever eaten. This made me think of him and how we'd probably have looked through this cookbook together and tried some of these appetizing recipes. It made me miss him, but it made me smile as well. I'm sure he would have loved Trejo's Tacos too. I highly recommend this cookbook if you're a lover of Trejo, a fan of tacos, or just in the mood to read and savor something worthwhile in this world. 2020 is better for its publication and the joy it brings to the world. Buen Provecho! :)

I’ve made several recipes in this book. The recipes are easy to follow (a feat not as simple as it sounds), and the end products delicious. I was a bit disgruntled last night when I found out too late (because it was written as a tip in the postscript) that the recipe for tikka sauce was actually a double recipe. Why wouldn’t you just give the recipe with instructions to double it if you wanted to keep some for later use?

What a fantastic cookbook, it explains the meats, veggies, spices, how to use, what to substitute. And it’s all basic, homegrown and made. No “taco or seasoning” packages, but using and mixing your own spices!!!! I love it, even the pages are tick, I know I’ll wear them out. The best part is the LOVE and PASSION that makes your meal delicious!!