Taco Pockets Recipes

TACO POCKETS

Steps:

• Combine the chicken and salsa in a medium bowl and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Generously spray a baking sheet with cooking spray; set aside.
• Combine the chickpeas, taco seasoning and 3/4 cup water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and let simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and smash about half of the chickpeas with the back of a spoon; set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the peppers and onions, season with a pinch of salt and cook, stirring often and lowering the heat if needed so the vegetables don't brown, until softened, about 6 minutes.
• Transfer the vegetable mixture to a plate and return the skillet to medium-high heat. Add the remaining tablespoon oil to the skillet and heat until the oil shimmers. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the chicken from the heat and fold in the cheese and half the vegetable mixture. Fold the remaining vegetable mixture into the chickpeas along with the cilantro, jalapeños and avocado. Taste both mixtures and season with more salt if needed.
• Combine the flour and 3 tablespoons water in a small bowl to create a paste that is the same consistency as glue, adding more water if needed. Halve the tortillas and cover them with a damp towel. Using the back of a spoon, spread a line of the flour mixture on the cut edge of a tortilla half. Fold the opposite ends of the tortilla half up and over, overlapping slightly to form a cone. Pinch gently to seal. Cover with a damp cloth and repeat with the remaining tortillas.
• Fill a cone with 1/3 cup of the chicken mixture. Spread some of the flour mixture along the inside edge of the top of the cone, then pinch the two sides together to seal the pocket. Place on the prepared baking sheet seam-side down and repeat with the remaining cones, chicken mixture and chickpea mixture. (You should have 6 of each filling.)
• Spray the pockets lightly with cooking spray. Bake, flipping the pockets once about halfway through, until golden and heated through, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve the pockets with sour cream, guacamole, hot sauce, lime wedges and more salsa.

CHICKEN TACO POCKETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Unroll 1 tube crescent dough and separate into 2 rectangles; press perforations to seal. Repeat with second tube. In a bowl, combine salsa, sour cream and taco seasoning. Spoon chicken onto the left side of each rectangle; top with salsa mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Fold dough over filling; pinch edges to seal., Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, 13-15 minutes. Cut in half. Serve with salsa and toppings as desired.

TACO POCKETS

Steps:

• Combine ground meat with onion, garlic, spices, and salt and form 4 patties. Pan fry patties in 1 tablespoon oil over medium high heat for 7 minutes on each side.
• To make a taco pocket, blister a flour tortilla on a hot griddle pan for 30 seconds on each side. Place tortilla on dinner plate and spread surface with 1 /4 cup mild taco sauce. Pile shredded lettuce, tomatoes and a handful of cheese in center of tortilla. Top veggies and cheese with cooked taco burger patty and wrap tortilla up and over patty on all four sides. Turn square pouch over and cut from corner to corner, making 2 taco pockets that will not crumble and drip like traditional tacos.
• Serve taco pockets with cut fresh seasonal veggies, assorted tortilla chips and mild salsa for dipping.
• Heat a small saucepan over moderate heat and add oil, onions, peppers, and garlic. Season vegetables with cumin, salt, and pepper and cook for 5 minutes, until vegetables are just tender.
• Remove the pan from heat and add canned tomatoes. Stir salsa to combine and transfer to a small serving bowl. Serve salsa at room temperature or chilled with veggies and assorted corn tortillas for dipping.

TACO POCKETS

Steps:

• Combine ground meat with onion, garlic, spices, and salt and form 4 patties.
• Pan fry patties in 1 Tbs oil over medium high heat for 7 minutes on each side.
• To make a taco pocket, blister a flour tortilla on a hot griddle pan for 30 seconds on each side.
• Place tortilla on dinner plate and spread surface with 1/4 cup mild taco sauce.
• Pile shredded lettuce, tomatoes and a handful of cheese in center of tortilla.
• Top vegies and cheese with cooked taco burger patty and wrap tortilla up and over patty on all four sides.
• Turn square pouch over and cut from corner to corner, making 2 taco pockets that will not crumble and drip like traditional tacos.
• Serve taco pockets with cut fresh seasonal vegies, assorted tortilla chips and mild salsa for dipping.

CHEESY TACO POCKETS

Steps:

• Remove pastry from freezer and allow to thaw at room temperature for about 30- 40 minutes or until they are easy to handle.
• Meanwhile, add the beef, onion and green pepper to a large skillet and cook until beef is browned and vegetables begin to soften. Stir occasionally to break meat up and prevent scorching.
• Add garlic and cook for one more minute, stirring constantly.
• Drain all the grease from the pan and return to the heat.
• Add tomato, catsup, cilantro or parsley, cumin, chili powder, oregano and cinnamon. Reduce heat to low and allow to simmer for about 10 minutes. You want a pretty dry mixture so your filling stays put in the pastry.
• Remove from the heat. Stir in the cheese and set aside until cool enough to handle.
• Work with one pastry sheet at a time, keeping the others covered so they do not dry out.
• On a lightly floured surface roll out a pastry sheet to a rectangle about 16 x 12 inches and then cut into 8 even pieces.
• Put a heaping teaspoonful of meat mixture in the center of the pastry. (I always seem to over fill them no matter how carefully I measure so you may want to start with less than you think you should use and add a little more if needed. Voice of experience! ).
• Mix the egg and water together and brush pastry edges with it.
• Grab one corner of a pastry and fold over to form a triangle. Press edges with a fork to seal and brush the tops with more egg mixture.
• Repeat until all ingredients are used.
• Place the pastries on a sprayed or greased baking sheet. You could also use parchment paper or a silicone liner.
• Bake at 375 degrees for about 15-17 minutes or until golden brown.
• OAMC-To Freeze and Bake Later: Place pockets on parchment paper or wax paper and freeze until firm. They can then be transferred to a zip top bag and stored in the freezer. Remove desired amount from freezer when ready to use and bake as directed, increasing time to 17-20 minutes or until golden brown.
• Great served with sour cream, catsup or your favorite dip.