The discada recipe is one that has been around since Spanish settlers first arrived to Mexico.
The dish is commonly known as “Mexican tacos” due to its similarities to taco meat.
But unlike most tacos, there is no shell involved in making this dish.
Instead, the discada uses corn tortillas wrapped around ground beef or chicken.
This type of food is usually accompanied by tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and other typical Mexican flavors.
What Is A Discada?
A discada is an authentic Mexican dish that originated from Puebla City.
However, it can also be found throughout central Mexico and parts of Guatemala.
This dish consists of a mixture of meats, including pork, beef, turkey, and even rabbit.
Vegetables are included, too, such as carrots, peas, green beans, chiles, and tomato.
There are many different ways to prepare this dish, but some common methods include frying, baking, stewing, and simmering.
Other ingredients used for this dish include onion, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, sugar, lime juice, vinegar, oil, and water.
You will find these ingredients at your local grocery store, but they may not be available everywhere.
You should always check before purchasing any items if you live outside of the United States.
If you want to try out this delicious dish, here’s how to make a discada!
How Do You Make A Discada?
To create a discada meal, all you need to do is follow these steps:
- Wash your hands thoroughly before preparing the dish.
- Prepare some fresh salsa (optional)
- Add salt and pepper to the meat.
- Heat up an electric skillet on medium-high heat.
- Incorporate the ground beef into the hot pan until it starts browning.
- Once the meat is browned, add two tablespoons of oil to the pan.
- After adding the oil, turn down the heat a bit so that the fat doesn’t burn.
- Next, add diced onion and garlic to the pan and saute for about 2 minutes.
- Now it’s time to incorporate the rest of the ingredients. Add tomatoes, chile peppers, green olives, carrots, and jalapenos to the pan. Cook them for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Finally, add shredded cheese, cumin, chili powder, and oregano. Mix everything together well.
- Turn off the heat and let it cool slightly. Once cooled, wrap the mixture in several layers of paper towels and place it in a plastic bag for at least 30 minutes.
- Take out the wrapped items from the bag and cut them into bite sized pieces. Serve the discadas with chips, salsa, or any other side dishes.
What Are The Ingredients In A Discada?
According to El Paso Times reporter David Salisbury, the components used for a traditional discada include ground chuck, green chile peppers, onion powder, chili powder, garlic salt, tomato paste, paprika, and lard.
Other ingredients can be added depending on what kind of flavor profile you want from your final product.
This list is just one example of how many different ways you could prepare the same dish using these five basic ingredients.
For instance, if you wanted to use more vegetables than meat, you could add spinach, mushrooms, bell pepper, and zucchini into your mix.
Another option would be to substitute some of the meat for pork sausage (or any other hard-to-find meat). Or maybe you prefer spicy foods instead of mild ones.
You may even decide to go vegetarian!
What Is The History Of The Discada?
There is some speculation on how the dish got its name.
One theory says that it was named after an indigenous tribe from southern Mexico, but another suggests that it may have come from the word “disco” which means dance in Spanish.
Regardless of where the term comes from, the dish dates back hundreds of years.
Discadas were initially created for soldiers who traveled through Mexico during the 1700s.
These soldiers would cook their meals over open fires while they marched.
Once the troops settled down at campsites, these dishes became more common.
They were also used to feed children living in orphanages and prisons.
When the United States invaded Mexico during the 1848 war, many Mexicans fled south to avoid military service.
In response to this mass migration, cooks began preparing discadas so that the people could eat well before heading into battle.
By the mid-1900s, the discada had become a staple in American homes across the country.
However, it wasn’t until the 1980s when it started appearing in grocery stores instead of restaurants.
As time went on, the discada grew in popularity.
Today, you can find it being sold alongside traditional tacos at various markets all across the nation.
In addition to becoming a household favorite, the discada has also become a cultural icon.
Many songs have been written about the dish, including ones produced by artists such as Los Lobos and Willie Nelson.
How Did The Discada Get Its Name?
There are several different theories about how the dish got its name.
One of these suggests that it was named after the sound made when you bite into the dish.
Another theory says that the word comes from the Aztec language where they say the dish sounds like the word for “to eat.”
Still another source claims that the term came from a Native American tribe who called it a “dish of the water.”
Regardless of which story is true, it seems that the word “disca” means something similar to “eat.”
In fact, according to an 18th century dictionary, the word meant “tasty dishes.”
And while the dish may have originally come from Mexico, today it can be found throughout North America.
Where Did The Discada Originate?
In 1521, Hernan Cortez landed on the coast of what is now present-day Mexico during his conquest of the Aztecs.
He was sent by Spain to conquer the land and convert it into their colony.
After three years of fighting, he finally defeated the Aztec empire and became king of New Spain (present day Mexico).
During his stay in the new world, Cortez encountered many different cultures including those from the Native American tribes.
One particular group of people fascinated him because they were able to speak his language while others could not.
These people were called Nahuatl speakers.
When Cortez returned to Spain after conquering the Aztec Empire, he brought back several plants, animals, and even foods that had become extinct in Europe before his arrival.
Among these items he discovered a plant called maguey which was used for making alcoholic drinks like pulque.
Another item was an animal native to Central America called the chacalaca.
When Cortez tried eating the bird, he found out that it tasted similar to turkey.
After learning about both of these items, Cortez decided to incorporate them into the discada recipe.
In doing so, he introduced an entirely new cuisine to Mexico.
Today, the discada recipe is still considered a traditional part of Mexican culture.
It should be noted that the word “taco” comes from the indigenous Nahuatl tribe who lived in Mexico at the time Cortez invaded the country.
As such, the word “taco” refers to any type of food eaten using a tortilla instead of bread.
Because of this, some argue that the term “taco” does not have anything to do with tacos per se but rather refers to any kind of food that is covered in a tortilla wrapper.
Who Created The Discada?
The discada was originally developed in the town of San Miguel de Allende during the late 1800s as an alternative to what people were eating back then.
Back then, many Mexicans would eat their own livestock, but it wasn’t very sanitary so they had to find something else.
According to legend, two men from San Miguel de Allende named Antonio Cervantes and Pedro Martínez invented the discada recipe.
They used leftover bits of beef left over after butchering animals for sale at their local market, which is why the dish is sometimes called el bife ranchero, meaning cowboy steak.
Cervantes and Martinez were both farmers who wanted to make something more flavorful than plain old cow meat.
So instead of just grinding up all the leftover parts of an animal into steaks, they decided to turn them into a taco-like meal using fresh ingredients like onions, garlic, peppers, and tomatoes.
While the original recipe doesn’t call for any specific spices, today’s discadas are typically flavored with chili powder, oregano, paprika, cinnamon, and salt.
And while the name “discada” could mean anything from grilled steak to fried pork chops, it actually refers to the circular shape of the dish—just like how you can create a circle out of paper plates.
When you take a bite of a traditional discada, you get a combination of sweet, spicy, savory, salty, sour, and fatty tastes.
You can also taste the texture of the meat being cooked inside your mouth because these pieces of meat have been braised, not raw.
What Are Some Popular Discada Recipes?
A common way to prepare the discada is to mix all ingredients together and then wrap them into tortilla shells before cooking it over an open flame.
You may also choose to cook it in a pan on your stovetop.
Another option for preparing the dish involves grilling the mixture rather than frying it.
Grilled discs will have a different flavor profile compared to those prepared using a skillet.
- Chorizo (a spicy sausage) – Chorizo adds a nice kick to the dish, but you should be careful not to add too much. Too much chorizo can overwhelm the delicate balance of the dish.
- Green chili pepper – Green peppers give the dish a little bit of heat without overpowering the rest of the ingredients. Be sure to leave the seeds inside so they don’t get lost during preparation.
- Onions – Onions bring out the sweetness of the meat while balancing out the spicy peppers. They also provide another layer of texture.
- Tomatoes – Tomatoes add moisture and acidity to the dish, which helps tenderize the meat.
- Cilantro – Cilantro brings out the freshness of the dish. It gives off a light fragrance and mild taste that complements the strong flavors in the discada.
- Lime juice – Lime juice brings out the sweet notes of the tomato and balances out the spiciness of the green chili pepper. A squeeze of lime juice at the end will keep the dish from getting bland.
How Can I Make A Discada More Healthy?
If you want to incorporate healthier options into your diet, then it might be time to try out a different version of the dish. There are many ways you could make the discada meal a little bit better. You could swap out some of the meat for something like tofu, or add beans and lentils instead of just plain white rice. But we will focus on what you can do to improve the healthiness of your discadas over here.
Add protein
A good way to improve the healthiness of your discada dishes is to include protein.
Many people don’t realize how much red meat contributes to our overall health problems.
In fact, red meat consumption has increased drastically throughout the years.
With more than 20% of Americans eating at least two servings of red meat per day, it seems like everyone is trying to find ways to get their fill of processed meat products without giving up too much of their nutritional intake.
In order to combat these issues, you should look towards plant-based proteins when choosing recipes for your next taco night.
If you have access to local vegan restaurants or grocery stores near where you live, you may also consider buying whole soybeans from them.
These soybeans are a great source of high quality protein and fiber for those who choose not to eat animal flesh.
Try adding veggies
There are plenty of delicious vegetable choices available to you if you decide to skip the meat.
For example, you could use sweet potatoes as an alternate starch option.
They provide a lot of dietary benefits including vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.
On top of all of that, they contain antioxidants which help fight free radicals that cause cell damage and cancer formation.
You could also opt for a green salad rather than rice to accompany your taco dinner.
Green salads are full of nutrients that are beneficial for both your body and mind.
Try using kale, spinach, arugula, romaine lettuce, and other leafy greens to create a tasty dish that is packed with essential vitamins and minerals.
Consider swapping out the cheese
Cheese is another common ingredient used in traditional discadas.
While it does have its place in certain dishes, such as quesadillas and enchiladas, it isn’t always necessary to flavor foods.
When deciding whether or not you need to include cheese in your meals, ask yourself whether or not it adds anything positive to the taste of the food.
Cheese is typically loaded with saturated fat and sodium, so unless you enjoy having extra fat and salt in your diet, you may want to reconsider using it in your taco recipes.
Use natural spices
Many cooks today prefer to use fresh herbs and spices whenever possible.
Spices and herbs have amazing healing properties that can benefit your health in a number of different ways.
Some examples include helping prevent heart disease, lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation, and improving digestion.
When you cook with fresh herbs and spices, you increase the amount of antioxidants found in every bite of food.
Antioxidants are vital for your immune system because they protect cells against harmful chemicals.
One thing about cooking with fresh herbs and spices is that you can control exactly how much flavor goes into each dish.
As long as you follow a few simple rules, you can ensure that you only ingest the right amount of nutrients while enjoying your favorite taco night!
What Are Some Alternative Ingredients For A Discada?
While you may think that adding additional meat to your discada would be the best way to go about it, not all dishes need to include animal products.
For instance, tofu makes a great substitute when eating vegetarian tacos.
You can also choose to use tempeh instead of beef if you prefer.
Other alternatives to consider are beans, eggs, potatoes, and even veggies like squash or zucchini.
You can add any number of seasonings to your discada depending on what kind of flavor profile you want.
Some common additions include garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, salt, pepper, chile sauce, tomato paste, and lime juice.
If you aren’t sure how much of each ingredient should be used, start small and work up from there.
When do you eat discadas?
This is an excellent question because we live in a culture where many people don’t know that they must wait at least 15 minutes after eating before drinking alcohol.
However, the same rule doesn’t apply to discadas.
In fact, you can drink them immediately following their preparation.
The reason why you shouldn’t consume them right away is because once they cool down, they become too hard to chew.
So, while you might enjoy the taste of a fresh discada, you probably won’t appreciate it very much later on.
One thing you should keep in mind is that discadas typically contain raw meat.
As such, you will want to avoid consuming these foods if you have compromised immune systems.
And finally, eating discadas could put you at risk of contracting E. coli bacteria.
Therefore, you should always cook discadas thoroughly so that they are safe to eat.
Equipment
- 1 Frying Pan
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 thick slides bacon
- 1 Chorozo crumbed
- ½ lb pork meat
- 1 lb sirloin
- 1 cup white onion
- 1 green bell pepper
- 2 serrano peppers
- 2 hot dog sausages
- 4 cups tomatoes
- 1 cup beer
Instructions
- Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a big frying pan.Add the bacon and fry it till crispy after it is heated. To drain the extra fat, remove and set on a dish.
- Next, saute the chorizo for 56 minutes in the same frying pan.Place on the platter with the bacon after being taken out.
- The pork has now been added; cook for about 7 minutes, then remove. If it doesn't appear to be fully cooked yet, don't panic; it will finish cooking when the other ingredients do.
- Add the beef to the frying pan and cook for 8 minutes. Remove and place with the other already cooked ingredients.
- The meat should be added to the pan and cooked for 8 minutes. Remove and mix with the remaining ingredients that have previously been cooked.
- Roughly 10 minutes of cooking (by this time, the tomatoes will start releasing their juices).
- Pour the beer in after that, add salt and pepper, and cover. Cook the meats for a further five minutes, or until they are all tender and cooked through. Add the chopped cilantro right before serving.
- Enjoy with a pile of warm flour tortillas, pinto beans, and a side of creamy guacamole. Usually, a pan with a disc shape is used to cook this meal; it resembles a paella pan used on a grill outside.
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Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.