I love flautas and I love gator so it only makes since to throw them together for some delicious Gator Flautas!
Growing up in Texas, I can tell you there are a ton of Mexican restaurants to choose from, and they are all delicious! I am thankful to have many friends who are Mexican and who have shared their culture with me.
Flautas or Taquitos are a popular Mexican dish and were always at my home room parties I had at school. These fried snacks are traditionally filled with beef, chicken or even just cheese. With the NCAA basketball tournament finals, a couple weeks ago, my brain gears started moving and I wanted to make a great appetizer/meal for the game. but also have my wild game twist. Voila! Gator Flautas! I hope you enjoy!
Red and Green Gator Flautas
Fun different way to use some of your gator meat! Tastes very similar to chicken.
Servings: 10 people
Cost: N/A
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lb ground gator
- 20 flour tortillas
- Oil neutral; enough to fry
Red Gator Filling
- 1 cup red salsa
- 1 cup cheese plus extra when filling
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 cup yellow onion chopped
- 1/2 jalapeno deseeded and chopped
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil or neutral cooking oil
- 1/2 tbsp fresh lime juice
Green Gator Filling
- 1 cup green salsa
- 1 cup cheese plus extra when filling
- 1 whole canned green chile chopped
- 1/2 cup yellow onion chopped
- 1/2 jalapeno deseeded and chopped
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil or neutral cooking oil
- 1/2 tbsp fresh lime juice
Garnish/Toppings
- Sour Cream
- Cotija Cheese
- Iceberg Shredded Lettuce
- Avocado or Guacamole (or both)
- Lime
- Cilantro chopped
- Pink Pickled Onions*
Instructions
- Divide meat equally.
Red Meat Filling Instructions
- Heat one tbsp of oil over medium heat in a sauté pan.
- Add 1 lb of meat, onions, cumin, and jalapeno.
- Cook till brown/done approximately 5-10 minutes (or internal temperature reaches 160 °F).
- Drain off liquid.
- Add red salsa, cheese, lime juice, and continue cooking until cheese is melted.
Green Meat Filling Instructions
- Heat one tbsp of oil over medium heat in a sauté pan.
- Add 1 lb of meat, onions, and jalapeno.
- Cook till brown/done approximately 5-10 minutes (or internal temperature reaches 160 °F).
- Drain off liquid.
- Add green salsa, chopped green chiles, cheese, lime juice, and continue cooking until cheese is melted.
Assemble Instructions
- Add 2-3 tablespoons of meat filling to tortilla.
- Sprinkle cheese on top of mixture if desired.
- Tightly roll tortilla.
- Add around a teaspoon of cheese to seam of tortilla. This will seal the flauta together when cooked.
- Repeat this assembly until all meat filling is used.
- Heat enough oil in a frying pan, to cover the flautas half way, over medium-high heat.
- Once hot, fry the flautas a few at a time without crowding the pan.
- Cook until browned, approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute depending on oil temperature.
- Carefully flip, repeating process.
- Decorate your flauta as you see fit and enjoy!
Notes
*I used the pickled onions recipe from Grilled Cheese Social
