Growing up, one of my favorite dishes was always Salbutes. Every time my mom mentioned it was for dinner, I’d jump for joy and be the first one at the table.
Salbutes are deep-fried corn tortillas topped with meat, which is traditionally shredded chicken, but can be replaced with beef or turkey. Toppings include: pickled cabbage (literally the best part), tomatoes, avocado and of course, cheese!
Salbutes originated in Yucatan, a peninsula in southeast Mexico, but made its way to Belize and is now one of the most popular dishes in the country. They’re usually served at panucherias, also known as fast food restaurants.
For me, Salbutes defines a part of who I am. Anytime I want to make a quick and easy meal for friends or family, Salbutes is my go-to, not only because it’s my favorite, but it is also a definite crowd pleaser.
So today, I am going to show you my recipe of Salbutes, which I learned from my mom, who learned from my Nana. Although it is not the typical recipe seen throughout Belize, it is quite delicious and will get your taste buds moving.
Ingredients
- 1lb Ground Beef (or meat of choice)
- 1/2 Diced White Onion
- 2 Tbsp Tomato Sauce
- Corn tortillas
- 1 Cup Canola Oil
- 1 Cup Shredded Cabbage
- 1 Cup Vinegar
- 1 Diced Tomato
- 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1 Tbsp Adobo
- 1 Tbsp Paprika
- 1 Tbsp Ground Black Pepper
Preparation
- Season ground beef with adobo, paprika and ground pepper
- Add ground beef to pot over medium heat
- Add diced onion to ground beef
- Cook for 20 minutes or until meat is brown
- Drain ground beef and place back into pot on low heat
- Add tomato sauce to ground beef, allow to simmer for 10 minutes
- Add canola oil to a pan on medium heat
- Add corn tortilla to pan and fry on both sides until golden brown
- Repeat process until you have the desired amount of tortillas
- Add cabbage, vinegar and water to bowl and mix
How to Build Your Salbutes
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