2.0 min. read
The average person will think ‘Spaghetti’ when you say ‘Pasta’. It’s the archetypal example of the form. But what happens when you say ‘Taco Spaghetti’? Or ‘Pizza spaghetti’? I know at least one guy who would probably have a righteous fit!
Taco Spaghetti: An elegant mashup that you can serve to the right company!
Day two of Mashup Week at the FFB spotlights a couple of classic examples of a classic mashup technique. Two dishes that present iconic pictures in a different frame…
Just swap the starch!
We’ve established that the best, most successful mashups involve dishes with similar ingredients – even if prepared in very different ways – which can be combined to produce a very different, though strangely familiar, dining experience.
Today’s dishes completely change the character of a pair of legendary dishes by swapping out their traditional starch for another completely different one. It’s almost too easy – too obvious – to rate a post. But that’s one of its charms!
Turning taco or pizza toppings into spaghetti dishes puts whole new complexions on two old, familiar faces!
Taco Spaghetti tips…
You can, of course, make any taco ‘flavour’ you like: Beef, Chicken, Pork, or even meatloaf/meatball blend. Be sure to add some oil if you’re using poultry. It doesn’t release as much fat, and you’ll want some in there to sauté the other ingredients…
Other than that, you’re using all the same ingredients you’d need for a typical taco: Taco seasoning, crushed tomatoes, onions, cheese and any additions you like, such as Bell Peppers.
The seasoning can be store-bought or your own homemade blend, as you prefer.
You’re making a spaghetti sauce out of taco ingredients, so the prep process differs accordingly. The recipe wants you to put the cheese in the sauce. Yes, do that. But put more grated Cheddar or Jack on top at serving time as part of the garnish!
Don’t forget sour cream and chopped cilantro for garnish!
Snap Quiz: Which classic taco ingredient is missing from this scenario? That’s right! The lettuce. There’s just no logical place for it in this taco implementation…
Pizza Spaghetti tips…
This is a casserole-type ‘baked spaghetti’ recipe (pictured top of page). Which is a particularly elegant move, honouring the ‘pizza’ element of the mashup – which is always baked!
This time, you’re preparing typical pizza ingredients in spaghetti sauce form. The recipe references your classic New York pie: Sauce, cheese and pepperoni, with diced Bell Peppers added for colour. There’s no law that says you can’t add anything else you love on your pizza!
You can, of course, use jarred or your own homemade pizza sauce/marinara.
Again, the recipe calls for adding cheese to the sauce. Just do it. You’ll be glad you did!
My take
The guiding principle behind today’s mashups is the key-ingredient swap. But there are always more, and more intricate angles to any really great mashup. Like that touch, rendering the dish as a baked casserole as a nod to the pizza component.
As with all great culinary concepts, it’s attention to the details that elevates a great mashup above an ordinary one!
~ Maggie J.