This is my taco meat using hibiscus flowers.  IF you had told me a few years ago that there was such thing as flower tacos, I would have smirked.  Perhaps smirked with a raised eyebrow.  I have drunk hibiscus tea for decades.  And when I moved to Dallas, I learned Mexicans use the flower in frescas, added to water (I add to fizzy water) for a lovely refresher on a hot day because we get those here.  

Healing Properties – From blood pressure reduction/balancing to kidney repair, like kidney stones, we know the tea is so healing.  And all this time that I have made this deliciously tart tea, I have tossed the spent flowers after brewing…but not the last time, no, not the other day when I took this photo.    What’s great about this dish is that it creates both a meal and the drink! ♥  And, it’s really easy.

Get the flowers – First you will want to have a lb or 2 of organic dried hibiscus flowers.  Each meal will use up a cup or 2 of dried flowers, depending on whether you are feeding an entire family or just a couple etc and how freaking hungry you are or what leftovers you want.  The link will take you to some yummy dried flowers to purchase via Amazon.  It may also be worthwhile to check out any latino grocery spots near you if you have them.  Again, I am in Dallas, we have them, Ariva!!!  Yes, absolutely, here we are Mexi-CAN!  🙂  

Recipe – I’m not really a cookbook writer so this is sort of free form.  I think most of us know how to make a base taco meat.  What you will be doing here is basically the same but instead of animal meat, you will use hibiscus flowers as your meat.   A cup fed my husband and I with leftovers to do another meal.  I won’t embarrass myself here by telling you how many tacos I pumped down.  They were really good.  So, take 1 or 2 cups of hibiscus flowers and rinse just to reduce any dust, put in a pot and cover with purified water.  Let it boil 10 minutes.  Now just let it sit and soften for a few hours.  (Later you can pour off the tea into a container, it will be stronger than what you are used to, so you will add water to that or ice for delicious and healthy tea. )

When you are ready to create your flower tacos, put a bit of olive oil in your saute pan, then add some cumin, some smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic, chopped  onion, add in your flower meat, tomatoes (stewed etc) and any salsa etc and doesn’t it look like shredded carne?    You can also do this mole style too…I mean, when you finally taste this, you will see how flexible it can be.

We are having tacos again for dinner….help…I can’t stop….