Trejo's Cantina: Snacks, Cocktails, and Amazing Non-Alcoholic Drinks from the Heart of Hollywood by Danny Trejo

    • Categories: Beverages / drinks (no-alcohol); Mexican
    • Ingredients: green apples; limes; club soda; cinnamon sticks; honey
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Notes about Recipes in this book

  • Grapefruit expectations

    • Devons on January 24, 2025

      Lovely! Fresh, the black pepper-cumin agave syrup isn't overwhelming at all. Just right

  • Morchata

    • EmilyR on April 18, 2023

      I love horchata and this is a fun variant. I read that it's best to use cooked rice to have a less gritty texture, so that is what I did. I also used ceylon cinnamon. This takes a little bit of planning ahead so the drink can infuse, but a great refreshing drink.

  • All day baby

    • EmilyR on April 18, 2023

      I reduced the sugar and it took on a slight cranberry-esque flavor. This is another beautiful and refreshing drink especially if you love hibiscus flavor.

  • Watermelon agua fresca

    • EmilyR on April 18, 2023

      This is a great drink that is refreshing and packed with flavor. Very straightforward and simple.

  • Lavender paloma

    • Devons on September 23, 2023

      Delicious. I made it non alcoholic using Lyre’s NA tequila and it was completely satisfying.

  • Queso fundido

    • EmilyR on April 18, 2023

      I would have liked a little more direction on the chorizo, because it is so oily. I ended up blotting a fair amount of grease off of it and will likely use Trader Joe's soy chorizo next time.

  • Avocado salsa

    • EmilyR on April 18, 2023

      Simple and good... this is a nice way to stretch avocado a bit more.

  • Roasted jalapeño chimichurri

    • Devons on September 23, 2023

      Lordie that is spicy. Next time 1/2 jalapeño. Also, next time purée half of it and stir into the remaining portion to thicken it all up. delicious with the steak.

  • Mexican Thousand Island dressing

    • EmilyR on May 01, 2023

      A flavorful twist on Thousand Island. Pairs very well with the chorizo burgers as suggested.

    • tarae1204 on June 19, 2023

      Enjoyable and flavorful. Not too spicy, because I subbed diced green chiles for pickled jalapeños which I couldn’t find. I used Kewpie Japanese mayonnaise which made the sauce looser.

  • Elote salsa

    • EmilyR on April 18, 2023

      This is always a crowd pleaser. Elote is just packed with flavor. I usually make the Bon Appetit variation, but they are very similar.

  • Badass blender salsa

    • EmilyR on April 18, 2023

      Zipped this through my vitamix and it's a great condiment to have on hand.

  • Pico de gallo

    • EmilyR on April 18, 2023

      Excellent if you have really good tomatoes. I'm partial to Hiiros Tomatoes.

  • Diablo eggs

    • EmilyR on April 18, 2023

      These won't replace my go-to deviled eggs, but they are great for a Mexican variation. I really appreciate the layers of heat.

  • Grilled Mexican Caesar salad with pepitas

    • Devons on September 23, 2023

      My husband couldn’t stop eating this. The dressing is perfect. I’ve also made a version of this handheld by toasting baguette slices, spreading them with the dressing and topping with the salad portion, very thinly sliced.

  • Nachos supreme with carnitas

    • EmilyR on April 18, 2023

      A fair amount of work for nachos, however it's largely hands off, so it's not overly demanding. The carnitas turned out really nice. Something to note: It states to cut off 2" of orange rind and then never mentions it again. I'm guessing it's to season the meat while it's cooking, so I just put it on top in the pan. Not sure that it was necessary.

  • Super green rice

    • EmilyR on April 23, 2023

      I don’t know what to make of this. It feels like it needs a flavor boost from boullion instead of water. Also, it calls for more water than the prep instructions on my jasmine rice and then was watery so I let it cook more and it still had that slight toothsome quality some Mexican restaurants have. I like all of the veggies, but would likely want to amend it for a bit more flavor.

  • Mexican slaw

    • EmilyR on April 18, 2023

      This is a great pop of color and flavor. I am glad to add this to my table.

  • Olvera street-style chicken taquitos

    • EmilyR on April 18, 2023

      Having lived in LA I miss Olvera street and Cielito Lindo's taquitos. These are a healthier substitute and the filling can be used in a myriad of ways. This is a recipe I will definitely repeat. One word of note: the recipe states to reserve 1 cup of the stock, however it doesn't tell you what it's for or how to utilize it. I added some if the pan appeared a little dry, but it still came together without adding all of the liquid.

  • Pollo asado a la brasa

    • Devons on September 23, 2023

      Super good and flavorful. Used boneless skinless thighs instead of whole chicken. This is on the make again list.

  • Quick pickled red onions

    • EmilyR on April 18, 2023

      These red onions are always so visually pleasing and pack some serious flavor. I prefer the version with a bit of lime, but the acidic nature is nice regardless.

  • Street tacos al pastor

    • EmilyR on April 18, 2023

      I wanted to like this more, but I used a stove top grill and I have a feeling my outdoor grill would have made all the difference. Also, pork isn't generally my favorite, so I might try this again with a different protein.

  • Arrachera steak

    • Devons on September 23, 2023

      Excellent. We used rib eyes and grilled them.

    • Devons on September 23, 2023

      Excellent. We used rib eyes and grilled them.

  • Chorizo smash burgers with Mexican Thousand Island dressing

    • EmilyR on May 01, 2023

      These are flavorful as to be expected with so much chorizo. I don't regularly make burgers or have chorizo on hand, but these are a nice little change of pace for a Mexican inspired evening.

    • tarae1204 on June 19, 2023

      These were good but not as life changing as Suzanne Goin’s pork-chorizo-bacon burgers, the other chorizo burger I like to make. Easy, simple, and enjoyed by all.

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  • ISBN 10 0593235487
  • ISBN 13 9780593235485
  • Linked ISBNs
  • Published Apr 18 2023
  • Format Hardcover
  • Page Count 224
  • Language English
  • Countries United States
  • Publisher Clarkson Potter

Publishers Text

A cantina-style celebration of Mexican food and drink, entertaining, and Hollywood culture in 100 recipes for nachos, tacos, and Danger Dogs plus cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks from the legendary actor, restaurateur, and author of the acclaimed Trejo's Tacos

The cantina is the place where families, friends, and colleagues gather to celebrate. In Trejo’s Cantina, beloved actor and restaurateur Danny Trejo shares recipes for snacks and drinks that celebrate his traditions and spirit. Along with mouthwatering recipes that make all people feel welcome, from plant-based (Vegan Tamales) and vegetarian (Fight Night Nachos; Mexican Grilled Caesar) to meaty faves (Chorizo Smash Burgers; Tijuana-Style Birria), there are also dozens of inventive takes on classic cocktails including spicy Margaritas and Oaxacan “Moscow” Mules as well as dozens of thirst-quenching non-alcoholic drinks such as Agua Frescas (Pineapple, Guava Lime, Mango), a Tamarind Fizz, and a Cacao Chile Smoothie.

Danny includes helpful tips like how to build a booze-free bar, how to master the tamale, how to mix-and-match salsas, and much more. He also reminisces about his upbringing in Los Angeles, from barhopping with uncles on Olvera Street to his memories of sneaking into movie theaters to cool off and watching films wide-eyed and inspired.

Danny’s approach to entertaining is accessible, celebratory, and empowering to cooks of all skill levels. Trejo’s Cantina, at its heart, is about living to the fullest, and about how no matter what happens, you need to eat well, drink with gratitude, and celebrate life.

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