Royce O’Neale’s Cinco De Mayo Taco Recipe
May 5, 2020, 4:32 PM
Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) laughs while talking to teammate Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during a Hornets’ free throw as the Utah Jazz and the Charlotte Hornets play an NBA basketball game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. Utah won 109-92. Courtesy of Deseret News.
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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz continued their “Quarantine Cookbook” series, this time with Royce O’Neale. The small forward cooked up a Cinco De Mayo taco recipe made up up salmon with a southwestern flair. Over the weekend, head coach Quin Snyder released his family’s favorite Oreo ice cream pie recipe.
The Jazz are releasing videos of each player on the roster while the league is sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic. With help from team chef Anthony Zamora, the players are taking turns showing off their cooking skills.
The team has pushed the idea of healthy eating on its players, especially while they’re away from the practice facilities. Chef Zamora drops food by the players’ homes several times a week. The franchise has even outfitted their players with cooking utensils.
When Cinco de Mayo and Taco Tuesday align … of course we need @bucketsoneale00 to whip up some salmon tacos 🌮#QuarantineCookbook
🥄 𝙵𝚄𝙻𝙻 𝚁𝙴𝙲𝙸𝙿𝙴 » https://t.co/xBME3zJm3Y pic.twitter.com/EGbjRrLCke— utahjazz (@utahjazz) May 5, 2020
At one point in the video, O’Neale shows off a knife with the Jazz logo emboldened on the blade.
“I know you see the knife with the Jazz symbol,” O’Neale said. “Shout out to the squad, you dig?”
O’Neale seasons the Atlanta salmon generously before throwing it on the piping hot pan. As most millennials can attest, O’Neale gets a surprise video call from his mother Deborah. O”Neale’s family makes regular appearances at the team’s games, whether he’s on the road or at home in Utah.
“You’re making tacos? ” Deborah asked. “I don’t want to mess up the production, so go ahead and cook your tacos.”
TFW you're Royce O'Neale's mom (literally) pic.twitter.com/ysz0TV3RZI
— moni (@monilogue) February 6, 2018
Though O’Neale appeared comfortable in the kitchen, he admitted he’d never before cut an avocado.
“This is my first time cutting, so be patient with me,” O’Neale said, “But it’s going to come out well.”
After cooking the fish, O’Neale whipped up a Greek yogurt-based tomatillo sauce to finish off the Cinco de Mayo taco recipe.
“As you can see the taco’s turned out well, they’re done,” O’Neale says to finish the video.
NBA Taco Tuesdays
The NBA has grown fond of the Taco Tuesday celebration. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has made a weekly tradition of celebrating the weekly occurrence across his social media platforms.
James went as far as to attempt to trademark the popular phrase. Of course, his application was denied.
What day is it, Lakers Nation?!?!
🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮 pic.twitter.com/S5Q123vUim— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 30, 2019
When the Lakers hold an opponent under 111 points, fans get coupons for two free tacos from Jack in the Box. At one point, James has led the Lakers crowd in a “Taco Tuesday” chant to encourage the team’s performance.
James went as far as to send taco trucks to first responders fighting California’s Getty Fire that threatened his home.
