Judging by the fact that it is still 90°F here, my plea for fall weather has gone unanswered. Fine! I give in.
So here’s a recipe that is perfect for summer weather. Although I personally believe that any time is taco time. The great thing about tacos is that they can literally be anything you want. If you take a tortilla and put something in it, it magically becomes a taco. That’s a mathematical fact. Tortilla + Filling = Taco.
I’ve included a base mix that can be used with beef or chicken, as well as my two favorite taco varieties. The seasoning mix is between a two and a three on a spicy scale of one to five, so adjust the crushed red pepper to suit your tastes.
Taco Seasoning Mix
Makes enough for 2lbs (a wee bit under 1kg) of meat / equivalent of two store bought seasoning packets
Ingredients
1 tablespoon (8g) chili powder
¼ teaspoon (1g) garlic powder
¼ teaspoon (1g) onion powder
¼ teaspoon (1g) crushed red pepper
¼ teaspoon (1g) dried oregano
½ teaspoon (2g) paprika
1½ teaspoons (5g) ground cumin
1 teaspoon (6g) kosher salt – Decrease by half if you use table salt
1 teaspoon (2g) ground black pepper
1 teaspoon (5g) corn starch
Directions
Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container until ready to use. To use: Sprinkle onto cooked meat and add ½ cup (150ml) water. Allow to simmer until sauce thickens.
Taco ‘Style’ Recipes
Cantina Tacos
Cover meat of choice with chopped onion and cilantro. Squeeze a wedge of lime over the top and serve with guacamole and hot sauce of choice.
Loaded ‘American’ Style Tacos
Cover meat with any of the following – More truly is better.
Lettuce, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, sliced black olives, jalapenos, refried beans, sour cream, guacamole, hot sauce… if you think it would be good on a taco, it probably would be.
Now you can impress your friends with an authentic Mexican meal at home.