Quick, easy, delicious and filling and a great way to get salad into your children! The more eagle-eyed among you may have noticed that I didn't add the recipe for the taco seasoning blend to the last blog post. When I realised that I had missed it off the page it was too good an opportunity not to publish a taco recipe. This is one of our family favourites that is quick to prepare and fun to eat as everyone adds their own ingredients to the shell to create their own unique taco. If you are making this for kids or chili-phobes leave the spice out and add some smoked paprika instead. It will taste just as good without the heat.
If I'm making this for a movie night dinner I prep all the topping ingredients ahead of time and then just make the mince and heat the tacos; we clear off the coffee table and eat in front of the TV with trays on our laps and a massive stack of napkins to catch the inevitable fall-out!
TACO SEASONING This is enough for one batch of tacos but I make three times the quantity and keep it in a screw-top jar in my spice cupboard: 2 teaspoons chili powder or smoked paprika or half and half
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon dried minced onion
1/8 teaspoon cayenne powder
1/4 teaspoon sugar (optional)
21/2 tablespoons corn meal (optional)
Put all the ingredients into a lidded container and give it a good shake to mix.
TACO FILLING
500g mince - beef, turkey or chicken
1 medium onion finely diced
Taco seasoning to taste
1 tablespoon oil
1 squirt tomato puree
Heat the oil in a pan and fry the onion until soft and translucent. Add the mince and bash with a spoon or masher until well broken up. Stir in the tomato puree and then add the taco seasoning to taste. Allow the mince to cook for 5-10 minutes to cook out the spices, taste again and adjust the seasoning.
If you're not fond of crunchy tacos you can just as easily use the fillings in a wrap or soft taco. I personally prefer them as they sop up any extra juice and don't shatter into a million pieces onto the floor.
TACO TRIMMINGS
Chopped tomatoes or tomato salsa
Shredded lettuce
Drained sweetcorn kernels
Tofutti 'Better Than Sour Cream'
Chopped coriander
Red onion rings
Fresh sweet pepper strips
Jalapeño slices.