RCI-SW.002.0001.001
Taco
This recipe is for tacos.
Prep15 min
Cook30 min
Total45 min
Servings4
Difficultyadvanced
Ingredients
- ground or finely chopped beef1 unit
- corn tortillas or ready-made taco shells1 unit
- cumin. about 1 to 4 teaspoons per pound of beef (perhaps 11 to 44 mL/kg)1 unit
- black olives1 unit
- shredded mild cheddar cheese1 unit
- fresh tomatoes1 unit
- salt. helpful if spices need to be ground1 unit
- Chopped cilantro. added to the beef1 unitor as a topping
- celery. raw1 unitlightly cooked, or well-cooked
- alfalfa sprouts1 unit
- fresh spinach1 unit
- peppers: habaneros1 unitjalapeños, etc.
- mushrooms1 unit
- salsa1 unit
- sour cream1 unit
- Chopped lettuce1 unit
- Chopped tomato1 unit
Method
1
Chop the black olives.
2
Slice the fresh tomatoes, optionally discarding the gooey parts.
3
Place the olives, tomatoes, and cheese in the eating area. These toppings will need to be ready to use when the taco shells are hot.
4
Place the beef in a wide pan on a large burner. Ground beef will need to be broken up as it cooks; chopped beef needs to be stir-fried and may require oil. When using high-fat ground beef you may wish to: add water to float the fat, cool to solidify the fat, remove the fat, drain the water, and reheat.
5
Add lots of cumin to the beef. Cumin is the magic ingredient that makes a taco taste like a taco. You may also add cilantro, celery, or mushrooms.
6
Prepare the shells. Pre-made shells should be propped up on each other and/or on cardboard, then heated in the oven. Do not brown them. Plain corn tortillas need to be fried. You may use a deep-fat process, going one at a time and using a large spoon to form the shells into the normal U shape. Pan frying in 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch of oil will also work; be sure not to let the tortillas stiffen prior to being bent into the normal U shape.
7
Place hot beef into a taco. To avoid cracks, it is important to do this first when using pre-made shells. The heat and moisture of the beef will soften up the bottom of the taco just enough to prevent cracking.
8
Place cheese onto the beef. The heat of the beef should slightly melt the cheese. You may wish to microwave the taco a bit, especially if the cheese is cold or if you are using low-fat cheese.
9
Place chopped olives, tomatoes, and any other vegetables onto the cheese.