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This delicious Beef Taco recipe and photos were shared with my by Karen Calanchini, Food
Stylist and Photographer, of Redding, CA.
More great
Southwest-Style Recipes.
Read about the History
of Tortillas & Tacos.
Beef Tacos Recipe
Recipe Type:
Beef,
Hatch Chile Pepper,
Beef Tacos
Cuisine:
Southwest, Mexican
Yields: 2 servings
Prep time: 30 min
Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef (hamburger)*
4 to 5 cloves
garlic
1/2 can (3 ounces) tomato sauce
1/2 cup homemade
salsa or your favorite brand
2
Hatch Chile Peppers or your favorite
chile peppers, skin, seeds, and blister skin removed
1/2 teaspoon Ancho or Chipotle chile powder
Salad (see recipe below)
4 to 6
corn tortilla shells**
Garnishes (see below)
* Karen likes to
use organic 85/15 ground beef.
** You may
use purchased corn tortillas, but you can also learn
How To Make Corn Tortillas.
Preparation:
In a large frying pan, brown
the ground beef. When the ground beef is half finished, add garlic and finish
cooking the beef. Add tomato sauce, salsa, chile peppers, and chile powder. Turn
heat to low and let the sauce barely simmer until most of the moisture has been
absorbed by the meat. Remove from heat and set aside in the refrigerator until
ready to proceed with the tacos.
When ready to make the Beef
Tacos, place the pan with the beef mixture over low heat. Gently heat until very
warm.
Reheating or toasting corn tortilla shell options:
Cooking tortilla shells for the first time can be
tricky, but it is really easy and you will soon get the feel for how you like
them cooked. I buy corn tortillas from Trader Joe's that are a homemade product
and a little thicker than the usual corn tortillas. They hold up well and do not
split on me. If you only make 4 tortillas for 2 servings, the remainder of the
meat, salad, and garnishes are great the next day for lunch.
-
 In a deep
saucepan over medium heat, add 1/2 cup vegetable oil. Heat until a drop of
water sizzles. Using tongs, dip one tortilla shell into the hot oil. When it
starts to bubble, flip it over. When it puffs up, remove from oil to a
paper-towel lined plate.
-
Moisten hands lightly with water; rub over
tortillas, one at a time. Place tortilla flat into an ungreased heavy frying
pan or onto a
cast-iron
griddle
over
medium heat; turn frequently until soft and pliable, approximately 30
seconds. Remove from heat and stack hot tortillas in a covered dish or wrap
in aluminum foil. Keep hot for up to 2 hours on an electric warming tray or
in a 150 degree F. oven. NOTE: In place of water, I sometimes use non-stick
cooking spray.
-
Either spray
or brush vegetable oil on both sides of the corn
tortillas. Place the tortillas on the aluminum foil lined baking sheet. Place in the oven for just a few minutes, until they soften
and become heated through.
-
Wrap in aluminum foil and
bake in a 350-degree F. oven for approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
-
To microwave, wrap a stack of tortillas lightly in paper
towels and warm on high for 6 or 7 seconds per tortilla.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
 Using a slotted spoon, place a
large spoonful of the prepared beef mixture into each prepared tortilla shell,
keeping in mind that you will be adding salad later. Fold the tortilla in half
and place on a large plate lined with paper towels. Continue with the remaining
tortillas, filling as many as you have the beef mixture for. Place the plate of
beef-filled tacos into the oven to keep warm.
To serve, Remove Salad and
Garnishes from the refrigerator. Place the warm beef-filled tacos out of the
oven and place on a heat-protective pad on your table.
Each person take a taco and
loads it up with onion, cheese, and salad. Top with your favorite taco sauce.
Remember that you will eat the tacos with your hands, so do not overload or they
will split apart.
Enjoy!
Makes 2 servings.
Salad:
Make enough salad to fill four (4) or more tacos.
 Romaine lettuce, sliced into
thin strips
Various colors of fresh
tomatoes,
cut into bite-size chunks
Cucumbers, cut into bite-size chunks
1
avocado
chopped into bite-size chunks
Salt
and freshly-ground
pepper
to taste
In a large bowl, combine
lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, salt, and pepper; refrigerate until ready to
serve.
Garnishes:
1 red
onion, diced
Shred your favorite cheese (we like a combo of white cheddar and jack cheese)
Your favorite red or green taco sauce
Fresh
cilantro leaves, chopped
(optional)
To prepare garnishes ahead of
time, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
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