The Basics Of: Taco Meat
I use this meat as a base for all things Latin america: toastadas, enchiladas, tacos, beefy queso, texmex skillet…
You can add Chipotle peppers if you want to enhance the heat, lime to make it zingy (pairs great with sour cream), or add it to burrito bowls full of veggies. It’s meant to work as a base for you to build flavors on top of and sometimes it’s just a protein for you to throw all your leftovers veggies in the fridge at for a fridge clean-out.
INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED:
Ground beef
Yellow onions (optional)
Minced garlic (optional)
Olive oil
Kosher salt
Black pepper
Cumin
Chili powder
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Smoked paprika
UTENSILS I’D SUGGEST HAVING:
Medium saucepan
Silicone spoon
Colander
Small bowl
Tin foil
ORDER OF OPERATIONS:
Chop vegetables (if using)
Season meat and brown
Drain unless using extra grease to make gravy
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat? No
Ideally, take some time to heat your pan with olive oil before adding your meat to it. This will help with quicker and more consistent browning
Tip: If your pan is small or even medium, try not to overcrowd it with pounds and pounds of meat at a time. If the steam cooking meat creates doesn’t have room to escape into the air, it’ll stick around and steam you meat rather than Sautee it.
If adding garlic and onions, you can put them in after youve tossed the meat around a bit - it doesn’t have to be fully cooked. We don’t want the onions taking a while and the meat to overcook - while the reverse is harder to mess up (overcooked onions are delicious)
Add all of your seasonings to taste. This is a good time to think about what you’re pairing this with — does it need a good amount of salt if you’re adding this beef to a salty cheese or dish? Is there already a cumin heavy component somewhere else in the meal so you should go lighter here? Balance it to fit your pallet, but don’t be afraid of a little flavor.
While your meat is finishing up, line your small bowl with tin foil and place the colander on top.
Tip: Do not drain the grease into your sink - this is very bad for your plumbing. You can drain it into your trashcan immediately if you want, but due to the high heat, it can melt/cause holes in your trash bag that you’ll regret later…
Later, once the grease cools and solidifies (gross, but helpful), you can just ball up the foil and throw it away.
Enjoy!