Tomato sauce and water help maintain moist taco meat while adding an aromatic crunch from onion powder. Adding both adds depth of flavor.
Once your beef is browned, drain any excess grease before mixing it with tomato sauce/water, taco seasoning, and salsa for quick homemade tacos that are ready in about 15 minutes!
Tortillas
Tortillas have long been an essential element of Mexican cuisine and have endured for generations. Far more than just trendy food items, tortillas come in all sorts of sizes, shapes, and styles, traditional options being corn and flour tortillas. Still, more recently, whole wheat varieties have gained in popularity as a healthier option that provides fibre in one convenient meal.
To make tortillas yourself, heat 1/4-1/2 inches of oil in a skillet on medium-low heat until a drop of water hits it and sizzles without smoking. If the oil begins smoking, it is too hot.
Once the oil is hot, cook one tortilla at a time for 45 to 1 minute until its underside has pale brown spots and bubbles form, before flipping and repeating for the remaining tortillas. Once finished, stack and cover with a clean kitchen towel in order to keep them soft and warm until serving – or place them into a tortilla warmer or large resealable bag to maintain heat and moisture until serving time arrives.
Ground Beef
Ground beef is one of the mainstays in making tacos, whether cooked on its own or using a slow cooker. You have numerous ways to cook it; all it takes is finding one that tastes and smells appealing! Other common taco ingredients include chicken, pork and vegetables – and adding beans can give it even more substance!
Lean ground beef is ideal for tacos as it won’t become overly fatty while cooking up nicely. You can find it at most grocery stores; alternatively, you could opt for higher-fat versions and drain after browning before adding seasonings and spices.
Use quality chilli powder to add an authentic Mexican flare to your taco meat. Select between mild or spicy blends, with some offering added garlic or onion powder for additional depth of flavor. Adding tomato paste and water will keep your taco meat moist; optionally, you may also include some salsa for extra flair!
Salsa
Make an unforgettable taco or enchilada dish with this easy, quick-and-flavorful salsa recipe! Perfect for tacos, nachos or enchiladas alike – and customizable according to your desired spice levels!
Begin by finely chopping onion and garlic using either a knife or pulse function of your food processor. This ensures they will be finely chopped while helping prevent over-processing, which could create an intense gazpacho-esque puree.
Start by placing the tomatoes (with juice), garlic cloves, jalapeno peppers and cilantro into your food processor or blender and pulse them to create salsa in your preferred consistency. Feel free to add more ingredients if necessary or extend processing times as you need, but remember that ingredients cannot be removed later on!
Refrigerating this salsa allows its flavors to combine and bring out their best, creating the ideal accompaniment to any Tex Mex meal such as carnitas, adobada, or barbacoa. Sugar and salt may be added for additional balance against the natural acidity of tomatoes.
Guacamole
Avocados make an excellent starting point for making guacamole, and you can customize its taste to meet your personal preferences by adding various ingredients. Traditional guacamole is traditionally composed of onions, coriander/cilantro leaves, tomato, jalapeno pepper, lime juice and salt; avoid fillers like sour cream and mayonnaise which dilute its flavors and ruin its character.
Start with avocado at its ideal ripeness if you want your guacamole to come out perfectly, which means its skin should be dark green or brown. It gives when gently squeezed – an overripe avocado will become soft and tasteless. It can even be hastened along by placing it in a paper bag with bananas, which emit natural gas that encourages rapid ripening.
Mash the avocados in a mixing bowl using a potato masher or large serving fork until chunky. Add all other ingredients and stir well, seasoning as desired with salt and lime juice to taste. This recipe makes plenty of guacamole that should be kept for several days in the refrigerator when stored, covered, and refrigerated.
Sour Cream
The sour cream topping adds a decadent, creamy texture to tacos. Instead of purchasing store-bought containers of plain store sour cream, why not create your own quick and easy homemade version using just three ingredients? Not only can this save money and space in the fridge, but it’s a great way to save yourself some cash, too!
You can use this sour cream sauce in place of any recipe calling for sour cream, making it super versatile and unexpectedly flavorful. For an extra spicy kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Start saving money and time by creating homemade taco seasoning for Taco Tuesday and other Tex-Mex dishes by creating your own easy taco seasoning recipe at home!
Conclusion
Crafting the perfect taco is an art, and our guide unveils the essential ingredients to elevate your taco game. Gather these simple yet flavorful components to create a symphony of tastes, turning every taco night into a fiesta of culinary delight.