While perusing the internet for a homemade taco seasoning recipe, I realized that I wasn't really impressed with the ingredients that were out there. Most of them used seasoned salt or table salt. Eeeek. I really try not to add salt as I'm cooking; I don't even like to add salt to pasta or potato cooking water (sorry Rachael Ray). So, while this recipe is pretty much a conglomeration of recipes (along with what I had on hand), please feel free to adjust as desired. This was what I used for one pound of GROUND TURKEY. (Shannon, use your darned ground beef if you must.)
1 T chili powder (I have a homemade version with no salt--be careful of salt content if you buy the cheap versions at the dollar store. The first ingredient is almost always salt)
1/4 t garlic powder
1/4 t onion powder
1/2 t crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 t italian seasoning (all the recipes I found call for oregano and I don't have any)
1/2 t paprika
1 1/2 t cumin (I'm pretty sure I used maybe almost 2 t as I love cumin and sure didn't shake excess off.)
1 t sea salt (DO NOT SUBSTITUTE TABLE SALT. THEY ARE NOT EQUAL.)
1 t black pepper
1/2-1 t habanero powder, depending on level of heat desired (or none, if you prefer)
Brown your GROUND TURKEY (bahahaha it's nice to capitalize that). While meat is browning, mix all the seasonings in a container. When meat is done browning, add the seasoning to your one lb of meat. Add maybe 2/3 cup of water, stir around, switch to low and let cook until the water is gone.
I served my perfect tacos with extra sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, sour cream, medium salsa, habanero sauce, and onions.
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Comments: 21
I like equal parts of cumin and crushed chiles, a tablespoon of each or more per pound of meat, with as much garlic as you can persuade people to ingest, a teaspoon or so of dried oregano, and some salt. I like a mixture of half California and half New Mexico red chiles but it's a matter of taste. You can increase the chiles if you want it hotter.
Oh, and honestly, I do like a little more garlic. For the first time in a long time, I was going for not tasting garlic in the meat.
In CA you can get Mexican spices at most any supermarket. Safeway, et al. We're different here, but maybe not that different. I'm sure Safeway is just as horrible in other parts of the the country as it is here. :) I particularly like the dimmer than the rest of the store lighting in the produce section.
Dimmer produce section? Sure don't think I've ever been in a store like that.
Serving two: ghost chile powder.
Taco's are Great just about any time! :)
Yum!
I'm lazy so I use a premixed seasoning blend for taco night (although we have tacos enough that it would make sense to make my own, I guess). I like Penzey's Spices Bold Taco Seasoning. I add a some chipotle powder to it because I like the little extra heat and smokiness.
Oh, and I thought of you earlier when stumbling across a comment. It should be a comment of the day somewhere. Check your gather mail (please).
I'd be in my glory being that close to the border.