Brooks' Tacos

Definitely not traditionally Mexican, but this is what we grew up with and brings back memories of extra-hot salsa at my grandparents.

  • Prep time: 30 minutes
  • Cook time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 people

Ingredients

    For the beef

    • 400g extra-lean beef
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
    • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
    • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper

    Other fillings

    • 250g cheddar cheese
    • 1 onion
    • 2 peppers
    • 2 tomatoes, de-seeded
    • Lettuce, for decoration (you might intend to add it, but you never will)

    To serve

    • 16 taco shells
    • Old El Paso extra-hot salsa
    • Lime (not traditional at all)

Steps

  • Prepare the non-meat fillings. Grate the cheese (always make more than you think you’ll need). Finely dice the rest of the fillings and place in separate bowls. Squeeze a little lime over the onions to keep them fresh.
  • Preheat the oven to 200℃ for the taco shells.
  • Mix all the spices together in a jar.
  • Brown the beef in a frying pan, adding the spice mix 2/3 of the way through. Remove to a serving bowl.
  • Warm the taco shells for 3-5 minutes. They’ll be soft when they come out of the oven, and harden up as they cool.
  • Put everything out on the table, and dig in.