Printable page 
Minced beef for tacos
From Cookipedia
I decided to perfect this because I was fed up with buying a famous brand packet of spices every time I wanted to make tacos. I think that this is pretty close. It works with chicken as well as beef.
I deliberately wanted a dry mix to put into taco shells, as the sauce would be provided by guacamole, sour cream or yogurt.
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 1 packet of taco shells or taco trays
- 225 g (1/2 lb) lean minced beef
- 1 red pepper, chopped finely
- Juice from ½ an orange
- 1 tablespoon ghee
- 1 tablespoon tomato puree
For the dry spice mix
- 1 teaspoon dried smoked chillies such as chipotle:
- 1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 5 cm (1/2") cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon white cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon black cumin seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon dried minced garlic
- Sea salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Good pinch of salt or 1 tablespoon of juice from preserved lemons - if using the latter, add in step 3
For garnishing
Method
- Grind all of the dry spices in a coffee grinder
- Tip the mince and the chopped red peppers into a bowl
- Add the dry spices and tomato puree and mix them together by kneading the mince
- If you have the time, leave for an hour in a cool place for the flavours to mingle
- Heat the ghee in a frying pan or wok
- Add the mince and fry until done to your liking
- Pour off any excess fat
- Add the juice from ½ an orange
- Stir fry for a few more minutes and pour away any excess liquid
- If desired, put in half the of the spring onions during the last minute of cooking (as in the photo), kill the heat and serve immediately.
- Arrange on a hot plate and sprinkle with all of/the rest of the chopped spring onions over the filled taco shells
Serving suggestions
Serve with taco shells (or the really neat taco trays), sour cream, guacamole, pickled jalapeños and a salsa such as sweet potato salsa
Variations
Try chicken fillets or shredded beef steak instead
Sprinkle with grated Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese
