To make tacos, start by preparing the filling, typically ground beef cooked with spices like cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, and oregano. Brown the beef in a skillet, add seasonings and optionally tomato paste and broth, then cook until the liquid reduces and the flavors meld. Meanwhile, you can prepare crunchy taco shells by frying tortillas in hot oil until golden and crispy or use store-bought soft or crunchy shells. Fill the taco shells with the cooked meat mixture and add toppings such as shredded cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole, and lime wedges. Serve immediately for best taste. Here is a simple stepwise overview:
Ingredients
- Ground beef (about 1 lb)
- Taco seasonings: cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt, pepper
- Tomato paste and beef broth or water (optional)
- Corn or flour tortillas (for shells)
- Toppings: shredded cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole, lime wedges
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet with a little oil.
- Add taco seasonings and mix well.
- Add tomato paste and broth/water, cook until liquid reduces.
- Meanwhile, fry tortillas in hot oil to make crispy shells or heat store-bought shells.
- Fill shells with meat mixture.
- Add toppings as desired.
This method produces flavorful beef tacos with crispy shells and fresh toppings. Several variations exist for seasoning and filling, and tacos can be customized easily.
