I love the notion of Taco Tuesday, but with the diversity of this dish, you could literally have tacos every single night and never get sick of them (at least I could).

I’ll be doing several taco posts over the next few weeks, but tonight is my classic American-style beef taco, a recipe I’ve spent years of trial and error perfecting.

I start off with about 2lbs of ground beef (you can also do turkey, and stay tuned for a vegetarian taco in an upcoming post), fresh onions and garlic, and olive oil. For the beef, I go with leaner meat so I can control the fat content more.

I get the onions and garlic started first because I like to get them just to the starting point of caramelization. When the beef is starting to brown, I like to add some diced up cilantro stems. Up next, the spices!

There’s zero shame if you use the premixed taco seasoning from the store. The little packets or boutique blends are excellent. I just like being able to start where I want it and tweak as I go. Chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt and pepper are the standards.

The last thing I do before letting time work for me is throwing in a diced tomato and a little water. This helps the meat simmer for the next half hour without burning it, and you end up with a slightly saucy meat with all the flavors of the spices and aromatics permeated through.

While the meat is simmering, get your toppings and tortillas ready. I diced up some red onion, jalapeño, tomatoes, and cilantro and shredded some extra sharp cheddae cheese. I’ve really taken to grilling my tortillas vs steaming them.

I like both flour or corn tortillas depending on the type of taco. Tonight felt like a flour tortilla night. Feel free to go with crunchy, especially those disgustingly good Doritos style crunchy shells.

Construct your taco with your choice of toppings and sauces. Enjoy!

Recipe:
• 2lbs ground beef (90% lean)
• 1 medium white onion, diced
• 1 Roma tomato, diced
• 5 garlic cloves, smashed & chopped
• 3 tbsp cilantro stems, diced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 2 tsp oregano
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1/2 – 1 cup of water as needed

Instructions:  
1. Preheat skillet to medium.
2. Add onions and garlic, sautée for 3-5 minutes or until caramelization starts.
3. Add ground beef and cook untiljust starting to brown, then add cilantro stems and finish browning.
4. Add spices and a little water, cover and lower heat to medium-low.
5. Simmer for approx. 30 minutes.
6. Serve with your favorite toppings, sauces, and choice of tortilla.
Enjoy!