Taco Tuesday, BaBy!!

Before going Paleo, my husband and I were huge fans of Taco Tuesday – here, there and everywhere… give it to me! Now that we live in the grain and dairy free world, it makes it a touch difficult to hit up your local taco joint. Beans, rice, cheese, sour cream, MSG ….. yahhh, they just don’t mix in the Paleo world. I’ve also realized that most taco seasoning packets, Organic or not, either have MSG or flour as an ingredient – making it a challenge to enjoy Taco Tuesday at home.

I’ve given a few attempts at homemade taco seasonings, but none offered the spice I was looking for. Craving Taco Tuesday last week, it was my quest to make a Paleo-riffic taco seasoning worthy of sharing. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect when Erin, my friend who has an amazing garden and randomly drops off her bounty to share, left a beautiful box filled with tomatoes and jalapeños on our front porch. INSPIRATION!!

I’m all about spices and seasonings, but what I needed was a real kick in the pants. Jalapeños, BaBy!! I took chopped red onion & minced Jalapeño, sautéed in olive oil and added 100% grass-fed ground beef. Once the beef was browned, I tossed in my special concoction of spices and simmered. Even before the first bite, I could smell this was Paleo-riffic.
I’m so pumped to share this with you – Happy Taco Tuesday!!

TACO MEAT
4 lbs. 100% grass-fed ground beef
1 Red Onion, chopped
4 Jalapeños, minced
Olive Oil

TACO SEASONING
1 TBSP Cumin
1½ tsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Oregano
1 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
2 tsp. Garlic Powder
½ tsp. Onion Powder
1½ tsp. Salt
1½ tsp. Ground Black Pepper

SIDES (optional)
Lettuce, chopped
Tomatoes, chopped
Olives, sliced
Green Onion, sliced
Jalapeño, minced
Avocado, sliced
Salsa

1) Sauté red onion and jalapeño in olive oil over medium heat 3-5 minutes.

2) Add ground beef and brown, stirring to break up the meat –about 10 minutes.

3) Turn heat down to low and drain fat from beef.

4) Mix together taco seasoning. Add ¾ warm water to taco seasoning and stir until mixed. Pour on top of ground beef and simmer 5-10 minutes.

5) Layer taco meat on top of lettuce. Add any additional toppings.

And there you have it – Taco Tuesday, Paleo style!!

For more recipes and tips follow my blog at http://www.columbian.com/weblogs/paleo-in-a-pinch/ and find me on Facebook.

From my kitchen, to yours …. Enjoy!!