Healthy Beef Tacos - Shawn

Recipe by Shawn Suares

Ingredients:

700g lean ground beef

1 pack tacos (you get them ready at your local grocery store - hard or soft taco shells)

3 tbsp taco seasoning (readymade or see simple recipe below)

2 small onions (small diced)

2" piece of ginger (grated)

7-8 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)

1-2 jalapenos, de-seeded if you don't like it too spicy (finely chopped)

1/4 cup spring onions (chopped)

1 cup of white (or brown) mushrooms (thinly sliced)

grated cheese (Havarti jalapeno or any other)

lemon slices 

1/4 cup grated carrot

salt to taste

vegetable oil and sesame oil (optional)

Taco seasoning:
1/2 tbsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tbsp chili powder/ paprika
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Mix them all together and store in an airtight jar for future use. 

Pico De Gallo 
2 tomatoes (small diced)
1 white onion (small diced)
1 jalapeno (finely chopped)
a bunch of cilantro/coriander (finely chopped)
1/2 lime - juice
1 tsp salt (or more to taste)

Mix them all together and let it sit for at least 15 minutes (if not serving right away - refrigerate)
This can also be served as a dip with Tortilla Chips

Steps:

1. Before cooking the beef, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Lay the taco shells on an aluminum foil and let it heat in the oven for about 6-8 minutes.
   
   
3. Heat a skillet on medium heat. Add the ground beef to the hot skillet. Don't add any oil as the beef fat will start to sizzle. 
4. Once the beef is browned, drain and discard excess grease. Keep the browned beef aside.
   
   
5. In the same skillet, heat 2 tbsp of vegetable oil. 
6. Once it's hot, add the onion, garlic, grated ginger and diced jalapenos and fry till the onion caramelizes. Add a tsp of sesame oil to the onions (optional).
7. Add the chopped mushrooms. Saute them till they melt and become soft.
8. Add the browned ground beef to the dish with 3 tbsp of the taco seasoning. 
9. Mix the seasoning well and fry the beef for about 1.5-2 minutes. 
   
   Taco Time - Assemble.
10. Spoon the beef with a slotted spoon into the warm taco shells
11. Add your toppings - grated cheese on the hot beef so it melts, Pico De Gallo, grated carrots, spring onions and squeeze some lime on it (A little sour cream/avocado is always welcome).
12. ENJOY!

Notes:

• Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees just when cooking the beef so that you can add the taco shells in the oven when sauteing the onion, ginger etc. and have the shells ready by the time you are done adding the beef and seasoning.