High Protein Crispy Beef Cones

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup Onion (diced)
• 0.5 cup Bell pepper (diced)
• 1 lb Lean ground beef (extra lean recommended)
• 1 tbsp Garlic puree (divided use)
• 1 tbsp Tomato paste
• 0.25 cup Water (for beef mixture)
• 1 tbsp Beef seasoning (taco seasoning or similar)
• 4 Tortillas (sliced in half to make 8 cones)
• 8 Low-fat Mozzarella sticks (cut to fit cones)
• 1 Avocado (ripe)
• 0.5 cup Greek yogurt (plain)
• 1 tbsp Fresh parsley (chopped)
• 1 tsp Lemon juice
• 1 tsp Honey
• Salt and black pepper (to taste)

Steps

1. 1

   Sauté the diced onions and peppers in a pan over medium heat until they are soft.

2. 2

   Add the ground beef to the pan and cook until browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.

3. 3

   Stir in the beef seasonings, garlic puree, tomato paste, and a splash of water. Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the beef, then set aside.

4. 4

   Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

5. 5

   Slice your tortillas in half. Roll each half into a cone shape, securing the edge with a toothpick if needed.

6. 6

   Place the empty cones on a baking sheet and give them a light spray of oil.

7. 7

   Bake the empty cones until they are golden and crispy, about 5-8 minutes.

8. 8

   While the cones bake, prepare the avocado sauce by combining avocado, Greek yogurt, fresh parsley, a bit of water, lemon juice, honey, salt, pepper, and garlic in a bowl or blender. Mix until smooth.

9. 9

   Remove the crispy cones from the oven. Fill each cone with a piece of mozzarella stick, followed by a portion of the beef mixture (roughly 1/8th of the total mix per cone).

10. 10

    Top each cone with more shredded or chopped mozzarella.

11. 11

    Place the filled cones upright in a loaf tin (this keeps them standing) and bake again until the cheese is completely melted and bubbly.

12. 12

    Remove the toothpicks before serving with the avocado sauce.

Notes

Using a loaf tin is a great hack to keep the cones upright while the cheese melts. Be sure to remove the toothpicks used for shaping before eating.

Nutrition per serving

• high-protein
• crispy
• beef
• snack
• main course
• baked
• low-calorie