Crispy Beef Tacos with Creamy Cilantro Sauce

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb 80/20% ground beef
• 0.5 yellow onion (diced)
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 0.33 cup water
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp chili powder (adjust to taste)
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chipotle powder
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• Cilantro (for garnish)
• 8 oz mozzarella cheese (shredded)
• 8 Flour tortillas
• 1 tbsp olive oil (for sautéing onions)
• neutral high heat oil (for frying)
• 1 bunch cilantro
• 2 jalapeños
• 5 garlic cloves
• 0.33 cup mayonnaise
• 0.33 cup sour cream
• 2 limes (freshly squeezed)
• 3 tbsp olive oil (for sauce)
• 0.5 tbsp garlic powder (for sauce)
• 0.5 tbsp oregano (for sauce)
• 1 tsp chicken bouillon
• salt and pepper (to taste)

Steps

1. 1

   Prepare the sauce: Add the bunch of cilantro, jalapeños, garlic cloves, mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder, 1/2 tablespoon oregano, chicken bouillon, and salt and pepper to taste into a blender or large bowl.

2. 2

   Blend the mixture until it is completely smooth and creamy.

3. 3

   Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Refrigerate the sauce until you are ready to serve.

4. 4

   In a large pan over medium-high heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil and the diced yellow onions. Cook until the onions have softened, about 3-4 minutes.

5. 5

   Add the 1.5 lbs of ground beef to the same pan. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until it is mostly browned.

6. 6

   Add the spices (garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, chipotle powder, oregano, smoked paprika, and salt) to the beef. Mix thoroughly until the meat is evenly coated.

7. 7

   Stir in 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and cook for about 1 minute to allow it to caramelize.

8. 8

   Pour in 1/3 cup of water and mix well. Cover the pan with a lid and let the mixture simmer until the liquid has reduced and the beef is thick and flavorful.

9. 9

   In a separate large pan over medium-high heat, add enough neutral high-heat oil to coat the bottom for frying.

10. 10

    Assemble the tacos by adding a spoonful of the beef mixture to one half of each flour tortilla.

11. 11

    Top the beef with a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese. Fold the tortilla over and press down gently to seal.

12. 12

    Fry the tacos in the hot oil on both sides until the tortillas are golden and crispy and the cheese inside is fully melted.

13. 13

    Remove the tacos from the pan and drain them on a wire rack or paper towels to remove excess oil. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with the prepared sauce.

Notes

For extra crispy tacos, ensure the oil is hot before adding the tortillas. You can adjust the heat of the sauce by removing the seeds from the jalapeños for a milder flavor or leaving them in for more spice.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• dinner
• tacos
• beef
• crispy
• fried
• Mexican-inspired