Taco Salad

Taco Salad with a side of my strawberry tomato salsa



So around here we do tacos alot. I try to keep them interesting and find new ways to re-invent the taco.
Well the other night I decided to go on a limb and make my first taco salad for my family. I have never made the taco salad before, frankly because I never knew how really. I took the time the other day to prep my kitchen and went full steam ahead.. The result was amazing, I made a fantastic taco salad that my family enjoyed plus I also made a Fresh tomato strawberry salsa too ! Who knew it would be so easy, this whole time I was missing out ! I hope you can take the time to try these one day too.

What I love about tacos is that you can be so creative, here are some tips to keep your tacos interesting so your family will keep coming back for more :

• Switch your meats up, you can use beef, ground chicken, ground turkey even fish.
• Throw some beans into your tacos like white or red kidney, navy or black beans for added fiber and a nice creaminess
• Use lettuce leafs as your " taco" a great lettuce to use for that would be romaine, Boston bib, or even radicchio
• Add some veggies to your meat mixture, use bell peppers, spinach, celery, grated carrot, onions or even mushrooms
• Instead of the store seasonings try making your own, experiment with flavors, you can do tacos from around the world when you experiments with spices.
• Make your own salsas, they are super easy and tasty and you can add just what your family likes

Sierra's Taco Salad

1 lbs ground meat
1 can white kidney beans
3 garlic cloves minced
1 small onion minced
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tsp hot Hungarian paprika
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
6 tortillas
2 tbsp oil
* toppings i.e lettuce, cheese, salsa, sour cream

Heat skillet to medium high heat, add a bit of oil to pan, start to saute up meat until almost cooked, add in garlic, onion and spices, cook until meat in cooked through and onions and garlic and soft and tender, add in kidney beans and turn heat to medium low and continue to cook until beans are tender and mixture is done.

Tortillas shaped into cups

Brush all 6 tortillas with oil on both sides, fold tortillas on one side and curve bottom to make a "cup " and put into muffin tray to help keep the " cup " shape.  Bake at 400* until crisp but not too crisp just about 8 mins or so.
Once the shells are done, you can begin to form your taco salad.
I layered my Shell with Caesar salad dressing, then grated cheese, then my meat mixture, then topped it off with some salsa and served it with the lettuce on the side and more salsa on the side.
( I kinda love salsa ) But you can serve yours anyway you want.





Tomato Strawberry Salsa



Fresh Tomato Strawberry Salsa

4 plum tomatoes
1/2 red onion
2 green onions
1 cup mixed sweet bell pepper ( i used red yellow and orange )
1 cups fresh sweet strawberries
1 garlic clove
1 tsp salt / black pepper
Handful of fresh parsley

Cut up veggies into small chunks add to your food processor or blender and pulse till chunky or your desired texture... and Voila !  Amazing Tomato strawberry salsa !


Salsa is very versatile, instead of strawberry you can add peach, mango even apple or pear, be creative and use what you and your family likes, I promise once you make your first one, you won't stop !



Love Sierra