Grandpa Joe's
Beef Tacos

I can't claim this recipe is authentically Mexican, or that it is even close to being authentic.  I can claim these tacos are spicy and delicious!

About this recipe

I have never been impressed with bottled taco sauces, so I was determined to find a recipe that could be prepared easily from "scratch".  Thanks to some help from Chef Alton Brown, I now use this one exclusively for beef tacos.

Ingredients

  • 1½ pound ground sirloin
  • 1 sweet onion, diced
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves, chopped
  • ¾ cup beef stock
  • 2 tablespoons hot chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • flour or corn tortillas
  • cheddar cheese, grated
  • tomatoes, diced
  • lettuce, roughly chopped

Directions

  1. In a large fry pan, sauté the onions and garlic in 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat until they are soft and translucent, but not browned.
  2. Add the sirloin, mix thoroughly with the onions, and cook until browned.  Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat into small pieces.
  3. When the meat is cooked, stir in the beef stock, corn starch, and spices. 
  4. Stir frequently until the sauce begins to boil.  Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.
  5. Serve immediately with tortillas and your favorite toppings.
Beef Taco.
Or just serve it over fresh lettuce!

Notes

  • Guacamole, sour cream, chopped chives, cilantro, and chopped onion are also delicious topping options.
Posted: January 2016.