How to Make Taco Salad
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Spicy Meat, Cheese, Salsa and Chips
Taco salad is quick, easy, tasty and nutritious. Your family and guests will have fun building their own salads. This recipe in your repertoire will be a sure-fire winner
Whether or not you’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for May 5), this is a tasty way to celebrate cultural diversity any day. Grab some Dos Equis or Pacifico Beer and you have a party.
Packaged taco seasoning mix makes this recipe a snap, but you can also make your own with the recipe below. Plain iceburg lettuce is common, but you may enjoy one of the packaged mixes of salad greens. Your choice also of cheese. If you use Monterey jack, it will shred more easily if you put it in the freezer for an hour before shredding it. Alternatively you buy the cheese already shredded. The optional kidney beans make the salad heartier and healthier.
This is great for an informal meal. Set the prepared elements out buffet style and get your family or guests involved by letting them assemble their own salads. Alternatively you can assemble the individual salads yourself, but serve the sour cream and salsa and chips on the table so people can add what they want.
Taco Salad
Serves 4
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 Tbsp corn (or other vegetable) oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1pkg taco seasoning mix
- 1 bag of salad greens
- 2 medium tomatoes, diced
- 1 cucumber, peeled and diced (optional)
- 1 15oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained (optional)
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey jack, or cotija)
- fresh tomato salsa
- 1 cup sour cream (optional)
- 1 avocado sliced (optional)
- 2 handfuls of tortilla chips (plain or your favorite flavored ones)
- Assemble all the ingredients to your work surface.
- In a large skillet over medium flame, cook the onion in oil until it is translucent, 3-4 minutes. Transfer the onions to a small bowl and reserve.
- Add the ground beef to the same pan and brown it, crumbling it with a spatula or wooden spoon. When it is mostly browned, drain off any excess fat.
- Stir in the seasoning mix and a just enough water (or beer) to moisten it. Reduce the heat to low and let it cook gently while you assemble the rest of the salad.
- In a large bowl, toss together the greens, tomatoes, cucumber and kidney beans (if using).
To set up buffet service:
- First comes the large bowl of the greens mixture.
- Second is the meat mixture, either in a casserole or for family, just set the skillet on a hot pad.
- Next come individual bowls with chips, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream and avocado (if using).
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