What Is Taco Seasoning?
Taco seasoning is a type of seasoning blend that is typically made with a combination of spices, herbs, and other ingredients. This blend is usually used to season ground beef or other proteins for tacos, burritos, or other Mexican dishes. It is an easy way to add flavor to a dish without spending a lot of time measuring and mixing individual spices. The mix of spices used in taco seasoning varies from recipe to recipe, but typically includes chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, paprika, and salt.
Creating Your Mild Taco Seasoning Recipe
If you're looking for a milder taco seasoning recipe, the recipe below should do the trick. This recipe makes enough to season beef for four tacos. To make the seasoning blend, combine the following ingredients in a bowl or jar: one tablespoon chili powder, one teaspoon ground cumin, one teaspoon garlic powder, one teaspoon onion powder, one teaspoon oregano, one teaspoon paprika, one teaspoon sugar, and one-half teaspoon salt. Mix the ingredients together, and store in an airtight container for up to six months.
Using Your Mild Taco Seasoning
To use your mild taco seasoning, simply brown one pound of ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the beef is fully cooked, reduce the heat to low and add two tablespoons of your seasoning blend. Stir the beef to combine, and allow the mixture to simmer for two minutes. Your seasoned beef is now ready to be used in tacos, burritos, or whatever Mexican dish you have in mind.
Spice it Up
If you're looking to spice things up a bit, you can always add more chili powder, cumin, and/or other spices to your mild taco seasoning. For a spicier version, try adding an additional tablespoon of chili powder and an extra teaspoon each of cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and paprika. You can also substitute the chili powder with an equal amount of ancho chili powder or chipotle chili powder for even more flavor.
Other Uses for Mild Taco Seasoning
Your mild taco seasoning can be used for more than just tacos and burritos. It also makes a great addition to chili, soups, stews, and casseroles. You can even sprinkle it on vegetables before roasting them in the oven. The possibilities are nearly endless!
Making Mild Taco Seasoning in Bulk
If you find that you use your mild taco seasoning often, you may want to make a larger batch. To do this, simply double or triple the amounts of each ingredient. This will give you enough to season eight to twelve tacos. Once you have mixed the ingredients together, store the mixture in an airtight container for up to six months.
Conclusion
Making your own mild taco seasoning is a great way to add flavor to your favorite Mexican dishes. The recipe above should provide you with enough seasoning blend to season four tacos. If you're looking for a spicier version, you can always add more chili powder and other spices to the mix. And if you find yourself using your mild taco seasoning often, consider making it in bulk so you have enough to season a larger number of tacos.
