Description
Mouthwatering Taco Salad Delight sings with Southwestern flair, blending crisp lettuce, seasoned ground beef, and zesty dressing. Colorful ingredients dance together, promising a flavor fiesta that satisfies hunger and delights taste buds.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained, rinsed
Vegetables and Fresh Ingredients:
- 2 heads romaine, chopped
- 2 ½ cups halved cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup pico de gallo
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Seasoning and Dairy:
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 corn tortillas, cut into ¼ strips
- 2 cups (or more) vegetable oil
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat a robust cast-iron skillet and introduce ground beef, methodically fragmenting the meat while it sizzles and transforms.
- Infuse the beef with aromatic taco seasoning, tangy tomato paste, and a splash of water, stirring intermittently until the meat achieves a rich, caramelized texture.
- Carefully extract the beef from heat, allowing residual warmth to complete the cooking process.
- Prepare a separate cooking vessel with vegetable oil, creating a golden bath for the tortilla strips.
- Submerge tortilla strips into the hot oil, monitoring their transformation until they reach a precise amber hue of crispiness.
- Swiftly rescue the tortilla strips onto absorbent paper towels, immediately seasoning with a delicate salt sprinkle.
- Assemble a vibrant salad foundation using crisp romaine lettuce, gently seasoned and ready to embrace complementary ingredients.
- Cascade the succulent beef mixture atop the lettuce, integrating plump cherry tomatoes and hearty black beans.
- Generously crown the salad with sharp cheddar cheese, zesty pico de gallo, and freshly chopped cilantro.
- Artfully arrange the golden tortilla strips across the salad’s surface.
- Complete the culinary composition with strategic dollops of creamy sour cream, creating a visually stunning and flavor-rich dish.
Notes
- Prep the ground beef with patience, ensuring it’s finely crumbled and seasoned perfectly for maximum flavor infusion.
- Create crispy tortilla strips that add a delightful crunch and elevate the entire salad texture.
- Black beans provide a nutritious protein boost and complement the spicy beef beautifully.
- Fresh pico de gallo introduces a vibrant, zesty element that cuts through the richness of the meat and cheese.
- Customize the heat level by adjusting the amount of taco seasoning to suit your spice preferences.
- Use a cast-iron skillet for the best beef browning and flavor development, ensuring a restaurant-quality result at home.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg