TACO SALAD revisited... your "old stand-bys" and "fun/unusual favorites"?!

[Lynn B]

This recipe (below, for Turkey Taco Salad from Martha's Stewart's FOOD magazine) made me think of all the different variations of taco salad that we all make and enjoy.

I like the green salsa and the zucchini in this recipe, and I frequently add a touch of cooked, crumbled bacon. YUM!

Soooo... what are your regular, stand-by, "go to" taco salad ingredients/recipes?

And what special or unusual ingredients or *touches* do you add to make it a little different, or your own?

Thanks!
Lynn

TURKEY TACO SALAD
Serves 6.

* 4 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 small onion, diced
* 1 pound ground turkey
* 1 small zucchini, diced
* 1 red bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, diced
* 1 1/2 cups prepared green salsa
* Coarse salt and ground pepper
* 2 heads Boston lettuce, leaves separated
* 1 1/2 cups crushed tortilla chips
* 1 cup small cherry tomatoes, halved
* 1 cup (about 4 ounces) shredded cheese, such as white cheddar or Monterey Jack


Directions
1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and cook, stirring often, until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add turkey; cook, stirring often, until starting to brown, 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Add zucchini, bell pepper, and 1 cup salsa; cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Season with salt and ground pepper. Transfer to a plate, and let cool.
3. In a large bowl, toss lettuce with tortilla chips, tomatoes, and remaining 1/2 cup salsa and 2 tablespoons oil. Transfer to serving plates, and top with turkey mixture and cheese.

[PAMMELA]

We make more traditional taco salads, using the tortilla bowl (I have the taco salad pans that you put the tortilla in and then put in the oven), taco seasoned hamburger meat, top top with lettuce, tomato, hot sauce, cheese, salsa and sour cream and use homemade salsa as the dressing.

I forgot, we put refried beans in the bottom of the bowl!

[Andrea_2]

This recipe is pretty boring, but I make it from time to time, and we all like it. I do make my own taco seasoning and dressing though. I just came on the board to find something to make for dinner, and I think I'm going to try that turkey taco salad tonight. It sounds good!

Taco Salad III

Ingredients:
16 ounces lean ground beef
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning
mix
1 head iceberg lettuce, shredded
1 red onion, sliced
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, drained 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
2 large tomatoes, chopped
1 avocados - peeled, pitted, and cubed
8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
1 (16 ounce) package corn chips
1 (16 ounce) bottle Catalina salad
dressing

Directions:
1. Prepare the ground beef as directed by taco seasoning package and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the beef mixture, lettuce, red onion, green onion, pinto beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, avocado and cheese. Mix well.
3. Before serving, add the corn chips and enough dressing to coat. Mix well and serve immediately.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2010 Allrecipes.com

[Kiwismommy]

Andrea could you post your homemade Taco Seasoning, please. I'd love to make up a batch and keep it on hand....trying to get away from prepared foods and mixes.

Thanks, Danita

[Andrea_2]

I did make the turkey taco salad for dinner, and we absolutely loved it! The store I went to only had one type of green salsa (Cookwell and Company tomatillo salsa), and that was perfect because it wasn't too spicy like some can be, so my kids gobbled this up too! I think I could've eaten the whole thing myself. Addictive! Thanks for posting. This is a keeper for sure.

[Andrea_2]

Andrea could you post your homemade Taco Seasoning, please. I'd love to make up a batch and keep it on hand....trying to get away from prepared foods and mixes.

Thanks, Danita

Sure! Here is the recipe I use. (it is from allrecipes.com)

Taco Seasoning I

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
1. In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Store in an airtight container

[Kiwismommy]

Thanks so much for the recipe, Andrea. I will put this together on the weekend.

Danita

[SusanMac]

I'm willing to try this blend, but historically always had the Cook's Illustrated taco seasoning blend on hand. Now I can't seem to find the recipe. Grrrr. Does anyone have it, by chance?? (I'm sure they're quite similar, but I know it didn't have onion powder b/c I never have that on hand)

[vweyel12]

I make my own version and eat a lot for lunch. I take a package of 97% fat free ground turkey and use either McCormicks or Penzy's taco seasoning after I brown it. I replace the water with chicken broth. I then tear up whatever lettuce I have on hand, add black or pinto beans, some diced pickled jalapenos, diced avocado and cherry tomatoes. I then make a dressing from my favorite salsa mixed with some light sour cream. A friend of mine turned me on to it and now I cannot stop! I can get about 4 lunches from a package of turkey. Yummy, healthy, low carb and inexpensive!

[LakeMartinGal]

Taco salad has as many variations as there are families!;) I've even heard people that use 1000 Island dressing on it -- we use Italian.:p

Taco Salad
1 lb lean ground beef
2 T dried minced onion (DH has a bad reaction to "real" onion)
1 can chili hot beans or chili medium beans
1 envelope Taco seasoning (if medium beans are used)
Brown the meat with the onions, add taco seasoning according to package directions, then add beans and stir. Chill

Then, everyone makes their own salad, in the proportions that they like using:
shredded romaine lettuce
shredded cheddar cheese (2%)
Doritos
tomatoes
Italian dressing (I use lower-fat, DH uses regular)

Another reason for each to make their own is that leftovers just consist of the meat/bean combo, and there's no wilted lettuce or droopy chips to work around!:cool::D

[ande]

Yum, this thread is making me hungry! Is it lunchtime yet?

Our favorite (haven't made it in a few years though) is this one from The Northern Exposure Cookbook:

TACO SALAD WITH FRESH GUACAMOLE
1 (14-16 oz.) bag taco chips
2 heads red leaf lettuce, shredded (~6 cups)
2 c. shredded cooked chicken breast
1/2 c. finely chopped white onion
3 c. chopped tomatoes
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. chopped cilantro
3 jalapenos, seeded and minced
1/4 tsp. sugar
1/4 c. fresh lime juice
2 c. grated Monterery Jack cheese
2 c. fresh guacamole (recipe follows)
3/4 c. sliced black olives
(our addition: 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed)

Line a large platter with chips. Spread lettuce over chips, leaving a 1" border of chips. Set aside.

Toss together remaining ingredients except cheese, guacamole, and olives. Spread mixture over lettuce, leaving a 1" border of lettuce. Sprinkle cheese on top. Spread guacamole over cheese. Garnish with sliced olives.


Guacamole
2 large very ripe avocados
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 c. diced tomatoes
1/2 c. diced white onion
2 tsp. seeded and minced jalapeno peppers
4 drops hot sauce
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Place peeled and pitted avocados into a bowl. Mash with a large fork, add lime juice, and mix well. Add all other ingredients and mix thoroughly.


We've also made the CL recipe Black Bean-Taco Salad with Lime Vinaigrette (http://http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=222266) quite a few times, and enjoyed that too.

[Anne]

Susan- is this it?

Taco Meat (Cooks Illustrated)

2 T oil
small onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 T chili powder
1 t cumin
1/2 t oregano
1/4 t cayanne
salt
1 lb 90% lean beef
1/2 c canned tomato sauce
1/2 c canned chicken broth
1 t brown sugar
2 t cider vinegar
black pepper

Heat oil over med. heat for 2 min. Add onion and cook until softened - approx 4 min. Add garlic, spices & 1/2 t salt. Cook until fragrant approx. 1 min. Add beef & cook 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce, chix broth, brown sugar & vinegar, simmer. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered approx 10 min and stir until no more chunks remain and until dry. Season with salt and pepper.

I think Jeanne (sp?) posted this a few years ago

I used crushed tomatoes and skip the chicken broth (use water) and brown sugar and use lime instead of the vinegar, and may up the oregano and cumin.