Taco Meat and Beans

I cannot make a taco beautiful enough to photograph. Imagine this in a taco.

Starting in about middle school, I developed three cooking specialties: fat-free cakes with green food coloring (they tasted just as good as they sound), tofu stir-fries, and taco meat. My taco meat method used to be to combine a little bit of every liquid condiment in the refrigerator: ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, hot sauce, and perhaps an odd salad dressing or other specialty item. The adult version is more subtle, but it still has ketchup. I've tried working from fresh tomatoes instead, but the tomato+sugar+vinegar+smoothness of the ketchup wins.

Through my various periods of vegetarianism, I've usually maintained a taste for two meat items: pepperoni pizza and my homemade taco meat. However, the taco meat has gradually gained more non-meat items and I really like this version which is about 50% beans and vegetables. Adjust the meat to bean ratio to your liking; it works fine with all meat if you'd prefer.

The Recipe:

1 lb ground beef (I use the leanest I can find)

1 1/2 cans black beans, or the equivalent in cooked dry beans

1 onion, chopped finely

6 cloves garlic, minced

4 stalks celery, chopped finely

other vegetables if available: red bell pepper, corn

1/4 c pickled jalapeno slices, minced

1/4 c pickled jalapeno juice (from the jalapeno jar)

1/4 c ketchup

1 tb chili powder

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp salt, plus more to taste

• Brown the ground beef in olive oil over medium heat. Drain fat if more than a trace has collected at the bottom of the pan.
• Add the onion, garlic, celery, jalapenos, and other vegetables if using. Turn up heat to medium-high and stir until the onion softens.
• Add all other ingredients and stir well. Simmer at least 5 minutes; I often leave it simmering for an hour to let the flavors meld together.
• Serve with taco shells, lettuce, guacamole, cheddar cheese, and chopped onions... or with different taco stuff if you prefer, but my list is the best way.

The Verdict:

Overall grade: A

Overall reason: Easy, tasty, inexpensive, and it gets me to eat protein

Time to prepare: 15 minutes

Husband quote: "Good." (He said this about 4 separate times between bites.)