mini Taco Salad bowls

October 25th, 2010 by justJENN

I use my beloved cupcake pans for just about everything. From a Rainbow Snack Tray (the Kid’s fave) to actual cupcakes – it’s so helpful and versatile, I knew they’d be perfect for shaping little tortilla bowls for my taco salads!

ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 onion, diced small
3 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
freshly ground pepper
juice of 1/2 a lime

flour tortillas
olive oil salt

lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, etc

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Let’s start by discussing my love of tortillas. I am lucky enough to live close to a Taqueria that makes them fresh. I am telling you there is nothing better. If you do buy the ones at the grocery store, just give them a quickie in the microwave for a few seconds to soften them up. (Fresh ones don’t need that process.) Using a brush, put olive oil on both sides of the tortilla. I prefer flour, it comes out much better but if you want to use corn tortillas – go on with your bad self, I’m not gonna stop you. The perfect size is about 5″-6″ round, if yours are bigger, I’d cut them down, it’s easier to fold.

Using a nice pastry brush (I prefer silicone) brush olive oil onto both sides of the tortilla.

Press the oiled tortillas into a cupcake pan. Carefully fold over the edges so that the tortilla doesn’t break but still retains it’s shape. The oil should help with the folding. Bake for 8-10 minutes, then take them out and set them aside to cool on a wire rack.

In a small bowl combine the seasonings: chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

Start the meat! (Like start your engines except…beefier.) In a pan over medium high – heat the 2 teaspoons of olive oil and saute the garlic and onion. When it just begins to soften add the ground beef to brown, adding the mixed seasonings.

For heaven’s sake, drain the meat of greazze, no one wants to eat that. Right before you serve, squeeze the half a lime over the top of the meat. It adds a nice little acidic kick.

Now fill your little tortilla bowls with the meat mixture, topping it with whatever you like. I like hot sauce, a little cheese, some lettuce and tomatoes and guac, heck yes – the guac.

The kids like this dish because, well it’s a DISH you can eat. I like it cause it’s small which means I can load up extra on chips and guac. Priorities.