Taco Seasoning from scratch and LOW CARB tacos

So even though I am no longer living the low carb dream, I am still living with someone who is. Not only that but I have a backlog of low carb recipes that I never posted on here but that I still like and think you might like. This is one of ‘em.

When MQ and I went low carb, we started reading labels like maniacs and we noticed that items that really didn’t need sugar or chemicals, often had both. For example, those little $0.99 taco seasoning packets are chock full of maltodextrin, anti-caking agents and sometimes *SHOCK* even wheat! Looking at the other ingredients, I realized I could easily make my own taco seasoning sans the creepy stuff and so I did. And it was good. And it was CHEAP. And now you can make it too!

*Fun Fact* My sous chef MQ looks EXACTLY like the Cholula lady if you add glasses. He even wears a wrap dress just like hers!

This recipe makes enough seasoning for 1 lb of ground meat. It is easy to double and you can always make a huge batch to keep in the pantry and use when the mood strikes.

- 1 Tbsp. Chili Powder
- 1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp. Onion Powder
- 1/4 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/4 tsp. Dried Oregano
- 1/2 tsp. Paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp. Ground Cumin
- 1 tsp. Sea Salt
- 1 tsp. Cayenne Pepper

Mix all ingredients thoroughly.

Cook 1 lb of ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until cooked through and beginning to brown.
Mix in taco seasoning and 1 cup of water and cook for 20 more minutes or until all the water is absorbed. (It looks like it will never happen but I promise, it does.)

These are low carb tacos so no tortillas or shells here, we are going fusion style and making taco lettuce wraps.

You must assemble your taco in EXACTLY this order (OR ELSE!)
Don’t even THINK about omitting any toppings or adding anything like cilantro or raw onions.
You have been warned.
1.    Lettuce Cup:  Get yourself a nice big piece of iceberg lettuce

2.    Sour Cream:  Slather that baby, but good. Sour cream is the anchor that holds the meat in place.

3.    Meat: Spoon on a healthy helping of ground meat. Flavor country.

4.    Avocado: This is your second anchor. It holds down the meat and gives the cheese something to cling to.

5.    Cheese: Grate your own cheese. Don’t mess with those bags of waxy pre-shredded garbagio. That stuff is whack. And it has maltodextrin in it. Sprinkle on enough cheese to conceal your other toppings. Cheese is good.

6.    Tomato: Let’s not go crazy here. Tomatoes like to fall out of tacos and that’s okay. it’s kind of their job. You don’t want too much tomato in every bite so a sprinkle will do and if you lose a few, no biggie.

7.    Cholula: That’s right, Cholula. Not Tobasco, not Crystal, not Tapatio. Cholula. Shake a few drops all over that bad boy and you are ready for action.

BOOM! Now THAT is a low carb taco.