Friday, August 13, 2010

Native American Tacos

I was goofing off on Face book the other day, and someone mentioned Navajo Tacos. We all know what happens when a craving is planted around here. I had to make some!

They're quite easy to make. You just need a few items.

1-2 16oz. cans of Ranch style beans. I usually make my own version from a recipe that Sis taught me years ago; but for the sake of ease, this will do.

1/2-1 chopped white onion.

1/2-1 tsp. chopped garlic.

1-2 lbs. ground beef seasoned for tacos.

1-2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated.

1-2 cups shredded ice burg lettuce.

1 large red tomato, diced.

4-8 pieces of fry bread.*

Break up the ground beef into a large cast iron skillet heated to medium high heat, stirring and breaking into crumbles as you go. Add the onions and salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle in your favorite seasonings for tacos. At this point; I add my favorite green chile, and about 2 table spoons of good salsa. Reduce the heat to simmer. Place the beans into a small sauce pan, heating them up on a medium setting. Let these two pans simmer for about 10-15 minutes, until nice and warm. Turn off the heat and set into a warm oven until you finish with the bread.


*Recipe for fry bread found here. I tweaked it a little by rounding up the baking powder rather than leveling it off to puff the bread up a bit more. This one tastes like the fry bread I remember from home.

Have everything ready before you start the bread so you can assemble plates right after the fry bread is done.

I just sprinkle a bit of grated cheese over the bread, and spoon a layer of beans, then a layer of meat. Add another healthy handful of cheese, and distribute lettuce and diced tomatoes on top. Serve with a good dollop of sour cream and a nice side of salsa.



Enjoy!

8 comments:

lisahgolden said...

I am totally hungry now. Those look delicious.

kkryno said...

They are so good that I had them today again for lunch!

OOOF! ;)

Brave Sir Robin said...

Yum.

Gotta make fry bread.

kkryno said...

@Ken:
Traditionally lard is used for frying, but Crisco* works just as well. But then; you're probably already aware of that, knowing where you live. This dish can easily be adapted to suit a Tex-Mex tastebud!

Friðvin said...

Oh I just happened to swing by a hour before lunch time when I'm starving and see this...easy to do a veggie variation too.

kkryno said...

@ Kona.

Beans are so wonderful on their own, I could just try that. Great suggestion! :)

Doug and Amanda said...

Mouth. Is. Watering.

Saoirse in Spokane said...

I haven't had a good Navajo taco since the last Pow Wow. Thanks for the recipe. Fry Bread = that will be new for me to make.

Have a great week.