Name: Sweet & Spicy Taco Salad
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1 lb ground lean pork; 2 tablespoons butter; 1 small onion; 2 teaspoons ground cumin; 1 teaspoon oregano; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper; 1 -2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (depending on how much heat you like); 1/2-3/4 cup Catalina dressing; 1/2-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper sauce (I like Frank's original); 1 (12 1/2 ounce) bag nacho cheese flavor Doritos; 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese; 4 cups lettuce, chopped or shredded (about 1/2 a head); 1 tomatoes, diced; sour cream (optional); black olives (optional); jalapeno (optional)

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Recipe by Bekah49036

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Sweet & Spicy Taco Salad created by happynana

I love taco salad but I hate buying those packets of taco seasoning from the store. Half the ingredients are things I can't even pronounce and the other half are spices that almost everyone keeps in the pantry. After tweaking this recipe a bit, I think I found the perfect balance of sweet with a gentle heat. I prefer to use lean ground pork but beef would work just fine. Just make sure you drain the extra grease.

Ready In:: 20mins
Serves:
Units:

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ingredients

1 lb ground lean pork
2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
¹⁄₂ teaspoon kosher salt
¹⁄₄ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 -2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (depending on how much heat you like)
¹⁄₂ - ³⁄₄ cup Catalina dressing
¹⁄₂ - 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper sauce (I like Frank's original)
1 (12 1/2 ounce) bag nacho cheese flavor Doritos
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
4 cups lettuce, chopped or shredded (about 1/2 a head)
1 tomatoes, diced
Garnish
sour cream (optional)
black olives (optional)
jalapeno (optional)

directions

In a large skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Add onion and saute for 1-2 minutes.
Add pork, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and pepper flakes. Cook until pork is no longer pink.
Add Catalina dressing and hot sauce. Taste sauce and adjust sweet/spicy to taste.
Raise heat to HIGH and bring to a boil. Then simmer for 1-2 minutes.
Crush Doritos on a plate (I normally plate this individually but you could serve family style on a platter as well), top with meat mixture, cheese, lettuce and tomato. Garnish as desired.
Enjoy!

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RECIPE MADE WITH LOVE BY

@Bekah49036

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@Bekah49036

Contributor

"I love taco salad but I hate buying those packets of taco seasoning from the store. Half the ingredients are things I can't even pronounce and the other half are spices that almost everyone keeps in the pantry. After tweaking this recipe a bit, I think I found the perfect balance of sweet with a gentle heat. I prefer to use lean ground pork but beef would work just fine. Just make sure you drain the extra grease."

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photo by happynana

3/27/2009

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review by happynana

3/27/2009

This made us a very nice lunch today. I did make a few modifications. I used 1 tablespoon of butter and I drained off the grease of the pork. I used 3/4 cup of the catalina dressing. Next time I think I would add fritos instead of the nacho chips. Made for Spring PAC 2009.

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creation by Bekah49036

11/19/2008

I love taco salad but I hate buying those packets of taco seasoning from the store. Half the ingredients are things I can't even pronounce and the other half are spices that almost everyone keeps in the pantry. After tweaking this recipe a bit, I think I found the perfect balance of sweet with a gentle heat. I prefer to use lean ground pork but beef would work just fine. Just make sure you drain the extra grease.