Taco Fiesta Bake

Submitted by *Parsley*

"A Mexican casserole served over lettuce."

 

• Ready In: 50mins
• Ingredients: 20
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 3 -4 green onions, chopped save darkest green parts for garnish
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 16 ounces low-fat sour cream
• 1 1⁄2 lbs ground beef
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1⁄2 cup chopped green pepper
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 1 (15 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 2⁄3 cup warm water
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1⁄4 - 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt, more to taste
• 1 (10 ounce) bag corn chips, coarsely crushed, like Fritos
• 2 1⁄2 2 1/2 cups Mexican blend cheese or 2 1/2 cups any cheddar cheese
• 1 (2 1/4 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained (optional)
• 1 head lettuce, shredded

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease/spray a 13" x 9" casserole dish; set aside.
2. In a bowl, stir together the cottage cheese, sour cream and chopped green onions.
3. In a large skillet, brown/crumble ground beef with onion, green pepper and garlic. Drain and return to the skillet.
4. Add to the skillet, tomatoes, Black beans, tomato paste, water and seasonings. Simmer for about 10-12 minutes, stirring occassionally.
5. Scatter HALF of the coarsely crushed chips on the bottom of the prepared casserole dish.
6. Top with HALF of the beef/bean mixture.
7. Top with HALF of the cottage cheese/sour cream mixture.
8. Sprinkle with HALF of the shredded cheese.
9. Repeat all the layers again, ending with the last of the shredded cheese. Sprinkle top with black olives (optional) and reserved chopped dark green onion parts (optional).
10. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.
11. Divide shredded lettuce on plates and spoon casserole over top to serve.

Reviews

[awoer7065]

My whole family including my five kids loved this recipe! It was very delicious and easy to do. I did make a few changes, however. I can't have corn, so instead of chips I used flour tortillas. Instead of the cottage cheese which I don't like, I used ricotta cheese. It was absolutely wonderful! My kids asked for seconds and said they wanted the leftovers for lunch the next day, lol.

 

[Charlotte J]

I had everything on the shelf except the corn chips. DH saved the day and went to town and picked up a bag for me. By the time he returned I was ready for them. It went quickly together and into a 375 oven just because I used my stoneware to bake it in. The larger amount of cayenne was just perfect for us. Thank you. Made during * Zaar World Tour 5* 2009 game for team *Genies of Gourmet*

 

[lauralie41]

Really good casserole that my family enjoyed. I forgot green onions so I diced one small onion to put in the cottage cheese and sour cream mixture. Omitted the green pepers and using the Kitchen Information Reference Forum's A to Z Substitution list added lemon pepper and a sprinkle of sage for the coriander. The cayenne pepper I used red pepper flakes and plain tortilla chips. Very easy and quick to put together so would make a nice weeknight meal. Thank you Parsley! Made and reviewed for ZWT5, Bodacious Brickhouse Babes team.

 

[Sherrybeth]

Made this for ZWT III and followed the recipe exactly. The spices really gave this the extra "zing" that my husband loves. I used the new roasted corn Fritoes which also added a little exta to the recipe. My picky kids really liked it as did my husband who will eat anything. I enjoyed it and actually had someone request the recipe from me before I got it completely put together. Most certainly a keeper in my book. Thanks Parsley.

 

[Trixie735]

Loved this! Substituted fat-free cottage cheese and sour cream (couldn't do ff on shredded cheese) - but other than that I followed exactly and it was tremendous! Thanks for posting this one - a keeper!