Extended taco meat

This is a classic taco meat recipe, with a surprise addition. Oats help bulk up the recipe, absorbing the flavour of the beef and improving the texture.

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
  
  
• 1 small onion, diced
  
  
• 2 lbs (907 grams) ground beef
  
  
• 6 cloves of garlic, minced
  
  
• 2 teaspoons cumin
  
  
• 1 teaspoon oregano
  
  
• 1 teaspoon salt
  
  
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  
  
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
  
  
• 2 tablespoons paprika
  
  
• 1/2 cup quick oats
  
  
• 2 cups water

1. Heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet, and add onion. Cook until onion is soft and translucent (about 5 minutes)
   
   
2. Add ground beef, and cooked until browned.
   
   
3. Add spices and garlic, and stir well.
   
   
4. Add oatmeal and water, and increase heat until mixture is boiling. Lower heat to a simmer, and cook until water is absorbed and a thick, flavourful sauce forms.
   
   
5. Serve with hard or soft shell tacos, and whatever toppings you like. Or add to nachos, salad, or fries for a flavourful meaty boost!

• Medium ground beef works fine for this recipe. If you find it too fatty, drain the fat out of your pan before adding the spices. Make sure to pour grease into a jar before throwing it away. Never pour grease down the sink; it can solidify in the pipes, and cause big plumbing problems!
  
  
• Recipe can also be baked instead of simmered on the stovetop. Once oatmeal and water is stored in, transfer the mixture to a greased casserole dish. Cover, and bake at 300F for about an hour.

• Stir black or kidney beans in with the water and oatmeal for some extra heft and protein!
  
  
• 1 packet of taco seasoning can be used instead of the individual spices listed here.
  
  
• Add some chopped jalepenos or other chili peppers for a spicier kick.
  
  
• For extra flavour, use tomato sauce instead of water.
  
  
• Peppers, zucchini, or carrots can be chopped small and stirred into the beef for extra veggies.
  
  
• Recipe can be made with ground turkey or chicken.

• Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  
  
• Taco meat freezes well for up to 3 months in freezer bags or airtight containers. Meat cooked in tomato sauce will freeze better than meat cooked in water, so ideally swap out the water in the recipe for tomato sauce.

Recipe adapted from WSUF Public Media

Food is Too Expensive! was funded by the City of Saskatoon through our Healthy Yards partnership, the Cyril Capling Trust Fund of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, and the Department of Plant Sciences. Focus group research to inform this work was collected by CHEP. Thank you all for helping us make healthy food more accessible!