Matadortacosalad Recipes

Steps:

• For the dressing; combine all ingredients in a blender or processor until smooth; set aside.
• For the ground beef mixture, brown the gound beef, then add in the taco seasoning mix, then add in the cumin and chili powder to taste, season with salt and pepper, cook and stir for about 5 minutes, or until the flavors blend together, adjusting spices to taste; cool to room temperature.
• To make the salad; toss the lettuce with the cooled ground beef, grated cheddar cheese, tomatoes, tortilla chips and olives; toss to combine, then add in the dressing (add in as much dressing as you like) toss again.
• Garnish with more taco chips.
• Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Make the pico de gallo: Combine the tomatoes, red onion, lime juice, cilantro, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl; mix well.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the yellow onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until softened, about 1 more minute. Add the ground beef and mushrooms and cook, breaking up the meat as it cooks, until the beef is no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring, until combined and the spices are slightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and stir to combine. Continue to cook until the sauce is fully absorbed and the mixture is almost dry, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Toss the lettuce with 2 tablespoons of the liquid from the pico de gallo in a large bowl. Divide among small bowls; top with the beef-mushroom mixture and more pico de gallo. Add beans, cheese, radishes, avocado, cilantro and/or sour cream.

Steps:

• For the tortilla bowls: Heat the oil in a large, heavy, deep pot to 350 degrees F.
• Gently press a tortilla into the center of 7-inch spider to form a bowl. Using a 5-inch spider, gently press down into the tortilla to hold its shape. Carefully submerge the spiders into the hot oil and fry the tortilla until puffed, crispy and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove and gently place upside down on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet to drain of excess oil. Season with salt. Repeat with the remaining 3 tortillas.
• To make the spicy salsa verde ranch: Mix together the ranch dressing and salsa verde in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• To assemble the salad: In a large mixing bowl, add the shredded lettuce, cilantro and about 1/3 cup of the salad dressing, adding more if desired. Divide the salad among the 4 tortilla bowls. Top each with 1/2 cup Al Pastor, radishes, Pickled Red Onions and 2 tablespoons queso fresco. Drizzle some dressing on top. Serve immediately.
• Heat the oil in a 12-inch cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add the tomatillos, onion, poblano, garlic and jalapeño. Cook, flipping the veggies as needed to evenly char and soften, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Carefully remove the stem from the poblano chile, so as to not let the juices spill out (we want that yummy pepper juice!) and add to the carafe of a high-speed blender. Squeeze the garlic from the skins into the blender. Add the remaining roasted veggies and any juices from the bottom of the pan. Add the cilantro, lime juice, green onion and salt. Blend on high speed until pureed and smooth.
• In a large bowl, add the achiote paste, red wine vinegar, brown sugar, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, cloves, black pepper and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to fully combine into a paste. Add the pork and rub the paste all over to completely coat. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a pressure cooker, mix together the crushed pineapple, chicken broth, garlic, bay leaves, chile, onion, oregano and sage. Add the achiote-rubbed pork. Pressure cook on low for 4 hours or high for 1 hour until the pork is fork-tender. Carefully release the steam away from your face. Remove the pork to a plate or baking sheet and shred using 2 forks.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add the pork and spoon some of the braising liquid over to moisten, as needed. Season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy, 4 to 6 minutes. Set aside.
• Place the onions in a food storage container and set aside while you prepare the pickling liquid.
• In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add the vinegar, granulated sugar, salt, cumin seeds, bay leaf and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and cook until the sugar and salt are dissolved, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool completely. Pour the cooled pickling liquid over the onions and allow to pickle for at least 30 minutes. At this point, you can either strain the onions to prevent from further pickling and use immediately, or put the lid on top and store in the refrigerator to further pickle until ready to use.