Taco Potion #19

This perfect homemade spice blend for taco night will turn ground meat into a flavor fiesta…and yes, I just said “flavor fiesta.”

Why number 19? Because there were 18 seasoning formulas before that didn’t quite reach my “fiesta” standards. Although I use this predominantly on beef, it works just as well with ground turkey.

This recipe first appeared in Season 14 of Good Eats.

Homemade taco seasoning ingredients lined up on a black cutting board.

ACTIVE TIME: 5 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes

Yield: tablespoons

Software

2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds, freshly toasted and ground
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons hot smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Procedure

Put all the ingredients in a small jar and shake to combine. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
To use, break up a half pound of ground beef or turkey in a wide skillet over medium heat. As soon as it starts to sizzle, sprinkle on a tablespoon or two and continue stirring. As moisture cooks out of the meat and simmers, it will be thickened by the cornstarch. It’s a darned tasty trick.