Taco Tuesday - Sriracha Beef Tacos

I would like to welcome you to the introductory post for Taco Tuesdays!! I've seen other bloggers do theme days and I think the idea is so cute and so much fun!! It inspired me to think of something I love to eat, and to search for new and different recipes to fit the theme. Tacos fit the bill perfectly. I love me some tacos, any kind of taco, and there are so many varieties out there. And thus, Taco Tuesday was born!!

The taco that beat out all the others to be the first in this series, was inspired by the Sriracha Burger that I made for a recipe swap some months back. I love beef tacos, and I love a good hot sauce to go with them, so it just seemed like a natural fit to take the idea of the burger and turn it into a taco!! Just think of a beef soft taco with a spicy twist!! I had no idea what the end result would be, and to be honest it tastes nothing like the burger - but it turned out to be a damn good taco!! And do you know what one of the best things about tacos is? You can mix and match and alter the toppings to fit your taste!! Add veggies, use a different cheese...go nuts kids!! :) But whatever your topping preference, this taco is just too good to be passed up!!

Sriracha Beef Tacos

Inspired by the Sriracha Burger 

Ingredients

·         1 lb lean ground sirloin

·         1 Tbsp olive oil

·         2 cloves garlic, minced

·         1 small onion or shallot, finely chopped

·         ¼ cup water

·         2 Tbsp chili powder

·         1 Tbsp cumin

·         5 Tbsp Sriracha*, divided

·         ½  cup ranch dressing

·         8-10 flour tortillas

·         1 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese

·         1 cup tomatoes, chopped

·         2 cups shredded lettuce

*Sriracha is pretty spicy, so adjust the amount according to your tolerance level. If you don’t do well with spicy, you may want to test it 1 tsp at a time.

Preparation

1.       Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, add garlic and shallot and cook for 1-2 minutes, until softened. Add sirloin, stir to combine, and cook until browned.

2.       Add water, chili powder, cumin and 2 Tbsp Sriracha to sirloin mixture. Stir, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.

3.       While taco mixture finishes cooking, combine ranch dressing and remaining 3 Tbsp Sriracha in a small bowl. Set aside.

4.   Warm flour tortillas; Spoon taco mixture into tortillas and top with Sriracha sauce, cheese, lettuce and tomato.