Should I Cook It?

I don’t trust recipes with the word “mash.” Unless it’s mashed potatoes.

But I had my DIY Taco Seasoning from EP#60 and wanted to put it to use. So, I included this Taco Mash recipe inside my Dinner Design Journal to find out if it was a weeknight win. Let’s find out. ⬇️

EP#61 on YouTube ▶️ : https://www.youtube.com/@shouldicookit/shorts

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Recipe: Taco Mash (EP#61)

Cooking Zone: 4 (Inspired) → Recipe is adapted from a company organized cookbook (where I once worked in a suit instead of cooking apron).

Ingredients – Approx.Cost [$9.48]

Sauce

• ½ lb (227 g) lean ground beef – $3.35
• ½ small onion, chopped – $0.15
• ½ green bell pepper, chopped – $0.55
• 1 tablespoon D.I.Y taco seasoning – $0.20 (or use store bought)
• 1 tablespoon water – $0.01
• 1½ cups tortilla chips – $0.68
• ½ cup sour cream – $0.67
• ½ cup cottage cheese – $1.00
• ½ cup salsa – $0.82
• ¾ cup (3 oz / 85 g) grated cheese – $1.43
• 2 tablespoons black olives – $0.14
• 2 tablespoons pickled jalapenos – $0.23
• 1 spring onion, chopped – $0.25

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Steps

1. Brown ground beef with onion in a skillet over medium heat. Halfway through cooking add bell pepper. Cook until beef is no longer pink. Drain excess fat. Add taco seasoning and water. Stir until saucy. Remove from heat.
2. In a square 8 x 8 x 2 baking dish, evenly spread tortilla chips along the bottom. Top with cooked beef mixture. In a bowl, mix together sour cream and cottage cheese. Evenly spread mixture over beef. Spread on salsa. Top with cheese, olives, jalapenos, and spring onions. Bake in a 350°F / 176°C oven, for 20 minutes.

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Recipe Notes:

• Eat Right Away → The reason? After an hour the chips on the bottom go soggy. Next time I might skip using the tortilla chips.
• Pickled Jalapenos a Must → Or use some other pickled pepper. Gives this taco bake pop!
• Savings vs. Delivery? → Unknown. Cost be serving is about $2.40!
• Would I Cook It Again? → Yes. Now that I’ve made it, I consider it a zone 3 weeknight meal.

How about you? Will you cook it? Let me know in the comments!

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