Beef Taco Mince
Classic taco-night beef mince with peppers, black beans, cumin and smoked paprika.
makes 18 blocks, about 42p each
- Time
- 40 min10 min prep · 30 min cook
- Makes
- 18 blocks
- Cost per blockPer block
- 42p
- Calories per blockCalories
- 72 kcal
- Spice
- 2 of 5
You’ll need
- 500gbeef mince (10% fat)
- 1 tin (240g drained)black beans
- 1 (160g)red pepper, diced
- 1 (150g)onion, finely chopped
- 150gcarrot, grated
- 200gpassata
- 30gtomato purée
- 3 cloves (15g)garlic
- 14gcumin, smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, chilli powder
- 10mlrapeseed oil
- 1 cubebeef stock cube
- 200mlwater, to make up the stock
Allergens: none of the 14 major allergens in the ingredients as listed. Check the labels on stock cubes, sauces and pastes, as brands vary.
Serve it
Taco shells with lettuce, cheese and salsa · Nachos · A burrito bowl with rice
Method
- Step 1: Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium-high heat and brown the mince for 8–10 minutes, breaking it up finely. Spoon off any excess fat.
- Step 2: Add the onion, pepper and carrot and cook for 6 minutes. Add the garlic, spices and purée for 1 minute.
- Step 3: Add the passata and stock and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
- Step 4: Add the black beans and simmer for 5 minutes until thick enough to sit in a taco shell.
- Step 5: Season, cool and freeze in 70g blocks.
Hotter: add a chopped chipotle in adobo or pickled jalapeños.
| kcal | protein | carbs | fat | fibre | salt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per block | 72 | 7.5g | 5.4g | 2.2g | 1.9g | 0.34g |
| Per 3 blocks | 216 | 22.5g | 16.2g | 6.6g | 5.7g | 1.02g |
Cook’s notes
- The carrot disappears into the sauce and stretches the mince.
- For crispy tacos, keep the mince on the dry side.
- Turkey mince works too.
Serve it
Taco shells with lettuce, cheese and salsa · Nachos · A burrito bowl with rice.
Freeze, reheat and serve
- Freeze
- Cool it within two hours, portion it into 70g blocks in a silicone tray, then bag and label them. It keeps for 3 months.
- Reheat
- Microwave 3 blocks, covered, for 1 minute, stir, then heat for another 1 to 2 minutes until piping hot all the way through. Or warm them in a pan with a splash of water. Never refreeze thawed blocks.
- A portion
- 3 blocks (210g) make a dinner for one adult: about 216 kcal and 22.5g protein before rice, bread or potatoes.
Beef Taco Mince questions
Can I use kidney or pinto beans instead of black beans?
Either works in the same drained weight. Pinto beans are softer and creamier; kidney beans hold their shape more.
What if I don't have passata?
Use the same weight of chopped tomatoes from a tin and simmer for a few extra minutes so the sauce thickens.
Can I use shop-bought taco seasoning?
A packet of taco seasoning can replace the spice mix. Many contain salt and sugar, so taste before you season.
Sauces that go with it
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Updated . Nutrition, costs and yields are estimates. Gluten-free assumes gluten-free stock cubes.