Taco Rice

Okinawan Taco Rice, a simple mashup of taco fillings and Japanese white rice.  It's a satisfyingly, unique comfort food that's quick to make for a weeknight dinner!

Taco Rice

INGREDIENTS

• ½ lb ground beef (I used 85% lean)
• ▢1 clove garlic
• ▢½ red onion (¾ goes to taco meat, ¼ goes to salsa)
• ▢2 leaves iceberg lettuce
• ▢1 Tbsp neutral-flavored oil (vegetable, rice bran, canola, etc)
• ▢½ cup Mexican-style shredded cheese
• ▢3 cups  cooked Japanese short-grain rice (1 ½ rice-cooker-cups (180 ml x 1.5 = 270 ml) yields roughly 3 US cups; see how to cook short-grain rice with a rice cooker, a pot over the stove, an instant pot, or a donabe)

Taco Seasoning

• ▢1 Tbsp chili powder
• ▢¼ tsp garlic powder
• ▢¼ tsp onion powder
• ▢¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• ▢¼ tsp dried oregano
• ▢½ tsp paprika
• ▢1 ½ tsp ground cumin
• ▢1 tsp kosher/sea salt (I use Diamond Crystal; use half for table salt)
• ▢1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Salsa

• ▢½ tomato
• ▢5 sprigs cilantro (coriander)
• ▢½ lemon

INSTRUCTIONS

 

• Gather all the ingredients.
  

Make Homemade Taco Seasoning

• Combine all the ingredients for taco seasoning in a mason jar (or a plastic bag) and shake well to mix together.

Cut ingredients

• Mince the garlic clove and set aside (we will use this for stir frying with meat).
• Mince the red onion.
• Cut the tomato into small cubes (you need about half tomato, although it’s shown as a whole tomato here).
• Chop cilantro into small pieces.
• Combine chopped red onion, tomato, cilantro in a medium bowl and squeeze half of the lemon into the bowl. Mix well together.
• Cut the iceberg lettuce into thin strips.

Make Taco Meat

• Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Cook the garlic cloves until fragrant. Then add the red onion and sauté until coated with oil.
• Add the ground beef and break into small pieces using a spatula.
• Add 4 tsp Taco Seasoning (Roughly 2 tsp for every ¼ lb) and combine well with the meat. Turn off the heat.

Assemble the Taco Rice Bowl

• Serve the steamed rice on a plate/bowl. Put the ground beef on top. Then top with cheese, lettuce, and tomato salsa as much as you like. Serve with extra salsa and enjoy!
  

To Store

• You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and in the freezer for up to a month.

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