Taco seasoning

"Taco seasoning" is commonly sold in packets in American grocery stores by companies like McCormick. It's a mixture of spices, salt and modified cornstarch intended to be a one-shot seasoning addition to ground beef for use in tacos. Because it imparts a vaguely Mexican flavor wherever it's used, some recipes call for it in other contexts. This is my version, which I use as a kind of base masala for several Mexican dishes. In an emergency, it can also be used to season taco meat.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp prepared chili powder, or ancho chile powder
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp MSG+I+G
• 1 tsp ground coriander seed
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp dried Mexican oregano, crushed

Directions

Mix ingredients, shake, and store in an airtight container.

Notes

Wherever one of my recipes calls for "taco seasoning" and links here, I mean this specific mixture, and it should be added in the quantity listed. To use in another recipe calling for a specific amount of "taco seasoning", start with half the amount called for and work from there. Since this mixture doesn't contain starch or as much salt as a packet of commercial taco seasoning, it may be too much if measured 1:1.

Wherever "one packet" or "one envelope" of taco seasoning is called for, add 1 tbsp of this mixture and 1/2 tsp coarse salt, plus some starch if it makes sense. To season one pound of ground meat for tacos, use 1 tbsp of this mixture, 1/2 to 1 tsp coarse salt, and either 2 tsp of masa harina or 1 tsp of cornstarch (if using cornstarch, mix it into a slurry with cold water first).