Thursday, October 21, 2010

Simple Suppers: Taco Soup

Nothing original here. There are a million taco soup recipes out there. I'm sure they are all pretty good, but this is my favorite by far.

It's my Mema's recipe. She takes this to her church potlucks. I can see why: It's easy, makes enough to feed a crowd, and tastes heavenly.

Taco Soup
2 lb ground meat
1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 can hominy
1 can chopped green chiles
2 cans stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 package Ranch dressing mix
1 chopped onion
water

Cook meat and drain, if necessary.

Add remaining ingredients to a large pot and mix well. Add a bit of water to thin.

Simmer.

Add a dollop of sour cream and serve with cornbread or warm tortillas.

Notes:

*I use ground bison. I will be a broken record and encourage you to give it a try.

*Ground beef or turkey work equally well. It's all up to you and your taste buds.

*If you are vegetarian, you could easily skip the meat and add more beans and even some rice.

*You could use corn instead of hominy, but really...don't. The hominy makes this taco soup number one, in my opinion.

A bit of background for you hominy haters: I am with you. I hate hominy. I've never tasted dirty socks, but I imagine them having a very similar flavor.

My mom would occasionally make hominy. My dad came from the school of "you must eat at least a spoonful of everything served...even if it makes you retch". So a spoonful would be placed upon my plate. I would voice my opposition.

Dad was also from the school of "if you complain, you must want more". I learned to suffer in silence.

Needless to say, my history with hominy isn't pleasant.

That being said....it's perfect in this dish. It soaks up the spices and adds heartiness. Put your hominy hate aside, just this once. It's worth it.

Fall is in full swing: that means cooler weather and football. Let a pot of taco soup simmer on the stove while you cuddle up on the couch and watch the big game.

Perfectly simple.

**I hold no hominy grudges against my pops. All has been forgiven and we have since moved forward.