Grilled meat
I decided to make the best carne asada in the world! This was before I learned the literal translation is “grilled meat”. I wasn’t ready to take on the entire world of grilled meat, so I decided to narrow my ambitions.
I was thinking of making the best beef that goes into my taco at home, as I’ve been using Old El Paso taco “original” seasoning mix for my meat. I think the “original” seasoning mix tastes pretty damn good and is addictive.
I decided to challenge myself to make the best Old El Paso taco dinner set, without using the set.
Here’s what led me to this challenge.
Old El Paso taco dinner set
In 1969, Old El Paso was the first to offer a full line of Mexican meals in supermarkets across the United States. They were also the first to advertise Mexican cuisine in the US. Fifty years later, I was making tacos from the Old El Paso taco dinner set for two. After I sautéed the onions and garlic with the ground meat I opened up the “original” seasoning mix. As I opened the mix to season and got a good whiff of delicious, I got curious about the ingredients. So I read the package.
Chili pepper
Maltodextrin
Salt
etc
What the hell is Maltodextrin?
Maltodextrin is a white, starchy powder that manufacturers add into many foods to improve their mouthfeel and shelf life. (Yes, mouthfeel is actually a word.)
It is a common ingredient in packaged foods, such as pastries, candies, and soft drinks. When it is present, it will usually feature on the food label. As it is used by the food INDUSTRY in a lot of junk foods I suspect it is probably not the best ingredient to put in one’s body. (I like junk foods. But I try to have less.)
Could Gochujang Work?
The ingredients in Old El Paso seemed to me to have three components.
Spicy ….. chili pepper powder
Umami and sticky ….. maltodextrin
Salt
The list looked oddly similar to Gochujang (Korean red pepper paste). So I tried using Gochujang instead of Old El Paso taco mix. And it worked out perfectly.
Gochujang is made of …
Chili peppers that give heat to the dish. Much like hot sauce, there are mild to super spicy Gochujangs. You can also add Chili powder to spice up your Gochujang.
Miso (Doenjang) gives you a complex deep umami of the fermented soy beans.
Mochi rice that renders in every bite the same satisfaction of having flavorful rice in a burrito, without the visual presence of the rice. It’s like magic!
Fermentations of the Chili, miso and mochi rice creates a base layer that elevates the flavors of meat, pork, chicken, shrimp and vegetables.
Gochujang is kinda made perfect for tacos. Jen liked it a lot. Here is the recipe.
Ingredients for “NEW EL PASO”
Tortilla
4” Corn tortilla ….. 6
Gochujang the meat
Ground beef ….. 1/2 lb
Gochujang ….. 3 tablespoons
Fish sauce ….. 1 tablespoon
Salt ….. 2 pinch
Sugar ….. 1 tablespoon
Cooking oil ….. 2 tablespoons
Onion ….. 1/2
Garlic ….. 2 cloves
Veggies
Romaine lettuce ….. 4 large leaves chopped thin
Cilantro ….. handful
Salsa
Lime ….. 1/4 lime per taco (or to taste)
Sriracha sauce ….. to taste
My taco menu
If I were to open a taco restaurant (I won’t) this would be on the menu. They are super flavorful and delicious, and all have my personal story.
NEW EL PASO
This healthier version is based on the taste of Old El Paso taco mix. Gochujang marinated ground beef served with crispy chopped romaine, cilantro, lime, and sriracha on a corn tortilla.
MEXICAN STREET SUPREME
Mexico City street taco Al Pastor redux Gangnam style. Gochujang marinated heritage pork slices served with cilantro, onions, and roasted pineapple on a corn tortilla.
RED GREEN POLLO
Organic chicken thighs marinated in habanero infused Gochujang, perfectly grilled and served with crunchy chopped romaine, tomatillo salsa, and lime on a warm corn tortilla.
NORTH SHORE SHRIMP TRUCK
Taste the North Shore of O’ahu. Fresh shrimp seared with crispy garlic, topped with Gochujang vinegar romaine, lime, and sriracha aioli on a warm corn tortilla.
the LONG HAUL
Slow cooking bliss. Gochujang marinated angus beef short rib, sous vide for 36 hours and topped with fresh avocados, romaine, cilantro, lime and tomatillo salsa on a warm corn tortilla.
SWEET POTATO ON FIRE
Roasted sweet potatoes spread with a dab of Gochujang, chopped romaine lettuce, cilantro, lime and topped with tomatillo salsa on a warm corn tortilla.