Everything You Need for a Low-Waste Taco Tuesday
Not every recipe in my house revolves around Taco Tuesday. But, to be fair, a concerning number do, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t share my secrets with you.
Homemade Tortillas
I’m almost ashamed to admit that I was first encouraged to make homemade tortillas back in college and it’s taken me five years of sub-par packaged tortillas to finally follow through on that encouragement. I recently tried out this recipe and it’s absolute perfection.
(P.S. If you don’t feel quite ready to take the plunge into the home-made tortilla life, store-bought tortillas come in #4 plastic packaging, which, like grocery bags, is recyclable at store drop-off points).
Easy-Peasy Taco Seasoning
Most store-bought taco seasonings rely heavily on fillers (such as flour or corn starch) and anti-caking agents (like silicon dioxide). Skip the fillers— and the single-use packaging— with this easy spice combination.
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes (to taste)
Mix well, then combine with 1/2 cup water to flavor 1 lb. ground beef (can also substitute chicken or fish as desired). Feel free to substitute or omit spices as needed (your secret is safe with me!). You can also pre-mix these spices to store for up to a year.
Let’s Taco-Bout the Fixing’s
Corny? Absolutely. But no taco is completely without these delicious add-ons.
DIY Sour Cream
Store bought sour cream (like a maddening number of other delicious dairy products) comes in #5 plastic packaging, which is often not recyclable through municipal curb-side services. Thankfully, this is without a doubt the easiest substitute I’ve ever pulled off– though it does take a little advanced notice!
Combine 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream + 3 tablespoons buttermilk in a clean, lidded mason jar. Shake well to combine and leave sit on the counter for 24 hours (to literally “sour” cream)— then, enjoy immediately or move to the refrigerator for up to a week. Yield: Approximately One Cup
Homemade Guacamole
Skip the plastic packaging with this delicious homemade guac!
- 3 ripe avocados (pitted and peeled)
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 2-3 heaping tablespoons Pico de Gallo (or, mix of finely chopped onion and tomato. Add a jalapeño for an extra kick!)
Mash the avocados (with a fork or a mixer), then add other ingredients and mix to combine. Easy peasy!
Shred your own cheese.
Some deli counters allow you to bring your own containers for meats & cheeses, which would make this a truly zero-waste swap. While several grocers have paused this practice due to COVID-19, even purchasing block cheese from the refrigerated section to shred will reduce plastics (and questionable additives, like cellulose).
My relationship with my boxed-cheese grater ended the day it rudely sliced my hand. Best of luck to you for a longer and happier relationship— but I made the switch to an electric grater* that attaches to my KitchenAid and haven’t looked back. Now, I can shred a pound of cheese in 30 seconds (What’s your superpower?).
We store the shredded cheese in Pyrex* (use within a week in the frig!), but you can also freeze what you don’t plan on using right away.
Let us know if you try it out in the comments below! ¡Buen provecho!
*Links may be affiliate links, meaning I receive compensation to support Sustain Initiative at no cost to you. It’s a win-win!
