Recipe wanted: Taco soup from scratch

[freemotion]

When I was in OKC in October, I attended an upper level dressage clinic where one of my clients had horses. In the lounge was a pot of taco soup. I asked the host for the recipe, and she delightly told me how easy it was, a can of this and a packet of that and a jar of the other thing. My mind shut down as I smiled and nodded with practiced enthusiasm.

An internet search gave me hundreds of thousands of recipes, all with ingredients that I am unfamiliar with....well, probably not all, I gave up pretty quickly.

Anyone have a from-scratch or a from-home-canned version? No mystery store-bought seasoning mix or Rotel (what is that, anyways????) tomatoes? What are ranch-style canned beans? What is in taco seasoning mix, besides msg? Sheesh! The soup was delicious, and I would like to make a healthy version of it. I plan to make some hominy soon, to make a better version of cornmeal to have on hand. It would likely be great in this soup, too. I also have to put up some more black beans, since dh is using them up. A good time for this soup, dontcha think?

I'd like to be able to use frozen tomatoes from my garden and some of the hot peppers I dried and/or fermented.

Help?

 

[sufficientforme]

I always take the basic recipe and adjust it seems around here, I am not sure if this helps but here goes.

Homemade Rotel
Ingredients

* 1 1/2 quarts peeled chopped seeded tomatoes (about 4lbs)
* 12 jalapenos or hot chili peppers, diced
* 1 teaspoon salt
Place in 4 quart saucepan, and simmer until reduced to 1 quart
10 oz is what the storebought cans are

Homemade taco seasoning I use
* 2 tablespoons mild chili powder (for the best flavor do not reduce this amount)
* 1/2-1 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
* 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1/2 teaspoon paprika
* 2-3 teaspoons cumin
* 1 teaspoon seasoning salt (or use 1/2 teaspoon white salt)
* 1 teaspoon black pepper
* 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional or to taste)
You can add flour if needed to thicken up I do not due to allergy, I use cornstarch.

Here is one of the few I could find that did not have that packaged ranch dressing in it

http://www.recipezaar.com/South-Beach-Taco-Soup-125046
But I tend to combine recipes give or take the ingredients. Good luck I hope someone has other suggestions.

 

[freemotion]

Oh, that helps a lot! Thanks! I thought Rotel was a brand name, didn't know it had jalapenos!

Can taco seasoning be made without cumin and still be good? Cumin gives me the shudders!

 

[me&thegals]

Moms Taco Soup
1 lb ground hamburger (venison) browned
1 large onion chopped
2 15-oz cans of stewed tomatoes (home-canned, of course!)
1 can kidney beans-undrained (home soaked and cooked, of course!)
(can also add another can of black beans)
1 15-oz can tomato sauce (home-canned!)
1 envelope taco seasoning (see below, about 3 T or to taste)
3 cups water

Combine and simmer. Top with Fritos, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, and sour cream.

Taco Seasoning
1 cup dried minced onion
1/3 cup chili powder
2 T cumin
4 t crushed red pepper
1 T oregano
4 t garlic powder
2 t onion powder

Mix well. Store in airtight container. Use approximately 3 T per pound of browned ground hamburger. Add salt to taste.

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
6 tsp chili pwdr
5 tsp paprika
4 1/2 tsp ground cumin
3 tsp onion pwdr
2 1/2 tsp garlic pwdr
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp salt
Stir together and store in air tight cont. Use 2 - 3 tbsp of it in place of the store bought mix.

 

[freemotion]

OK, here is how I understand it, except for the cumin, do I need that or can I leave it out?

Meat
diced tomatoes/tomato sauce
corn (optional)
onion
garlic
beans
oregano
cayenne
chili powder
salt
(cumin? Yes? No? Please say no!)

Thicken if desired....maybe use tomato paste?

Hmmm, just realized I have no clue as to what is in chili powder.....google, here I come again....

 

[freemotion]

Chili powder: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chili_powder

Guess I will be using mixed hot peppers from my garden! Woohoo!

 

[big brown horse]

Freemotion, if you want a tortilla taste, add hominy!!! Yum yum, it is in all my favorite Tex-Mex "taco soup" recipes.

 

[big brown horse]

That is: whole hominy added as is along with the beans etc.

 

[freemotion]

Yes, that was my plan. I will be making hominy with ashes from my woodstove using the instructions from Wild Fermentation. I am waiting for daytime weather that is cold enough to have the woodstove going full blast so I can cook the corn for hours on the woodstove, the proper place for long-cooking experiments such as old-fashioned hominy!

 

[sufficientforme]

I think cumin makes the flavor better in taco seasoning for sure, I would maybe start with half what is recommended and see if you can live with that.