Dubai Taco

The Dubai Taco features two pounds of high-fat ground beef deeply infused with a unique blend of white onion, jalapeño, green bell pepper, garlic, and an aromatic spice mix including ground coffee, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, and smoked paprika. Cooked on a griddle, a corn tortilla is pressed directly onto the meat to create a savory, crusty, flavor-packed taco that's truly unforgettable.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs 73/27 ground beef - the more fat the better.

• 1 medium white onion, small diced (about 2 cups)

• 3–4 fresh jalapeño peppers finely chopped (about ½ cup)

• 1 small green bell pepper, finely chopped (about 1 cup)

• 2 tablespoons garlic, finely chopped

• 2 tablespoons ground or instant coffee

• 1 tablespoon beef bouillon powder

• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper

• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom

• ¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• Corn tortillas

• Your choice of cheese, shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican blend work great

• Your favorite secret sauce

• Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Directions

1. Prep Your Ingredients: For the best texture, chop all your vegetables and garlic by hand. Resist the urge to use a food processor here – the texture makes a difference!

2. Combine and Mix: In a large bowl, add the ground beef, diced white onion, chopped jalapeños, chopped green bell pepper, minced garlic, ground coffee, beef bouillon powder, black pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, smoked paprika, and baking powder.

3. Mix Thoroughly: Using your hands, combine all ingredients thoroughly until they are evenly mixed. Make sure the spices are well distributed throughout the meat.

4. Marinate for Flavor: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. For the absolute best flavor development, overnight refrigeration is highly preferred.

5. Heat Your Griddle: Heat a griddle or a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until it's nice and hot. You want a good sizzle when the meat hits it.

6. Create the Crust: Drop a portion of the marinated meat onto the hot griddle. Don't mess with it too much at first; let it cook for a bit and allow a beautiful crust to build on the bottom.

7. Smash and Stick: Once a crust has formed on the meat, lay a corn tortilla directly on top of the meat. Gently press the tortilla down, smashing it into the meat so it sticks and begins to soak up all those incredible flavors and the rendered fat.

8. Flip and Crisp: Let it continue to cook until the meat gets a deep, golden-brown sear. Then, carefully flip the whole thing over (tortilla-side down).

9. Melt the Cheese: Let the tortilla crisp up for about a minute. Now, hit it with your choice of cheese right on top of the meat.

10. Fold and Finish: Once the cheese starts to melt, fold the tortilla over like a taco. Press it down gently with your spatula to help the cheese melt inside and ensure that tortilla gets a beautiful golden crust.

11. Serve Hot: Transfer your finished Dubai Taco to a plate. Serve it immediately with your favorite secret sauce and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro on top.

12. Prep time: 30 minutes (active), plus at least 2 hours refrigeration (overnight recommended)

13. Cook time: Approximately 5-7 minutes per taco Yields approximately 6 to 8 tacos