@amandahaascooks

A Nutritious Right Rice Taco Recipe & Two Amazing Paloma Cocktails To Put On Your Next Dinner Menu

By Mollysims.com

Let’s talk tacos and cocktails! We’ve teamed up with expert chef Amanda Haas to share some delicious tacos along with two amazing Paloma recipes. (Because everything pairs well with a Paloma.) Amanda Haas is an accomplished food writer, cooking instructor and also has three amazing cookbooks available. Her goal? “To make real food taste so good, people don’t miss the junk food!”

We already know how much Molly loves a good Paloma, but she also loves cooking with RightRice. RightRice is loaded with veggies + rice and is packed with plant based protein and fiber. Continue below for the recipes.

For the tacos:

First, if you’re looking to improve the health benefits of these traditional tacos, look for grass-fed ground beef which is readily available in most markets.  Also, there are many healthier alternatives for hard taco shells, ranging from organic corn to cassava flour.  Be warned: You might want to double this recipe because it is SO delicious.

Prep Time: 15 minutes (including guacamole)
Cook Time: 20-25 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 tbsp. Olive oil

½ cup diced red onion

Kosher salt

1 lb. ground beef (grass-fed if possible)

2-3 tsp. Taco seasoning or Mexican spice blend (I like Simply Organic taco seasoning)

8 hard taco shells

1 cup shredded Cheddar or Jack cheese, optional

Rice: 

1 bag RightRice (Spanish or Cilantro Lime)

Chopped Cilantro for Garnish

Guacamole:

2 ripe avocados, pits removed and flesh scooped out

½ tsp. Kosher salt

1-2 Tbsp. lime juice

2 tbsp. Minced red onion

2 tbsp. Chopped cilantro (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to the desired temperature for heating the taco shells.

Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.  Add the onions and a pinch of salt.  Cook until soft, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes.  Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon or potato masher so it crumbles into small pieces.  Cook, continuing to stir until browned, 3-5 minutes. Stir in the taco seasoning, then taste, adding more seasoning or salt if necessary.  Remove from the heat.

Prepare the RightRice according to the instructions on the packaging.

While the RightRice cooks, make the guacamole.  Place the avocados in a bowl.  Add a generous sprinkling of kosher salt.  (The salt is a great abrasive and makes it easier to mash the avocado.) Using a fork, pastry blender, or a potato masher (again!), mash the guacamole until smooth or to your liking.  Stir in a few teaspoons of the lime juice to start, then taste, adding more salt and more lime juice to your taste.  Stir in the red onion and chopped cilantro if using.

Right before serving, heat the taco shells in the oven, watching carefully as they brown quickly.

When ready to serve, scoop a generous portion of ground beef into each taco shell and sprinkle with cheese.  Top with guacamole and repeat until they disappear (because they will and quick)!

Cocktails

The Sims-derella

Molly and Amanda share a LOVE of Palomas, and Amanda made a signature version to celebrate!  So meet the “Sims-derella!”  Instead of grapefruit soda, use fresh pink grapefruit juice. Blood oranges replace the traditional lime, which gives the cocktail its vibrant color.  And instead of agave, use maple syrup to sweeten. Why? Maple Syrup contains 35% fructose and agave contains 90%, which is even higher than high fructose corn syrup!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Serves: 1

Ingredients

¼ cup pink grapefruit juice (if bottled, look for no sugar added, like “Simply Grapefruit”)

¼ cup freshly squeezed blood orange juice (or lime juice if blood oranges aren’t available)

¼ cup Casamigos Blanco tequila, or other premium blanco

1-2 tsp. maple syrup

Directions

Place the citrus juices, tequila, and a teaspoon of maple syrup in a cocktail shaker and stir to combine.  Taste, adding a little more maple syrup to sweeten if desired.  (The mixture will taste very strong before ice is added.)  Fill the shaker ⅔ of the way with ice, then shake vigorously for 20 seconds, or until the outside of the container starts to accumulate some moisture.  Strain and serve up if you’re feeling fancy, or the childproof way–on the rocks with a straw for easy sipping!

The Haaspitality

This Paloma uses Casamigos reposado, which has a little more depth of flavor and complexity for tequila lovers. You can certainly use Blanco if you’d prefer. Casamigos started using the hashtag #houseoffriends and Amanda wanted to join in on the fun. Make sure you check out the hashtag #haasoffriends to see more.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Serves: 1

Instructions

¼ cup pink grapefruit juice

2 Tbsp. lime juice or Meyer lemon juice

¼ cup Casamigos repisado tequila

1 tsp. Maple syrup

Directions

Place the citrus juices, tequila, and a teaspoon of maple syrup in a cocktail shaker and stir to combine.  Taste, adding a little more maple syrup to sweeten if desired.  (The mixture will taste very strong before ice is added.)  Fill the shaker ⅔ of the way with ice, then shake vigorously for 20 seconds, or until the outside of the container starts to accumulate some moisture.  Strain and serve up if you’re feeling fancy, or the childproof way–on the rocks with a straw for easy sipping!

Recipes by Amanda Haas