Homemade Taco Seasoning and ‘Dry Canning’
Homemade Taco Seasoning can be Quick and Easy for a beginner ‘cooking from scratch’ homesteader. Mix these ingredients, and whip up a batch of homemade tacos for your next Tuesday dinner!
Benefits of Making your own Taco Seasoning
A few benefits that spring to mind when discussing making your own Taco seasoning are having control of the sodium in the home dish, cutting out the malt from the mixture, and saving some money on groceries.
Controlling Sodium Intake
Sodium as a food additive is neither Good nor Bad, but both low and high levels of consumption can create negative side effects. Sodium is necessary in our daily lives to prevent loss of water in our bodies, regulate fluids, remove excess CO2, and develop brain functionality. Over consumption of sodium can have negative effects such as high blood pressure.
I am not giving any medical advise, but the salt in this mixture can be lowered or eliminated, depending on your lifestyle requirements.
Maltodextrin (Malt)
Maltodextrin is a food additive that is believed to contribute to weight gain. It is used in various foods to help improve the taste, texture and smell. Malt is not a sugar, but it does react in the body similarly. Even though Malt is used as a food additive, there are some side effects which include blood sugar spikes, GI discomfort, allergic reactions and poor nutritional value.
A handful of our family members are allergic to Malt. We have to be careful with store-bought dry mixes, so that all of the family members can enjoy when visiting the homestead. The main side effects experienced are painful headaches (not quite a migraine) and abdominal discomfort, for hours following consumption.
Ingredients you will need for this Homemade Taco Seasoning
- 2 Cups Chili Powder
- 3/4 Cup Cumin
- 1/2 Cup Onion Powder
- 1/2 Cup Garlic Powder
- 1/4 Cup Paprika
- 4 TB Salt
- 4 TB Pepper
- 4 TB Red Pepper Flakes
- 2 TB Oregano
After thoroughly mix all of the ingredients, funnel mixture into the canning jars.
l would recommended adding a dust barrier on top of the dry mixture in the canning jars. Here I am using half of a paper towel doubled. Other dust barrier options could be a coffee filter, muffin liner or even a small parchment round.
Wipe the canning jar rims and the rubber underside of the lids, to remove any dust or debris.
The dust barriers are crucial when vacuum sealing to keep any debris from raising out of the jar and into the seal. If debris does get into the seal it can result in a false seal or no seal at all.
With the lids on, place the Vacuum Sealer onto the jars. Press the start button, and allow the electric vacuum sealer to process, until is shuts off or you hear a ‘pop’ sound. The pop sound is the seal seating firmly on the jars. Creating a vacuum and airtight environment inside the canning jar.
This picture displays the electric vacuum sealer counting the seconds, while it works on removing all the air from the canning jars. Meanwhile, I am wiping the lid, for the next jar of taco seasoning.
Flipped the sealed jars upside down, after the electric vacuum seal is completed. Shows that the seal is in fact intact and an airtight environment was created. It is now ready to store for years in the Cantry (canning pantry), or until it’s needed for the next Taco Tuesday Night.
Mix 2 Tablespoons of the seasoning per pound of meat, to get the best results.
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Homemade Taco Seasoning is Quick and Easy for the whole family as a beginner cooking from scratch homesteader. Mix up these few ingredients and whip up a batch of homemade tacos this upcoming Tuesday!
Ingredients
- 2 Cup Chili Powder
- 3/4 Cup Cumin
- 1/2 Cup Onion Powder
- 1/2 Cup Garlic Powder
- 1/4 Cup Paprika
- 4 TB Salt
- 4 TB Pepper
- 4 TB Red Pepper Flakes
- 2 TB Oregano
Instructions
- Mix all spices together until all evenly distributed.
- When preparing to brown meat of choice add 2 TB of seasoning mixture to raw meat so the seasonings are melding with the meat while it cooks.
Notes
Salt can be reduced or eliminated depending on individual dietary requirements.
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