FOOD NEWS
The Rich Ingredient You Need For The Finest Homemade Taco Seasoning
By Ashlyn Frassinelli
Cocoa mixes particularly well with the flavors prevalent in Mexican cuisine, where chocolate-centric savory dishes, such as mole, have been the norm for hundreds of years.
Adding a sprinkle of cocoa powder to your taco seasoning mix doesn't make tacos taste chocolatey but heightens the other flavors and lends an earthy, bitter richness.
You can use this seasoning for anything from classic tacos to burritos, enchiladas, tortilla soups, and more. You won't taste the cocoa, but you will notice the difference.
There are numerous cocoa powder varieties, and each one will impart a slightly different flavor. The main types are natural cocoa powder and Dutch-process cocoa powder.
Dutch-process cocoa beans are treated with an alkaline solution, producing less acidic cocoa with a neutral, mellow taste. Natural cocoa is acidic, bitter, and powerful in flavor.
In addition to cocoa, you can also add a little heat to your taco seasoning with chili powder and cayenne for a delicious twist on classic ground beef tacos.