This fun 1980s fusion dish is your new budget-friendly family dinner

Name: This fun 1980s fusion dish is your new budget-friendly family dinner
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 500g beef mince; 1 tbsp ground coriander; 1 tbsp ground cumin; 1 tsp dried oregano; ¼ tsp cayenne pepper; 2 garlic cloves, finely grated; 1 tsp sea salt; ground white pepper, to taste; 1 tbsp light-flavoured extra virgin olive oil or neutral vegetable oil; 2 tsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp sake; 1 tbsp mirin; steamed short grain rice (such as Koshihikari), to serve; 2 tomatoes, chopped; 100g cheddar cheese, coarsely grated; ¼ iceberg lettuce, shredded; ¼ white onion, finely diced; hot sauce or salsa, to serve

Julia Busuttil Nishimura

November 22, 2024

Soy, sake and mirin add umami profiles to this fusion dish.William Meppem

easyTime:< 30 minsServes:4

Taco rice, or takoraisu, is a fairly recent addition to Japan’s Okinawan cuisine, dating to the mid-1980s, when Matsuzo Gibo created this dish of taco-seasoned beef mince topped with lettuce, tomatoes and salsa on a bed of rice. Originally created to serve to US marines stationed at a nearby base, the dish soon became synonymous with the island.

In addition to the taco seasonings of cumin, oregano, garlic and cayenne pepper, I also add Japanese flavours such as soy, sake and mirin, which add a beautiful umami richness.

Ingredients

500g beef mince
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
2 garlic cloves, finely grated
1 tsp sea salt
ground white pepper, to taste
1 tbsp light-flavoured extra virgin olive oil or neutral vegetable oil
2 tsp soy sauce
2 tbsp sake
1 tbsp mirin
steamed short grain rice (such as Koshihikari), to serve
2 tomatoes, chopped
100g cheddar cheese, coarsely grated
¼ iceberg lettuce, shredded
¼ white onion, finely diced
hot sauce or salsa, to serve

Method

Step 1
Place the mince, coriander, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl. Use your hands to combine the mince with the spices.
Step 2
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Fry the mince until browned and cooked through. Add the soy sauce, sake, mirin and 100ml of water and bring to a simmer. Continue to cook for 1–2 minutes or until the liquid has mostly evaporated.
Step 3
Spoon some rice into four bowls and top with the mince, followed by the chopped tomatoes, grated cheese, shredded lettuce and diced onion. Serve with your desired hot sauce or salsa.

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