Shredded Beef Tacos and Chocolate Sauce Plantains
Tacos
1 Q7 Ranch sirloin tip roast, 3-4 pounds
8 ounces salsa
1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning
Garnishes
Shredded lettuce
Diced tomato
Diced or sliced avocado
Sliced green onion
Diced jalapeños
Mexican-style shredded cheese
Chopped fresh cilantro
Sour cream
Lime slices
Flour or corn tortillas
Chocolate-sauced Plantains
5 very ripe plantains
4½ tablespoons butter, divided
2½ tablespoons brown sugar
Ground cinnamon
3½ tablespoons honey
6 ounces chocolate chips
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1½ teaspoons vegetable oil
Cayenne pepper
Roasted almonds
For the tacos: Place roast in crockpot. Mix salsa and taco seasoning in separate bowl and pour over roast. Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours. Shred beef with a fork when done and set aside to keep warm.
For the plantains: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease bottom of baking dish with butter.
Cut ends off plantains and peel. Cut each plantain in half lengthwise, layer in bottom of baking dish. Cube 4 tablespoons butter; place half over first layer of plantains, sprinkle with 1 tablespoon brown sugar, then cinnamon. Repeat for top layer of plantains. Drizzle with honey. Bake 15 minutes, and turn oven to broil and cook until golden brown.
For the sauce: Heat coconut oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the chocolate chips, butter, honey, vegetable oil, dash of cinnamon and dash of cayenne pepper; heat until melted through, stirring continuously. Drizzle chocolate sauce over cooked plantains and sprinkle with roasted almonds.
To serve: Put beef on tortillas and top with choice of garnishes and a squeeze of lime. Serve sauced plantains on the side. Refrigerate leftover shredded beef for up to five days or freeze.
Katie Bloomfield, Q7Ranch, Marengo