Beef Soft Tacos

Seasoned ground beef tucked in a flour tortilla with cheese, lettuce and diced tomatoes.

18 pounds Ground Beef
1 gallon hot water
3 cups tomato paste
2 cups water
1 cup chili powder
1/2 cup ground cumin
1/2 cup dehydrated minced onion
1/3 cup dried oregano
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons salt
100 (7-inch) flour tortillas
6 2/3 cups part-skim mozzarella cheese
25 ounces lettuce, shredded
25 ounces tomatoes, diced
canned tomato salsa

Place ground beef in steam kettle. Cook beef until no longer pink, using kettle whip to break beef up into 1/4 to 1/2-inch crumbles. Turn off heat.

Thoroughly drain fat from beef by pulling whip through beef in circular motion and then zig-zag-stir through all sections of beef.

Ad enough water just to cover beef. Stir by pulling whip through beef in circular motion and then zig-zag-stir through all sections of beef. Thoroughly drain fat and liquid from beef, repeating zig-zag-stir procedure.

Add tomato paste, water, chili powder, cumin, onions, oregano, sugar, garlic powder and salt; mix well. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat; cover and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Add additional water if needed.

For each serving:
Portion 1/3 cup (#12 scoop) beef mixture onto 1 tortilla. Top with 1/4 ounce cheese. Provide lettuce, tomato and salsa, if desired, on condiment bar.

Yields: 100 servings
Source: National Cattlemen's Beef Association