Spicy Southwest Beef Bowls with Fresh Salsa and Lime Crema

These Southwest beef bowls are all about building your own delicious creation. Start with a bed of zesty lime rice, top it with richly spiced ground beef and then go wild with fresh homemade salsa, creamy lime crema and crunchy blue corn tortilla chips. It’s a fun, interactive dinner that everyone will love.

The beauty of this dish is the DIY element. You can layer the crema on the bottom, pile on the rice, sprinkle cheese and crush chips on top or serve them alongside for scooping. Follow your heart and make each bowl your own!

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Ingredients

1 unit Roma TomatoView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Yellow OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LimeView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit JalapeñoView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 clove GarlicView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup Jasmine RiceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Ground BeefView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Southwest Spice BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1.5 ounce Tomato PasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Beef Stock ConcentrateView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon Sour CreamView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 cup Monterey Jack CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1.5 ounce Blue Corn Tortilla ChipsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Salt to tasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Pepper to tasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Olive OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Wash and dry all produce. Finely dice the tomato. Halve, peel and thinly slice the onion; finely chop a few slices until you have 2 tablespoons. Zest and quarter the lime. Halve, deseed and finely chop the jalapeño (leave seeds in for more heat). Peel and finely chop the garlic.
2. In a small pot, combine the rice, ¾ cup water and a big pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until rice is tender, 15-18 minutes. Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.
3. While the rice cooks, in a small bowl, combine the diced tomato, chopped onion, half the lime zest, a squeeze of lime juice, a drizzle of olive oil and as much jalapeño as you like. Season generously with salt and pepper. Set aside.
4. Heat a large drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onion and a big pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until slightly softened, 2-3 minutes. Add the ground beef, garlic, Southwest spice blend and another big pinch of salt (add any remaining jalapeño if you like it spicy). Cook, breaking up the meat, until browned and cooked through, 3-4 minutes. If there’s excess grease, carefully pour it out. Stir in the tomato paste, beef stock concentrate and ¼ cup water. Cook until slightly thickened, 1-2 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon butter until melted; turn off the heat.
5. While the beef cooks, in a second small bowl, combine the sour cream with a squeeze of lime juice. Season with salt and pepper. Add water 1 teaspoon at a time until the mixture reaches a drizzling consistency.
6. Fluff the rice with a fork; stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and the remaining lime zest. Season with salt and pepper. Divide the rice between bowls. Top with the beef mixture, Monterey Jack cheese, salsa and crema. Serve with tortilla chips and any remaining lime wedges on the side.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different type of rice?

Yes, you can substitute white rice, brown rice or even cauliflower rice. Adjust cooking time and liquid accordingly.

What can I use instead of sour cream for the crema?

Greek yogurt or a dairy-free yogurt alternative works well. For a vegan option, use cashew cream.

How do I make this dish spicier?

Add the jalapeño seeds, use a spicier chili or include a dash of hot sauce or cayenne pepper in the beef mixture.