Taco Tuesday

It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's yummy taco offerings include Buffalo Turkey Tacos and Easy Green Chile Chicken Tacos. Enjoy!

MUSHROOM TACOS

This is from Runner's World and can be viewed online here. Recipe feeds 2-3 runners; Time needed: 30-45 minutes

What you’ll need:

Pound of scrubbed assorted mushrooms (creminis and portabellos work well)

1 yellow onion

2 cloves garlic

6 small corn tortillas

1 orange

1 lime

1 teaspoon cumin

2 teaspoons dark chili powder

1 teaspoon oregano

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Salt to taste

Cilantro

How to make it:

Dice up one onion, setting aside three tablespoons for onion topping. Cut mushrooms into large chunks.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high-heat. Add onions and mushrooms and sauté for about 10 minutes until onions are tender and mushrooms begin to brown.

Mince garlic. Juice orange and lime. Reserve two wedges of lime.

Add garlic, cumin, oregano, and chili powder to onions and mushroom.

Saute for 30 seconds until garlic is aromatic, then add orange and lime juice, along with about a teaspoon of salt.

Cook for two to three minutes until the juice reduces.

Heat tortillas individually in a dry pan on the stove or all together wrapped in a towel in the microwave.

Spoon mushroom mix into tortillas and garnish with reserved raw onion and chopped cilantro. Enjoy!

LENTIL TACOS

This was on the Runner’s World website(from November 3, 2006), and begins, “This Mexican dish is so savory, you'll never miss the meat.”

View this online at https://www.runnersworld.com/nutrition-weight-loss/a20784984/lentil-tacos/.

Ingredients

1 cup onions, diced

1/4 cup celery, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup brown lentils, dry

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 cup water or vegetable broth

3 tablespoons dried black currants or raisins, minced

1 cup salsa, plus additional for topping

8 6-inch corn tortillas

shredded lettuce

chopped tomatoes

shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Directions

In a large frying pan over medium heat, sauted onions, celery, and garlic in the olive oil for five minutes or until vegetables are soft. Stir in the lentils, chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Cook for one minute. Add the broth and raisins. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, or until the lentils are tender (add more water or broth as needed). Remove the lid and cook an additional 10 minutes (until lentils are thick), stirring often. Fold in the salsa. Wrap the tortillas in a damp white cotton towel and microwave on high for one minute. Spoon the lentil mixture among the tortillas. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese.

Serves four.

Calories: 390; Fat: 6 g; Carbs: 69 g; Protein: 18 g

EASY GREEN CHILE CHICKEN TACOS

This taco recipe is from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, who not only posts recipes on VeryWell Fit, but has her own food site, called Lively Table.

For this recipe, Kaleigh wrote, “Instead of making the same old tacos this week, why not change things up with delicious and healthy green chile chicken tacos?

“This chicken taco recipe is super easy to make. Just boil the chicken in a bit of broth, shred, and add diced green chiles. It's a simple nutritious meal that the whole family will love.

“Corn tortillas are naturally whole grain, so they make a great choice for these tacos. Top with a bit of shredded red cabbage, creamy avocado, and fresh cilantro to make a weeknight meal.”

Total Time: 35 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; CookTime: 30 minutes; Servings: 4 (2 tacos each)

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast

2 cloves garlic

1 fresh jalapeno

1 cup low sodium chicken broth

Water

1 can (7-ounce) diced green chiles

8 warm corn tortillas

1 small avocado, sliced

1 cup red cabbage, shredded

Fresh cilantro, to taste

Preparation

In a medium saucepan, add chicken, garlic, jalapeno, and broth. Add water to cover the chicken. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat until chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove chicken and shred using two forks. Discard garlic and jalapeno, reserving cooking liquid.

In a skillet, add green chiles and shredded chicken. Cook over low heat, stirring until warmed through and sauce is thickened. Add reserved cooking liquid as needed to keep the chicken moist.

Serve with warmed corn tortillas, avocado, cabbage, and cilantro.

Ingredient Variations and Substitutions

Use any type of tortilla that you like. Look for whole grain options, if possible.

You can also leave out the tortillas and serve the chicken on top of lettuce to make a taco salad or with brown rice and beans to make taco bowls.

Canned green chiles are usually found in the Mexican food aisle at the grocery store. They come in two varieties, spicy and mild. Choose the kind that best suits your taste.

Cooking and Serving Tips

Serve tacos with a side of low-sodium canned black beans for a quick and easy meal.

Add any toppings you like, such as your favorite salsa, tomatoes, or a dollop of plain Greek yogurt.

JAMAICAN JERK TEMPEH TACOS

This comes from Brian Sanuels’ wonderful food blog, A Thought For Food. You really should check out both his food blog and photography site (the first link).

To read what Brian wrote about tempeh (something I really need to get more into), as well as to view this recipe on his site, click here.

Ingredients for jerk tempeh

8 oz package organic, non-GMO tempeh, sliced (the size is up to you. It's for tacos, so not too thick).

1/2 small yellow onion, thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1.5 tablespoons minced ginger

1.5 teaspoons cayenne

2 teaspoons onion powder

2 teaspoons cumin

2 teaspoons allspice

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1.5 teaspoons smoked paprika

2 tablespoons molasses

1/3 cup soy sauce

Juice of two limes

3 tablespoons olive oil

For the tacos

Soft corn or flour tortilla

Fennel bulb, white part thinly sliced

Radish, thinly sliced

Cilantro

Lime, cut into wedges

Directions

In a bowl, add the garlic, ginger, spices, molasses, soy sauce, lime juice, and olive oil and whisk to combine.

Add the sliced tempeh and onion to the marinade and mix to coat each piece. Transfer to a container with a lid and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, and as many as 8, before using (I let it sit overnight). This will allow them to absorb the jerk marinade and the lime will cure the sliced onion. Be sure to warm (or bring to room temp) before using.

To prepare the tacos, spoon some of the tempeh and onion onto a tortilla, along with some of the jerk marinade. Top with sliced fennel, radish, and cilantro leaves. Serve with lime wedge.

BUFFALO TURKEY TACOS

Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings

Source: Jennie-O

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/buffalo-turkey-tacos.

Ingredients

1 (16-ounce) package JENNIE-O Lean Ground Turkey

1/3 cup hot pepper wing sauce

8 hard corn taco shells, heated as specified on package

1 cup shredded lettuce

2 tomatoes, diced

1 avocado, sliced

1/2 cup blue cheese dressing

Directions

Cook turkey as specified on package. Always cook to well-done, 165F as measured by a meat thermometer.

Add hot pepper sauce. Stir to combine.

Fill tacos shells with lettuce, turkey mixture, tomatoes and avocado.

Drizzle with blue cheese dressing.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 220; Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 260 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Protein: 14 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g; Sugars: 1 g

TACO CASSEROLE

This comes from Kraft Recipes, and begins, “Give your friends and family something to taco about with this quick and easy Taco Casserole recipe. Make this yummy Taco Casserole in under one hour.”

Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Makes 12 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 lb. lean ground beef

2 green onions, sliced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 pkg. (1 oz.) TACO BELL® Taco Seasoning Mix

1 can (15.5 oz.) kidney beans, undrained

1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce

1 can (4.5 oz.) chopped green chiles, undrained

1 pkg. (30 oz.) ORE-IDA Shredded Hash Brown Potatoes

1 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F.

Cook meat, onions, garlic and taco seasoning mix in large skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat 10 min. or until meat is done, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.

Drain beans, reserving 1/4 cup of the liquid; set beans aside. Add reserved bean liquid to meat mixture along with the tomato sauce and chiles; mix well.

Spread half the meat mixture onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover with layers of half each of the beans and potatoes. Repeat layers.

Bake 30 min. or until hot and bubbly. Sprinkle with cheese; bake 5 min. or until melted.

Kitchen Tips

Tip 1

Serving Suggestion

Serve topped with guacamole, BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream, and/or additional sliced green onions.

Tip 2

Make Ahead

This delicious casserole can be mixed together ahead of time. Refrigerate up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, bake as directed, increasing the baking time as necessary until casserole is hot and bubbly. Sprinkle with cheese; bake 5 min. or until melted.