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Showing posts with label Crispy Cheddar Chicken Tacos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crispy Cheddar Chicken Tacos. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Taco Tuesday

It's Tuesday, so you know the drill: It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's yummy offerings include Cheeseburger Tacos and Mini Chicken and Bacon Tacos. Enjoy!

GARLICKY SHRIMP TACOS

This is from Kay Chun at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kay wrote, "A nod to gambas al ajillo, the immensely popular Spanish tapas dish of garlic prawns, this recipe tucks garlic shrimp into festive tacos that can be on the dinner table in 30 minutes. There are very few ingredients involved, but they all pack a punch. The quick-cooking shrimp are seared and finished in olive oil that’s infused with lots of fragrant garlic and rich smoky paprika. Be sure to save the robust oil that’s left in the skillet and enjoy it drizzled over your tacos. Dress them up with crisp sliced radishes, creamy avocado, spicy pico de gallo and fresh, herbaceous cilantro, plus a final squeeze of lime to brighten all the flavors."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025852-garlicky-shrimp-tacos. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend it. Great recipes, guides, and more.

Ingredients

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon lime juice, plus wedges for serving

Salt

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp (about 2 dozen)

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Warm corn tortillas, sliced avocado, sliced radishes, pico de gallo and cilantro leaves, for serving

Preparation

In a small bowl, combine sour cream and lime juice; season with salt. Mix well and set aside.

In a 12-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high. Season shrimp with salt and add half to the skillet; sear for 1 minute on each side and transfer to a plate. Repeat with 1 tablespoon of the oil and the remaining shrimp.

Adjust heat to medium-low. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil, the garlic and paprika to the skillet and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add shrimp (and any accumulated juices) and cook, turning and basting, until opaque, just cooked through and nicely coated in the sauce, about 2 minutes. Transfer the shrimp and sauce to a shallow serving bowl.

To build tacos, pile a few shrimp in the center of each tortilla and drizzle with some of the garlic oil. Top with avocado, radishes, pico de gallo, cilantro and lime crema. Serve with lime wedges.

CRISPY CHEDDAR CHICKEN TACOS

This is from Rick A. Martínez in The New York Times cooking newsletter. For this recipe, Rick wrote, "These quick tacos use leftover or store-bought rotisserie chicken, and have a satisfying crispy Cheddar frico called a costra (crust) that is common both in taquerias in the northern half of Mexico and in the southwestern United States. In some taquerias, you can order a taco using only the costra as the shell without a tortilla. In this recipe, the tortilla and costra are layered together to wrap a simple but delicious shredded chicken and chipotle filling."

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 8 tacos

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025276-crispy-cheddar-chicken-tacos. While you're at it, if you haven't signed up for The New York Times cooking newsletter yet, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.

Ingredients

1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced (lengthwise, from root to stem end)

1 cup hot water (tap water is fine)

Salt

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

2 cups shredded, cooked chicken, warmed

2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce

6 ounces medium Cheddar, Monterey Jack or queso Chihuahua, grated

8 (6-inch) corn tortillas

Sliced avocado, salsa and lime wedges, for serving

Preparation

Set an oven rack in the middle position; heat the oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl, stir the onion, hot water and 1 teaspoon salt until the salt has dissolved. Let sit for 5 minutes. This will soften the onion and lessen any bitter or harsh flavors. Rinse the onion under cold water and drain. In the same bowl, toss the onion with the oregano, lime juice, orange juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt; reserve.

In a separate bowl, quickly toss together the chicken, peppers and adobo sauce, making sure the chicken is completely coated. Season with salt. Cover and keep warm.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat (do not use foil or the cheese might stick). Arrange cheese in 8 equal mounds on the prepared baking sheet. Spread each mound evenly to about 3 inches wide, and space at least 1 inch apart. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and deep golden brown in spots and around the edges, about 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and place 1 tortilla over each cheese crust and return to the oven to heat the tortillas, about 2 minutes.

Use tongs to carefully remove each tortilla with its costra, flipping each one onto a plate so that the cheese is facing up. Top with chicken, onions, avocado, salsa and a squeeze of lime.

FISH TACOS

This is from Lena Lim of Seattle, Washington on Taste of Home. Lena wrote, "A cool sauce with just a bit of zing tops these breaded fish tacos (that are actually healthy!). This recipe is a delicious guilt-free dish that doesn't break the bank."

Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/fish-tacos/.

Ingredients

3/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream

1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chiles

1 tablespoon fresh cilantro leaves

1 tablespoon lime juice

4 tilapia fillets (4 ounces each)

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 large egg white, beaten

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

1 tablespoon canola oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon each white pepper, cayenne pepper and paprika

8 corn tortillas (6 inches), warmed

1 large tomato, finely chopped

Additional fresh cilantro leaves, optional

Directions

Place the sour cream, chiles, cilantro and lime juice in a food processor; cover and process until blended. Set aside.

Cut each tilapia fillet lengthwise into 2 portions. Place the flour, egg white and bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Dip tilapia in flour, then egg white, then crumbs.

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook tilapia in oil in batches until fish flakes easily with a fork, 4-5 minutes on each side. Combine the seasonings; sprinkle over fish.

Place a portion of fish on each tortilla; top with about 2 tablespoons of sour cream mixture. Sprinkle with tomato. If desired, top with additional cilantro.

Nutrition Facts: 1 taco: 190 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 30mg cholesterol, 269mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 16g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1-1/2 starch, 1/2 fat.

EASY CHICKEN TACOS

This is from Kris Osborne on Simply Recipes.

To view this online, go to https://www.simplyrecipes.com/ground-chicken-taco-recipe-8639156

Makes 4 to 8 servings (depending on how you’re serving and if you’re making side dishes)

Ingredients

1 tablespoon neutral oil

1 pound ground chicken

2 tablespoons taco seasoning, plus more as needed to taste

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes

Fresh lime juice to finish, optional

Tortillas, for serving

Optional toppings, for serving:

Grated cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

Salsa or Pico de Gallo

Guacamole or avocado

Shredded lettuce

Sour cream

Hot sauce

Lime wedges

Directions

Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and add the oil. When it starts to shimmer, add the ground chicken and cook, stirring regularly and breaking it up into small pieces, until no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning and stir until well combined.

Add the black beans and tomatoes. If the tomatoes and their juices are on the thicker side, fill the tomato can up to about 1/4 full with water and add that as well. Stir to combine. Bring everything to a simmer, cover, and reduce the heat to medium-low, cooking for 10 minutes.

While the chicken cooks, warm or char your tortillas and get your favorite toppings ready. Remove the lid and stir everything. Taste and add more taco seasoning and/or lime juice, if using, to taste. Depending on the brand or recipe of taco seasoning, you may not need any more. Serve hot in tortillas with shredded cheese, salsa, or any other taco fixings of your choice.

3 Easy Substitutions

You can easily substitute ground chicken for ground turkey, ground beef, sausage, or plant-based alternatives. Depending on what you use, you may need to adjust the amount of taco seasoning to get the flavor just right for your protein of choice.

Pinto beans have a slightly nuttier, earthier flavor compared to black beans, and they work really well in these tacos. When adding them to the chicken, you can mash up some of the beans to get a creamier texture similar to refried beans.

Use diced tomatoes with chilies (like the Ro-Tel brand) as an easy way to add heat and a zestier flavor. You may want to reduce the amount of taco seasoning since the diced tomatoes with chilies are already seasoned.

MINI CHICKEN AND BACON TACOS

This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "You can't go wrong with a chicken, bacon and ranch taco flavor combination, and Old El Paso's Soft Tortilla Bowls™ are the perfect way to deliver these mini chicken tacos to your mouth. You can cook from scratch or you can pick up an easy rotisserie chicken and some pre-cooked bacon; do what works for you and your schedule to enjoy this delicious take on mini tacos."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Makes 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/mini-chicken-and-bacon-tacos.

Ingredients

1 package (12 count) Old El Paso™ Mini Soft Tortilla Bowls

1 cup chopped deli rotisserie chicken

1 cup Old El Paso™ Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1/2 cup chopped cooked bacon

1/4 cup sliced green onions

1/3 cup Old El Paso™ Zesty Ranch sauce

1/2 cup quartered grape tomatoes

Preparation

Heat oven to 375°F. In ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish, place tortilla bowls.

In small bowl, mix chicken, 1/2 cup of the cheese, the bacon, green onions and sauce; mix well.

Divide chicken mixture evenly among tortilla bowls; top with remaining cheese.

Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted. Top with tomatoes and additional green onions and sauce, if desired.

Expert Tips

Serve these with fresh vegetables for a hearty snack or a light lunch.

Don’t care for tomatoes? Leave them out, and they’re just as delicious.

Leftover cooked chicken can be substituted for the deli rotisserie chicken in this recipe.

Nutrition: 6 servings (2 bowls each); 1 Serving: Calories 250 (Calories from Fat 120); Total Fat 13g (Saturated Fat 6g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 45mg; Sodium 590mg; Total Carbohydrate 17g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 1g); Protein 14g

% Daily Value: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 2%; Calcium 15%; Iron 8%

Exchanges: 1 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Very Lean Meat, 1 High-Fat Meat, 1 Fat; Carbohydrate Choice: 1

CHEESEBURGER TACOS

This is from Family Time, and begins, “Cheeseburger tacos are a tasty take on tried-and-true burgers. Try them filled with lettuce, onion and pickle relish and seasoned with savory taco seasoning mix.”

Serves: 6; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 pound lean lean beef

3/4 cup water

1 packet (1.25-oz.) ORTEGA® Taco Seasoning Mix

8 ounces pasteurized prepared cheese, cubed

2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard

12 ORTEGA® Taco Shells or White Corn Taco Shells, warmed

2 cups shredded lettuce

2 cups chopped tomato

1 cup sweet pickle relish

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup ORTEGA® Medium Taco Sauce

Directions

Brown beef; drain. Stir in water and seasoning mix; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes or until thickened. Add cheese and mustard; stir until cheese is melted.

Fill taco shells with beef mixture. Top with lettuce, tomato, relish, onion and taco sauce.

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Taco Tuesday

Yay! Another round of Taco Tuesday recipes. These six recipes should help hit the spot, including Garlicky Shrimp Tacos and Chicken Tacos with Avocado Salsa. Enjoy!

TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA

This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”

Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. chili powder

kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 lb. ground beef

3/4 c. ricotta

1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling

1 large egg

1/3 c. salsa

3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise

2 c. shredded Cheddar

2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack

Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.

In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.

In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.

Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.

Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.

CHEESY TACO SKILLET

This is from Lindsay Funston on Delish. The recipe begins, “Everything you love in beef tacos, only without the tortillas.

Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4.

Ingredients

1 tbsp. vegetable oil

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1/4 c. sliced green onions, plus more for garnish

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp. chili powder

1 tbsp. ground cumin

kosher salt

1 lb. ground beef

1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes

1 c. black beans

1 tbsp. Hot sauce

1 c. Shredded Monterey Jack

1 c. shredded Cheddar

Directions

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add bell pepper and green onions and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add chili powder and cumin and stir until combined, then season with salt.

Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 5 minutes more.

Add diced tomatoes and black beans and stir until combined. Stir in hot sauce, Monterey jack, and cheddar. Cover with a lid and let melt, 2 minutes, then garnish with green onions and serve.

GARLICKY SHRIMP TACOS

This is from Kay Chun at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kay wrote, "A nod to gambas al ajillo, the immensely popular Spanish tapas dish of garlic prawns, this recipe tucks garlic shrimp into festive tacos that can be on the dinner table in 30 minutes. There are very few ingredients involved, but they all pack a punch. The quick-cooking shrimp are seared and finished in olive oil that’s infused with lots of fragrant garlic and rich smoky paprika. Be sure to save the robust oil that’s left in the skillet and enjoy it drizzled over your tacos. Dress them up with crisp sliced radishes, creamy avocado, spicy pico de gallo and fresh, herbaceous cilantro, plus a final squeeze of lime to brighten all the flavors."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025852-garlicky-shrimp-tacos. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend it. Great recipes, guides, and more.

Ingredients

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon lime juice, plus wedges for serving

Salt

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp (about 2 dozen)

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Warm corn tortillas, sliced avocado, sliced radishes, pico de gallo and cilantro leaves, for serving

Preparation

In a small bowl, combine sour cream and lime juice; season with salt. Mix well and set aside.

In a 12-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high. Season shrimp with salt and add half to the skillet; sear for 1 minute on each side and transfer to a plate. Repeat with 1 tablespoon of the oil and the remaining shrimp.

Adjust heat to medium-low. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil, the garlic and paprika to the skillet and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add shrimp (and any accumulated juices) and cook, turning and basting, until opaque, just cooked through and nicely coated in the sauce, about 2 minutes. Transfer the shrimp and sauce to a shallow serving bowl.

To build tacos, pile a few shrimp in the center of each tortilla and drizzle with some of the garlic oil. Top with avocado, radishes, pico de gallo, cilantro and lime crema. Serve with lime wedges.

CRISPY CHEDDAR CHICKEN TACOS

This is from Rick A. Martínez in The New York Times cooking newsletter. For this recipe, Rick wrote, "These quick tacos use leftover or store-bought rotisserie chicken, and have a satisfying crispy Cheddar frico called a costra (crust) that is common both in taquerias in the northern half of Mexico and in the southwestern United States. In some taquerias, you can order a taco using only the costra as the shell without a tortilla. In this recipe, the tortilla and costra are layered together to wrap a simple but delicious shredded chicken and chipotle filling."

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 8 tacos

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025276-crispy-cheddar-chicken-tacos. While you're at it, if you haven't signed up for The New York Times cooking newsletter yet, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.

Ingredients

1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced (lengthwise, from root to stem end)

1 cup hot water (tap water is fine)

Salt

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

2 cups shredded, cooked chicken, warmed

2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce

6 ounces medium Cheddar, Monterey Jack or queso Chihuahua, grated

8 (6-inch) corn tortillas

Sliced avocado, salsa and lime wedges, for serving

Preparation

Set an oven rack in the middle position; heat the oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl, stir the onion, hot water and 1 teaspoon salt until the salt has dissolved. Let sit for 5 minutes. This will soften the onion and lessen any bitter or harsh flavors. Rinse the onion under cold water and drain. In the same bowl, toss the onion with the oregano, lime juice, orange juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt; reserve.

In a separate bowl, quickly toss together the chicken, peppers and adobo sauce, making sure the chicken is completely coated. Season with salt. Cover and keep warm.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat (do not use foil or the cheese might stick). Arrange cheese in 8 equal mounds on the prepared baking sheet. Spread each mound evenly to about 3 inches wide, and space at least 1 inch apart. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and deep golden brown in spots and around the edges, about 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and place 1 tortilla over each cheese crust and return to the oven to heat the tortillas, about 2 minutes.

Use tongs to carefully remove each tortilla with its costra, flipping each one onto a plate so that the cheese is facing up. Top with chicken, onions, avocado, salsa and a squeeze of lime.

TURKEY TACOS

This is from Diabetes Food Hub, and begins, "Lean ground turkey makes a great base for a delicious taco meal. This recipe has a spicy kick that can be adjusted by adding more or less jalapeño."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Yield: 6 servings; Serving Size: 1 taco

To view this online, go to https://diabetesfoodhub.org/recipes/turkey-tacos.

Ingredients

2 tsp olive oil

1/2 red onion (diced)

2 tbsp finely diced jalapeño pepper

16 oz 94% lean ground turkey

1 clove garlic (minced)

1 tbsp ground cumin

1 tbsp chili powder

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

2 tbsp water

6 6-inch corn tortillas

1 large avocado (diced)

6 tbsp Plain Nonfat Greek yogurt

6 tbsp no-salt-added pico de gallo

Directions

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.

Add the onion and jalapeño to the skillet and cook for 2 minutes. Add the turkey and cook until the meat is browned and the vegetables are cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cumin and cook for 30 seconds.

Lower the heat and add the chili powder, paprika, and water, and mix thoroughly.

Fill each tortilla with 1/2 cup of the turkey mixture, plus about 2 Tbsp diced avocado, 1 Tbsp yogurt, and 1 Tbsp pico de gallo.

CHICKEN TACOS WITH AVOCADO SALSA

This recipe, by Kathy Adams at Taste of Home, is originally from Christine Schenher of Exeter, California. The recipe begins, "This chicken taco recipe features a light, refreshing salsa made from avocados and corn. The chicken takes on the perfect combination of seasonings as you cook this dish; you may even want to make extra because it's just that good.

"Our chicken tacos recipe makes a meal that’s light, refreshing and bound to please just about everyone. This recipe includes an incredibly simple avocado salsa, which is the perfect topping for deliciously seasoned chicken tacos."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/chicken-tacos-with-avocado-salsa/.

Ingredients

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch strips

1/3 cup water

1 teaspoon sugar

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and cubed

1 cup fresh or frozen corn, thawed

1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

2 teaspoons lime juice

8 taco shells, warmed

Directions

Place a large skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Brown chicken. Add water, sugar and seasonings. Cook 4-5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, gently mix avocado, corn, tomatoes and lime juice. Spoon chicken mixture into taco shells; top with avocado salsa.

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Taco Tuesday

It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's offerings include Chicken Chili Tacos and Mexican Street Tacos. Enjoy!

BUFFALO STYLE TACOS

Makes 8 servings

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=1341

View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1341.shtml

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; Protein: 14 g; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 260 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g

GRILLED TOFU TACOS WITH WALLA WALLA SWEET ONION SLAW (AND OPTIONAL CHICKEN)

I originally found this at Oh My Veggies. The site has a mess of taco recipes from different places, which can be found here.

This recipe begins, “Smoky seasoned tofu (and/or chicken), creamy avocado, and crunchy slaw make these super easy summer tacos shine.”

PREP: 2 HOURS 20 MINUTES COOK: 15 MINUTES TOTAL: 2 HOURS 35 MINUTES; YIELD: 10-12 TACOS.

This is from Kitchen Treaty and can be viewed online at http://www.kitchentreaty.com/grilled-tofu-tacos-with-walla-walla-sweet-onion-slaw-and-optional-chicken/

Ingredients

2 (14-ounce) blocks extra-firm tofu

or, if using chicken for half:

1 (14-ounce block extra firm tofu

1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken thighs

For the marinade:

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup lime juice

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

For the slaw:

1/2 medium cabbage, quartered and thinly sliced

1/2 medium Walla Walla Sweet onion, thinly sliced

1/4 cup lime juice

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Plus:

1 large avocado, sliced

10-12 tortillas (depending on how full you like to stuff your tacos)*

Directions:

Press tofu to drain. I place each block on a dinner plate on top of a layer of paper towels, then place more paper towels on top. Then I put 3-4 dinner plates on top and let it press down on the tofu for 20-30 minutes. Slice tofu into 6-7 1/2-inch pieces. Place in a zipper bag or container with airtight cover. If using chicken, add chicken to a zipper bag.

Make the marinade. Add all marinade ingredients to a small bowl and whisk until combined. Pour marinade over tofu and/or chicken. If using half tofu/half chicken, just evenly divide the marinade between the two. Place in refrigerator and marinate for 2 hours.

Heat grill to medium-high, about 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook tofu and/or chicken until browned and cooked through, 10-14 minutes. We only have one grill, so we always use the left side for my vegetarian stuff, and the right side for the meaty stuff. Remove tofu and/or meat from grill and let cool enough to cut into taco-size pieces (I just cut the tofu pieces in half).

Place the tortillas on the grill and heat until slightly browned and heated through, about 1-2 minutes on each side. Keep on a plate covered by a damp dishtowel until ready to serve.

While the tofu/meat and tortillas are cooking, make the slaw. In a large bowl, toss together all ingredients with salad tongs or your clean hands. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired.

To assemble tacos, grab a tortilla and lay one or two avocado slices on the bottom. Top with a coulple pieces of tofu or chicken, and top with slaw. Serve.

*GLUTEN-FREE OPTION

Use corn tortillas (or other gluten-free tortillas)

CRISPY CHEDDAR CHICKEN TACOS

This is from Rick A. Martínez in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Rick wrote, "These quick tacos use leftover or store-bought rotisserie chicken, and have a satisfying crispy Cheddar frico called a costra (crust) that is common both in taquerias in the northern half of Mexico and in the southwestern United States. In some taquerias, you can order a taco using only the costra as the shell without a tortilla. In this recipe, the tortilla and costra are layered together to wrap a simple but delicious shredded chicken and chipotle filling."

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time:35 minutes; Yield: 8 tacos

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025276-crispy-cheddar-chicken-tacos.

Ingredients

1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced (lengthwise, from root to stem end)

1 cup hot water (tap water is fine)

Salt

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

2 cups shredded, cooked chicken, warmed

2 chipotles peppers in adobo sauce, chopped, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce

6 ounces medium Cheddar, Monterey jack or queso chihuahua, grated

8 (6-inch) corn tortillas

Sliced avocado, salsa and lime wedges, for serving

Preparation

Set an oven rack in the middle position; heat the oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl, stir the onion, hot water and 1 teaspoon salt until the salt has dissolved. Let sit for 5 minutes. This will soften the onion and lessen any bitter or harsh flavors. Rinse the onion under cold water and drain. In the same bowl, toss the onion with the oregano, lime juice, orange juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt; reserve.

In a separate bowl, quickly toss together the chicken, peppers and adobo sauce, making sure the chicken is completely coated. Season with salt. Cover and keep warm.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat (do not use foil or the cheese might stick). Arrange cheese in 8 equal mounds on the prepared baking sheet. Spread each mound evenly to about 3 inches wide, and space at least 1 inch apart. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and deep golden brown in spots and around the edges, about 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and place 1 tortilla over each cheese crust and return to the oven to heat the tortillas, about 2 minutes.

Use tongs to carefully remove each tortilla with its costra, flipping each one onto a plate so that the cheese is facing up. Top with chicken, onions, avocado, salsa and a squeeze of lime.

MEXICAN STREET TACOS

This yummines is from Chungah Rhee on her wonderful site, Damn Delicious®. The recipe begins, "Easy, quick, authentic carne asada street tacos you can now make right at home! Top with onion, cilantro + fresh lime juice! SO GOOD!"

Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Yield: 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://damndelicious.net/2019/04/18/mexican-street-tacos/. While you're at it, look around the site; it's amazing! (Great work, Chungah!)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

2 tablespoons canola oil, divided

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1-1/2 pounds skirt steak, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

12 mini flour tortillas, warmed

3/4 cup diced red onion

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1 lime, cut into wedges

Instructions

In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, lime juice, 1 tablespoon canola oil, garlic, chili powder, cumin and oregano.

In a gallon size Ziploc bag or large bowl, combine soy sauce mixture and steak; marinate for at least 1 hour up to 4 hours, turning the bag occasionally.

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add steak and marinade, and cook, stirring often, until steak has browned and marinade has reduced, about 5-6 minutes, or until desired doneness.

Serve steak in tortillas, topped with onion, cilantro and lime.

CHICKEN CHILI TACOS

This is from The TODAY Show. Prep Time: 10 minutes; Servings: 4

To view this online, go to http://www.today.com/recipes/chicken-chili-tacos-t28111.

Ingredients

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1 1/2 cups prepared pico de gallo or salsa

1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 1 1/2 limes)

2 teaspoons cumin seeds, lightly toasted

2 cloves garlic. minced

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

12 taco shells (crisp or soft/flour or corn)

Preparation

Place the chicken, pico de gallo or salsa, lime juice, cumin seeds and garlic in a slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. (You can also cook on high for 3 hours.)

Allow to cool a bit. Scoop the chicken out with a big slotted spoon and place it in a large serving bowl. Use two forks to pull the meat apart. The chicken will shred easily. Stir in some cooking juice from the pot and top with the cilantro.

Place the shredded chicken, your taco shells and desired fixings on the table and let everyone put together their perfect taco.

CHEESEBURGER TACOS

This is from Family Time, and begins, “Cheeseburger tacos are a tasty take on tried-and-true burgers. Try them filled with lettuce, onion and pickle relish and seasoned with savory taco seasoning mix.”

Serves: 6; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 pound lean lean beef

3/4 cup water

1 packet (1.25-oz.) ORTEGA® Taco Seasoning Mix

8 ounces pasteurized prepared cheese, cubed

2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard

12 ORTEGA® Taco Shells or White Corn Taco Shells, warmed

2 cups shredded lettuce

2 cups chopped tomato

1 cup sweet pickle relish

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup ORTEGA® Medium Taco Sauce

Directions

Brown beef; drain. Stir in water and seasoning mix; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes or until thickened. Add cheese and mustard; stir until cheese is melted.

Fill taco shells with beef mixture. Top with lettuce, tomato, relish, onion and taco sauce.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Taco Tuesday

It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's offerings include Chicken Chili Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, and Cheeseburger Tacos. Enjoy!

LOADED GUACAMOLE VEGETARIAN TACOS

This is from Karen, the Soup Addict. Karen wrote, “Veggie-loaded with lots of guacamole, black beans, corn, and peppers, these vegetarian tacos are full-on yummy.”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 8 minutes; Total Time: 28 minutes; Serves: 6 tacos.

This can be viewed online at http://soupaddict.com/2014/06/loaded-guacamole-vegetarian-tacos/.

Ingredients

for the guacamole

2 avocados, pit and skin removed, roughly chopped

1/2 of a lime

1/2 of a lemon

1/4 salt (plus extra as needed)

1/3 cup corn kernels (raw, from about 1/2 of a large cob, or thawed from frozen)

1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced

2 tablespoons diced poblano pepper

1 tablespoon diced red onion

1 tablespoon diced jalapeño pepper

2 teaspoons minced cilantro

1 clove garlic, minced

for the black beans

1 can black beans (15 ounces)

1/3 cup corn kerns (raw, from 1/2 of a large cob, or thawed from frozen)

1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced

1/4 cup poblano peppers, diced

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

for the tacos

6 small flour or soft corn tortillas

2 cups chopped iceberg or romaine lettuce

1 tablespoon minced cilantro

hot sauce, such as Cholula or Sriracha (optional)

lime and/or lemon wedges

Instructions

prepare the guacamole

Mash the avocado in a medium bowl with a fork (or molcajete) until it reaches your desired consistency, chunky or smooth. Add a small squeeze each of lime and lemon juice, along with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix well and taste. Add more lime juice, lemon juice, and salt as you like. Stir in the remaining guacamole ingredients. (To make ahead, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and press gently against the guacamole. The entire surface of the guac should be touching and covered by the wrap, to keep air out. Then, cover the bowl with a second sheet of wrap, and refrigerate.)

prepare the black beans

Add all of the black bean ingredients to a 2 quart sauce pot and heat over medium-low until hot. Turn off the heat and allow to cool to a very warm, eatable temp (a few minutes should do it).

assemble

If the tortillas are not soft and pliable (or if you like your tortillas warm), stack them on a microwaveable plate, separated with paper towels, and heat for 20 to 30 seconds.

Line half of each tortilla with lettuce. Spoon the black bean mixture over the lettuce (on half of the tortilla). Spoon guacamole on the other half. Top with a few shakes of hot sauce (optional) and a sprinkle of cilantro. Serve with lemon and lime wedges.

BEEF TACO BOATS

These are from Lauren Miyashiro on Delish. Lauren wrote, “Your new favorite way to eat a taco.”

Yields: 4; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes

To view this online, go to https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a53019/beef-taco-boats-recipe/.

Ingredients

4 medium flour tortillas

Uncooked rice

1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic

1 lb. ground beef

1 tsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp. paprika

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Shredded lettuce

1/2 c. shredded cheddar

Pico de gallo

Guacamole

Sour cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Shape a large piece of foil (smaller than the size of your tortillas) into a boat. Place one tortilla inside foil boat so that the perimeter of tortilla comes up the sides. Repeat to make 4 boats. Fill each boat with rice.

Bake until lightly golden, about 15 minutes. Let cool in foil until ready to serve.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute more. Add ground beef, chili powder, and paprika and season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until beef is no longer pink, about 6 minutes. Drain fat.

Remove rice and foil from tortilla boats and fill each with ground beef. Top with lettuce, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream.

SHRIMP TACOS

This recipe is from Yewande Komolafe in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Yewande wrote, "Spiced shrimp and quick-pickled red cabbage fill corn tortillas for dressed-up tacos that are easy to put together and sure to be a favorite. The seasoned shrimp is cooked in a heated skillet for a slight char, but resist the temptation to move the pieces before the contact side is properly browned. You can keep the add-ons simple with slices of creamy avocado, bits of fresh cilantro and acidic bursts from lime slices. Or bulk up with dollops of guacamole, chunky pico de gallo, and sour cream. The choice is yours!"

Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023929-shrimp-tacos.

fresh cilantro and acidic bursts from lime slices. Or bulk up with dollops of guacamole, chunky pico de gallo, and sour cream. The choice is yours!

Ingredients

1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp, tails removed

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

3 tablespoons neutral oil, such as grapeseed or canola

Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)

1-1/2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage (1/4 small cabbage)

2 limes

12 corn tortillas

Guacamole

Sour cream or crema

Pico de gallo

Cilantro leaves

Preparation

In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with the cumin, cayenne, onion powder, garlic, black pepper and 1 tablespoon oil. Season the shrimp lightly with salt. If you have time, you can refrigerate the shrimp to marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.

Squeeze 1 tablespoon juice from 1 lime. Slice the remaining lime into wedges for serving. In a small bowl, quick pickle the cabbage by combining the shredded cabbage with the lime juice and a pinch of salt. Toss together and set aside.

Heat a large (12-inch) skillet over medium. Warm a tortilla in the dry skillet, flipping once, until soft and pliable, about 30 seconds. Place in a dish towel to keep warm. Repeat until all the tortillas are warmed, stacking and wrapping them in the dish towel until ready to use.

Heat a tablespoon of oil in the skillet over medium-high. Add half of the shrimp and cook without stirring until the contact side is browned around the edges, about 3 minutes. Flip to cook the other side for 1 to 2 minutes, until the shrimp is fully cooked. Move to a plate and cook the remaining shrimp, heating up the remaining tablespoon of oil before adding the shrimp to get a nice sear.

To assemble, spread some guacamole down the middle of each tortilla. Divide the shrimp among the warm tortillas and top with crema, pico de gallo, quick pickled cabbage and cilantro leaves. Serve immediately with lime slices for squeezing.

CRISPY CHEDDAR CHICKEN TACOS

This is from Rick A. Martínez in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Rick wrote, "These quick tacos use leftover or store-bought rotisserie chicken, and have a satisfying crispy Cheddar frico called a costra (crust) that is common both in taquerias in the northern half of Mexico and in the southwestern United States. In some taquerias, you can order a taco using only the costra as the shell without a tortilla. In this recipe, the tortilla and costra are layered together to wrap a simple but delicious shredded chicken and chipotle filling."

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time:35 minutes; Yield: 8 tacos

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025276-crispy-cheddar-chicken-tacos.

Ingredients

1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced (lengthwise, from root to stem end)

1 cup hot water (tap water is fine)

Salt

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

2 cups shredded, cooked chicken, warmed

2 chipotles peppers in adobo sauce, chopped, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce

6 ounces medium Cheddar, Monterey jack or queso chihuahua, grated

8 (6-inch) corn tortillas

Sliced avocado, salsa and lime wedges, for serving

Preparation

Set an oven rack in the middle position; heat the oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl, stir the onion, hot water and 1 teaspoon salt until the salt has dissolved. Let sit for 5 minutes. This will soften the onion and lessen any bitter or harsh flavors. Rinse the onion under cold water and drain. In the same bowl, toss the onion with the oregano, lime juice, orange juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt; reserve.

In a separate bowl, quickly toss together the chicken, peppers and adobo sauce, making sure the chicken is completely coated. Season with salt. Cover and keep warm.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat (do not use foil or the cheese might stick). Arrange cheese in 8 equal mounds on the prepared baking sheet. Spread each mound evenly to about 3 inches wide, and space at least 1 inch apart. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and deep golden brown in spots and around the edges, about 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and place 1 tortilla over each cheese crust and return to the oven to heat the tortillas, about 2 minutes.

Use tongs to carefully remove each tortilla with its costra, flipping each one onto a plate so that the cheese is facing up. Top with chicken, onions, avocado, salsa and a squeeze of lime.

CHICKEN CHILI TACOS

This is from The TODAY Show. Prep Time: 10 minutes; Servings: 4

To view this online, go to http://www.today.com/recipes/chicken-chili-tacos-t28111.

Ingredients

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1 1/2 cups prepared pico de gallo or salsa

1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 1 1/2 limes)

2 teaspoons cumin seeds, lightly toasted

2 cloves garlic. minced

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

12 taco shells (crisp or soft/flour or corn)

Preparation

Place the chicken, pico de gallo or salsa, lime juice, cumin seeds and garlic in a slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. (You can also cook on high for 3 hours.)

Allow to cool a bit. Scoop the chicken out with a big slotted spoon and place it in a large serving bowl. Use two forks to pull the meat apart. The chicken will shred easily. Stir in some cooking juice from the pot and top with the cilantro.

Place the shredded chicken, your taco shells and desired fixings on the table and let everyone put together their perfect taco.

CHEESEBURGER TACOS

This is from Family Time, and begins, “Cheeseburger tacos are a tasty take on tried-and-true burgers. Try them filled with lettuce, onion and pickle relish and seasoned with savory taco seasoning mix.”

Serves: 6; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredietns

1 pound lean lean beef

3/4 cup water

1 packet (1.25-oz.) ORTEGA® Taco Seasoning Mix

8 ounces pasteurized prepared cheese, cubed

2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard

12 ORTEGA® Taco Shells or White Corn Taco Shells, warmed

2 cups shredded lettuce

2 cups chopped tomato

1 cup sweet pickle relish

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup ORTEGA® Medium Taco Sauce

Directions

Brown beef; drain. Stir in water and seasoning mix; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes or until thickened. Add cheese and mustard; stir until cheese is melted.

Fill taco shells with beef mixture. Top with lettuce, tomato, relish, onion and taco sauce.

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Taco Tuesday

It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Check out today's offerings, including Crispy Cheddar Chicken Tacos and Middle-School Tacos. Enjoy!

CHICKEN CHILI TACOS

This is from The TODAY Show. Prep Time: 10 minutes; Servings: 4

To view this online, go to http://www.today.com/recipes/chicken-chili-tacos-t28111.

Ingredients

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1 1/2 cups prepared pico de gallo or salsa

1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 1 1/2 limes)

2 teaspoons cumin seeds, lightly toasted

2 cloves garlic. minced

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

12 taco shells (crisp or soft/flour or corn)

Preparation

Place the chicken, pico de gallo or salsa, lime juice, cumin seeds and garlic in a slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. (You can also cook on high for 3 hours.)

Allow to cool a bit. Scoop the chicken out with a big slotted spoon and place it in a large serving bowl. Use two forks to pull the meat apart. The chicken will shred easily. Stir in some cooking juice from the pot and top with the cilantro.

Place the shredded chicken, your taco shells and desired fixings on the table and let everyone put together their perfect taco.

MIDDLE-SCHOOL TACOS

This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Here is a taste of a time when Mexican food was not as widely available in the United States as it is today, when parents and sports bars looked for food to serve children and those who eat like them, when the combination of crunch and fat and silk was divine. It still can be, if you avoid the taco kits of yore and make your own picadillo, then put it in hard-shell tacos and top how you like. For those who want to avoid prefabricated taco shells, make a form out of aluminum foil, fry fresh corn tortillas in shimmering neutral oil and then allow them to cool into shape on their aluminum saddle. Taco night. You can’t eat just two.”

Serves 6; Time: 30 minutes.

This was featured in “The Case for Hard-Shell Tacos” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons neutral oil, like canola, peanut or grapeseed

1 medium-size yellow onion, peeled and diced

4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

2 pounds ground beef

2 tablespoons chile powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, to taste

2 teaspoons cornstarch

2 teaspoons smoked paprika (or substitute hot or sweet paprika)

1 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes, or to taste

1 cup chicken broth or beef broth, low-sodium if store-bought

12-18 hard taco shells

Toppings: grated cheese, sliced jalapeños, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, etc.

Preparation

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add the oil. When it begins to shimmer, add the onion, and cook until softened and starting to brown, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.

Add the garlic, and cook for a minute or so to soften, and then the ground beef. Cook until the beef is starting to brown, stirring and chopping with a spoon to break up the meat, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Pour off excess fat, leaving only a tablespoon or two in the pan.

Heat oven to 325. Add the chile powder, cumin, salt, pepper, cornstarch, paprika and red-pepper flakes, and stir to combine. Add the broth, stir, bring to a simmer and cook uncovered until the sauce has thickened slightly, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.

As sauce cooks, place taco shells on a sheet pan, and toast in oven until they are crisp and smell nutty. Serve a few tablespoons of meat in each taco, along with whatever toppings you like.

CRISPY CHEDDAR CHICKEN TACOS

This is from Rick A. Martínez in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Rick wrote, "These quick tacos use leftover or store-bought rotisserie chicken, and have a satisfying crispy Cheddar frico called a costra (crust) that is common both in taquerias in the northern half of Mexico and in the southwestern United States. In some taquerias, you can order a taco using only the costra as the shell without a tortilla. In this recipe, the tortilla and costra are layered together to wrap a simple but delicious shredded chicken and chipotle filling."

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time:35 minutes; Yield: 8 tacos

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025276-crispy-cheddar-chicken-tacos.

Ingredients

1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced (lengthwise, from root to stem end)

1 cup hot water (tap water is fine)

Salt

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

2 cups shredded, cooked chicken, warmed

2 chipotles peppers in adobo sauce, chopped, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce

6 ounces medium Cheddar, Monterey jack or queso chihuahua, grated

8 (6-inch) corn tortillas

Sliced avocado, salsa and lime wedges, for serving

Preparation

Set an oven rack in the middle position; heat the oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl, stir the onion, hot water and 1 teaspoon salt until the salt has dissolved. Let sit for 5 minutes. This will soften the onion and lessen any bitter or harsh flavors. Rinse the onion under cold water and drain. In the same bowl, toss the onion with the oregano, lime juice, orange juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt; reserve.

In a separate bowl, quickly toss together the chicken, peppers and adobo sauce, making sure the chicken is completely coated. Season with salt. Cover and keep warm.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat (do not use foil or the cheese might stick). Arrange cheese in 8 equal mounds on the prepared baking sheet. Spread each mound evenly to about 3 inches wide, and space at least 1 inch apart. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and deep golden brown in spots and around the edges, about 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and place 1 tortilla over each cheese crust and return to the oven to heat the tortillas, about 2 minutes.

Use tongs to carefully remove each tortilla with its costra, flipping each one onto a plate so that the cheese is facing up. Top with chicken, onions, avocado, salsa and a squeeze of lime.

CHEESY TACO MEATLOAF

This comes from Campbell’s Kitchen, begins, “It takes just 10 minutes and a few ingredients to put together this scrumptious meatloaf...and when it comes out of the oven you've got two family favorites, tacos and meatloaf, combined into one tasty dish!”

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 16 minutes; Serves: 8 people

To view this online, go to https://www.campbells.com/kitchen/recipes/cheesy-taco-meatloaf/.

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef

1 jar (16 ounces) Pace® Chunky Salsa - Mild or Pace® Picante Sauce - Medium

1 1/2 ounces tortilla chips, crushed (about 1/2 cup)

1 egg

1 teaspoon chili powder

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

Set the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly mix the beef, 1 cup salsa, tortilla chips, egg, chili powder, salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a 3-quart shallow baking pan and shape into an 9x4-inch loaf.

Bake for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through.

Spread the remaining salsa over the meatloaf and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

LOADED GUACAMOLE VEGETARIAN TACOS

This is from Karen, the Soup Addict. Karen wrote, “Veggie-loaded with lots of guacamole, black beans, corn, and peppers, these vegetarian tacos are full-on yummy.”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 8 minutes; Total Time: 28 minutes; Serves: 6 tacos.

This can be viewed online at http://soupaddict.com/2014/06/loaded-guacamole-vegetarian-tacos/.

Ingredients

for the guacamole

2 avocados, pit and skin removed, roughly chopped

1/2 of a lime

1/2 of a lemon

1/4 salt (plus extra as needed)

1/3 cup corn kernels (raw, from about 1/2 of a large cob, or thawed from frozen)

1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced

2 tablespoons diced poblano pepper

1 tablespoon diced red onion

1 tablespoon diced jalapeño pepper

2 teaspoons minced cilantro

1 clove garlic, minced

for the black beans

1 can black beans (15 ounces)

1/3 cup corn kerns (raw, from 1/2 of a large cob, or thawed from frozen)

1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced

1/4 cup poblano peppers, diced

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

for the tacos

6 small flour or soft corn tortillas

2 cups chopped iceberg or romaine lettuce

1 tablespoon minced cilantro

hot sauce, such as Cholula or Sriracha (optional)

lime and/or lemon wedges

Instructions

prepare the guacamole

Mash the avocado in a medium bowl with a fork (or molcajete) until it reaches your desired consistency, chunky or smooth. Add a small squeeze each of lime and lemon juice, along with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix well and taste. Add more lime juice, lemon juice, and salt as you like. Stir in the remaining guacamole ingredients. (To make ahead, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and press gently against the guacamole. The entire surface of the guac should be touching and covered by the wrap, to keep air out. Then, cover the bowl with a second sheet of wrap, and refrigerate.)

prepare the black beans

Add all of the black bean ingredients to a 2 quart sauce pot and heat over medium-low until hot. Turn off the heat and allow to cool to a very warm, eatable temp (a few minutes should do it).

assemble

If the tortillas are not soft and pliable (or if you like your tortillas warm), stack them on a microwaveable plate, separated with paper towels, and heat for 20 to 30 seconds.

Line half of each tortilla with lettuce. Spoon the black bean mixture over the lettuce (on half of the tortilla). Spoon guacamole on the other half. Top with a few shakes of hot sauce (optional) and a sprinkle of cilantro. Serve with lemon and lime wedges.

BLACK BEAN TACOS WITH ROASTED PEPPERS AND ONIONS

This comes from Vegetarian Times. This one begins, “For a fast meal that’s a surefire crowd-pleaser, these tacos fit the bill.” Yield: Serves 8.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients:

Roasted Peppers and Onions

3 red bell peppers, thinly sliced (3 cups)

1 large onion, thinly sliced (1 1/2 cups)

1 Tbs. olive oil

Tacos

2 Tbs. olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped (1 cup)

6 cloves garlic, minced (2 Tbs.)

2 15-oz. cans black beans, drained and rinsed

1 15-oz. can diced organic fire-roasted tomatoes

1 Tbs. chili powder

1 Tbs. ground cumin

1/8 tsp. hot sauce, or more to taste

16 organic corn taco shells, warmed

Toppings

3 cups shredded lettuce

1 16-oz. container prepared salsa

2 large tomatoes, diced (2 cups)

2 avocados, diced (2 cups)

1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

1 cup low-fat sour cream

Instructions:

To make Roasted Peppers and Onions: Preheat oven to 450°F. Toss peppers and onion with oil on large baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Roast 15 minutes, stir, and roast 15 minutes more, or until vegetables are tender and peppers are beginning to blacken. Transfer to small bowl.

Meanwhile, to make Tacos: Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until soft. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute more, or until fragrant. Stir in beans, tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, hot sauce, and 1 cup water. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 15 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated, stirring occasionally. Mash beans until filling is thickened, but chunky, and most beans remain intact. Adjust seasonings, if necessary. Transfer to serving bowl. Pass taco shells, filling, Roasted Peppers and Onions, and Toppings around the table.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 482; Protein: 16 g; Total Fat: 22 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 57 g; Cholesterol: 17 mg; Sodium: 665 mg; Fiber: 12 g; Sugar: 14 g

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Taco Tuesday

It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Check out the Cheeseburger Tacos, the Chicken Chili Tacos, and the rest of today's yumminess. Enjoy!

CRISPY CHEDDAR CHICKEN TACOS

This is from Rick A. Martínez in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Rick wrote, "These quick tacos use leftover or store-bought rotisserie chicken, and have a satisfying crispy Cheddar frico called a costra (crust) that is common both in taquerias in the northern half of Mexico and in the southwestern United States. In some taquerias, you can order a taco using only the costra as the shell without a tortilla. In this recipe, the tortilla and costra are layered together to wrap a simple but delicious shredded chicken and chipotle filling."

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time:35 minutes; Yield: 8 tacos

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025276-crispy-cheddar-chicken-tacos.

Ingredients

1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced (lengthwise, from root to stem end)

1 cup hot water (tap water is fine)

Salt

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

2 cups shredded, cooked chicken, warmed

2 chipotles peppers in adobo sauce, chopped, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce

6 ounces medium Cheddar, Monterey jack or queso chihuahua, grated

8 (6-inch) corn tortillas

Sliced avocado, salsa and lime wedges, for serving

Preparation

Set an oven rack in the middle position; heat the oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl, stir the onion, hot water and 1 teaspoon salt until the salt has dissolved. Let sit for 5 minutes. This will soften the onion and lessen any bitter or harsh flavors. Rinse the onion under cold water and drain. In the same bowl, toss the onion with the oregano, lime juice, orange juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt; reserve.

In a separate bowl, quickly toss together the chicken, peppers and adobo sauce, making sure the chicken is completely coated. Season with salt. Cover and keep warm.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat (do not use foil or the cheese might stick). Arrange cheese in 8 equal mounds on the prepared baking sheet. Spread each mound evenly to about 3 inches wide, and space at least 1 inch apart. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and deep golden brown in spots and around the edges, about 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and place 1 tortilla over each cheese crust and return to the oven to heat the tortillas, about 2 minutes.

Use tongs to carefully remove each tortilla with its costra, flipping each one onto a plate so that the cheese is facing up. Top with chicken, onions, avocado, salsa and a squeeze of lime.

CHICKEN CHILI TACOS

This is from The TODAY Show. Prep Time: 10 minutes; Servings: 4

To view this online, go to http://www.today.com/recipes/chicken-chili-tacos-t28111.

Ingredients

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1 1/2 cups prepared pico de gallo or salsa

1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 1 1/2 limes)

2 teaspoons cumin seeds, lightly toasted

2 cloves garlic. minced

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

12 taco shells (crisp or soft/flour or corn)

Preparation

Place the chicken, pico de gallo or salsa, lime juice, cumin seeds and garlic in a slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. (You can also cook on high for 3 hours.)

Allow to cool a bit. Scoop the chicken out with a big slotted spoon and place it in a large serving bowl. Use two forks to pull the meat apart. The chicken will shred easily. Stir in some cooking juice from the pot and top with the cilantro.

Place the shredded chicken, your taco shells and desired fixings on the table and let everyone put together their perfect taco.

BUFFALO STYLE TACOS

Makes 8 servings

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=1341

View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1341.shtml

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; Protein: 14 g; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 260 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g

CHEESY CHICKEN TACOS

This is from Lindsay Funston on Delish. Total Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 9 tacos.

Click here to view this online.

Ingredients

1 tbsp. vegetable oil

1 onion, chopped

1 tbsp. ground cumin

kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 c. Shredded chicken

1 can green chilis

1 c. Favorite Salsa

1 Can Refried Beans

9 hard taco shells

1-1/2 c. shredded pepperjack

Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 6 minutes, then add cumin and season with salt and pepper. Stir until combined. Add chicken, green chilis, and salsa and stir until combined and heated through.

In a baking dish, spread a thin layer of refried beans (to help the taco shells stand up!). Spoon remaining refried beans into the bottom of a taco shell and top with chicken mixture. Place in baking dish. Repeat with remaining taco shells and ingredients, tightly standing up the taco shells in the dish.

Top all over with cheese.

Bake until cheese is melted, 10 minutes.

Garnish with cilantro and serve.

CHEESEBURGER TACOS

This is from Family Time, and begins, “Cheeseburger tacos are a tasty take on tried-and-true burgers. Try them filled with lettuce, onion and pickle relish and seasoned with savory taco seasoning mix.”

Serves: 6; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredietns

1 pound lean lean beef

3/4 cup water

1 packet (1.25-oz.) ORTEGA® Taco Seasoning Mix

8 ounces pasteurized prepared cheese, cubed

2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard

12 ORTEGA® Taco Shells or White Corn Taco Shells, warmed

2 cups shredded lettuce

2 cups chopped tomato

1 cup sweet pickle relish

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup ORTEGA® Medium Taco Sauce

Directions

Brown beef; drain. Stir in water and seasoning mix; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes or until thickened. Add cheese and mustard; stir until cheese is melted.

Fill taco shells with beef mixture. Top with lettuce, tomato, relish, onion and taco sauce.

STEAK CARNITAS MEAT IN THE CROCKPOT

I originally found this at NoshOn.it; the link to this is at http://noshon.it/recipes/crockpot-steak-carnitas-tacos/ and takes you . (Bless this Mess, run by “food lover, chicken wrangler, house builder, goodness seeker, mom of 5” Melissa Griffiths, looks like a really good place for more recipes. Check it out!)

This recipe Serves 6-8.

Ingredients

For the spice rub:

1 T. chili powder

1 1/2 tsp cumin or smoked cumin

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, or more to taste

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

2 lbs flank steak

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped

Serving Options:

Corn tortillas

Shredded lettuce

Grated cheese

Tomato

Sour cream

Salsa

Instructions

Mix all of the spice together in a small bowl for the spice rub. Rub the spices into each side of the steak, using all of the mixture.

Place the spice rubbed-steak in the bottom of the crock pot. Place the chopped onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno on top of the steak. Cook for on low for 7 to 8 hours.

After the cooking time has lapsed, remove the steak from the crock pot and shred with two forks. Serve immediately or return to the crock pot for a few hours until you are ready to eat.

Serve on corn tortillas with your favorite topping.

Notes

Flank steak is generally a tougher, and therefore cheaper piece of meat. It's a great candidate for the crock pot. I actually have used everything from elk steaks, lamb, and pork and loved them all in this recipe. Use what you have on hand or what's on sale... if it's a leaner cut of meat you may need to add a bit of beef stock at the end to make sure it doesn't dry out before cooking.

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Taco Tuesday

It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Yay! Today's yummy offerings include Mexican Street Tacos and Southwest Turkey Tacos. Enjoy!

SHRIMP TACOS

This recipe is from Yewande Komolafe in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Yewande wrote, "Spiced shrimp and quick-pickled red cabbage fill corn tortillas for dressed-up tacos that are easy to put together and sure to be a favorite. The seasoned shrimp is cooked in a heated skillet for a slight char, but resist the temptation to move the pieces before the contact side is properly browned. You can keep the add-ons simple with slices of creamy avocado, bits of fresh cilantro and acidic bursts from lime slices. Or bulk up with dollops of guacamole, chunky pico de gallo, and sour cream. The choice is yours!"

Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023929-shrimp-tacos.

fresh cilantro and acidic bursts from lime slices. Or bulk up with dollops of guacamole, chunky pico de gallo, and sour cream. The choice is yours!

Ingredients

1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp, tails removed


1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

3 tablespoons neutral oil, such as grapeseed or canola

Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)

1-1/2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage (1/4 small cabbage)

2 limes

12 corn tortillas

Guacamole

Sour cream or crema

Pico de gallo

Cilantro leaves

Preparation

In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with the cumin, cayenne, onion powder, garlic, black pepper and 1 tablespoon oil. Season the shrimp lightly with salt. If you have time, you can refrigerate the shrimp to marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.

Squeeze 1 tablespoon juice from 1 lime. Slice the remaining lime into wedges for serving. In a small bowl, quick pickle the cabbage by combining the shredded cabbage with the lime juice and a pinch of salt. Toss together and set aside.

Heat a large (12-inch) skillet over medium. Warm a tortilla in the dry skillet, flipping once, until soft and pliable, about 30 seconds. Place in a dish towel to keep warm. Repeat until all the tortillas are warmed, stacking and wrapping them in the dish towel until ready to use.

Heat a tablespoon of oil in the skillet over medium-high. Add half of the shrimp and cook without stirring until the contact side is browned around the edges, about 3 minutes. Flip to cook the other side for 1 to 2 minutes, until the shrimp is fully cooked. Move to a plate and cook the remaining shrimp, heating up the remaining tablespoon of oil before adding the shrimp to get a nice sear.

To assemble, spread some guacamole down the middle of each tortilla. Divide the shrimp among the warm tortillas and top with crema, pico de gallo, quick pickled cabbage and cilantro leaves. Serve immediately with lime slices for squeezing.

CRISPY CHEDDAR CHICKEN TACOS

This is from Rick A. Martínez in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Rick wrote, "These quick tacos use leftover or store-bought rotisserie chicken, and have a satisfying crispy Cheddar frico called a costra (crust) that is common both in taquerias in the northern half of Mexico and in the southwestern United States. In some taquerias, you can order a taco using only the costra as the shell without a tortilla. In this recipe, the tortilla and costra are layered together to wrap a simple but delicious shredded chicken and chipotle filling."

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time:35 minutes; Yield: 8 tacos

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025276-crispy-cheddar-chicken-tacos.

Ingredients

1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced (lengthwise, from root to stem end)

1 cup hot water (tap water is fine)

Salt

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

2 cups shredded, cooked chicken, warmed

2 chipotles peppers in adobo sauce, chopped, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce

6 ounces medium Cheddar, Monterey jack or queso chihuahua, grated

8 (6-inch) corn tortillas

Sliced avocado, salsa and lime wedges, for serving

Preparation

Set an oven rack in the middle position; heat the oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl, stir the onion, hot water and 1 teaspoon salt until the salt has dissolved. Let sit for 5 minutes. This will soften the onion and lessen any bitter or harsh flavors. Rinse the onion under cold water and drain. In the same bowl, toss the onion with the oregano, lime juice, orange juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt; reserve.

In a separate bowl, quickly toss together the chicken, peppers and adobo sauce, making sure the chicken is completely coated. Season with salt. Cover and keep warm.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat (do not use foil or the cheese might stick). Arrange cheese in 8 equal mounds on the prepared baking sheet. Spread each mound evenly to about 3 inches wide, and space at least 1 inch apart. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and deep golden brown in spots and around the edges, about 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and place 1 tortilla over each cheese crust and return to the oven to heat the tortillas, about 2 minutes.

Use tongs to carefully remove each tortilla with its costra, flipping each one onto a plate so that the cheese is facing up. Top with chicken, onions, avocado, salsa and a squeeze of lime.

MEXICAN STREET TACOS

This yummines is from Chungah Rhee on her wonderful site, Damn Delicious®. The recipe begins, "Easy, quick, authentic carne asada street tacos you can now make right at home! Top with onion, cilantro + fresh lime juice! SO GOOD!"

Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Yield: 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://damndelicious.net/2019/04/18/mexican-street-tacos/. While you're at it, look around the site; it's amazing! (Great work, Chungah!)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

2 tablespoons canola oil, divided

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1-1/2 pounds skirt steak, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

12 mini flour tortillas, warmed

3/4 cup diced red onion

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1 lime, cut into wedges

Instructions

In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, lime juice, 1 tablespoon canola oil, garlic, chili powder, cumin and oregano.

In a gallon size Ziploc bag or large bowl, combine soy sauce mixture and steak; marinate for at least 1 hour up to 4 hours, turning the bag occasionally.

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add steak and marinade, and cook, stirring often, until steak has browned and marinade has reduced, about 5-6 minutes, or until desired doneness.

Serve steak in tortillas, topped with onion, cilantro and lime.

SOUTHWEST TURKEY TACOS

This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Lean ground turkey, veggies and savory salsa meld in the slow cooker to make this deliciously easy taco filling."

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes; Makes 12 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/southwest-turkey-tacos.

Ingredients

1 package (20 oz) extra-lean ground turkey

1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 cups Old El Paso™ Thick ‘n Chunky salsa

1 can (15 oz) Progresso™ black beans, drained

1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, drained, rinsed

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 boxes (4.6 oz each) Old El Paso™ taco shells (24 shells total)

3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro

3 cups chopped lettuce

3 medium tomatoes, chopped (1 1/2 cups)

Preparation

In 12-inch skillet, place turkey and onion; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook over medium-high heat 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until turkey is no longer pink.

Spray 3- to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In cooker, mix turkey mixture, salsa, beans, corn and chili powder.

Cover; cook on Low heat setting 6 to 7 hours.

To serve, heat taco shells in oven as directed on boxes. Stir cilantro into turkey mixture. Spoon about 1/4 cup mixture into each warm taco shell; top with lettuce and tomatoes.

Expert Tips

This taco mixture is also delicious served over rice and topped with chopped fresh cilantro.

Top with fat-free sour cream, if desired.

Exchanges:1 1/2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 1 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1/2 Fat; Carbohydrate Choices:2 *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

CHIPOTLE BBQ PORK FOLDED TACOS

This is from Diabetes Food Hub, and begins, "Looking for an easy meal that's a prep-it and forget-about-it special? This amazing taco recipe from Kelley Coffeen, author of the cookbook Tex-Mex Diabetic Cooking, lets your slow-cooker do all the work! (Though if you're home all day, be prepared for the appetizing smell of slow-cooked pork to fill your house—hunger may be a side-effect.) Finished off in a simmering BBQ and chipotle blend, the final shredded pork is a juicy filling for a healthier version of southwestern tacos."

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 6 hours; Makes 16 servings; Serving Size: 1 taco

To view this online, go to https://www.diabetesfoodhub.org/recipes/chipotle-bbq-pork-folded-tacos.html.

Ingredients

2 cloves garlic (minced)

1 cup reduced-sugar barbecue sauce

4 chipotle chili peppers in adobo sauce (pureed )

2 lbs pork shoulder (trimmed)

1-1/2 tsp smoked paprika

16 low-carb whole-wheat tortillas

2 cups shredded cabbage

1-1/2 cups diced onion (about 2 medium onions)

Directions

In a medium bowl, combine the garlic, barbecue sauce, and chipotles. Blend well, then set aside in the refrigerator.

Place the pork in a 3- to 6-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or on high for 4 to 6 hours.

Transfer the cooked pork to a cutting board. Shred the pork with two forks, discarding the excess fat. Return the pork to the slow cooker. Sprinkle the paprika over the shredded pork, then add the barbecue mixture. Cover and cook on low for 1 hour. Skim off any excess fat.

To build the tacos, place a heaping spoonful of pork (about 1/4 cup) on a warmed tortilla. Top with cabbage and onions, and serve. Place any leftover pork in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

EASY SLOW-COOKER CHICKEN AL PASTOR TACOS

This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "Get ready to add a new recipe to your list of slow-cooker favorites! This easy dinner uses tender chicken thighs and canned pineapple for a fun riff on al Pastor that the whole family will love."

Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 3 hours 55 minutes; Makes 10 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/easy-slow-cooker-chicken-al-pastor-tacos.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup thinly sliced yellow onion

1 medium red bell pepper, cut in thin strips

1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ Al Pastor Taco Seasoning Mix

20 oz boneless skinless chicken thighs

1 can (8 oz) pineapple tidbits in juice, drained

1 1/4 cups shredded green cabbage

1 package (10 count) Old El Paso™ Stand ‘N Stuff™ Taco Shells, heated as directed on package

1 cup Old El Paso™ Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese (4 oz)

1/4 cup sliced green onions

1/4 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves

Lime wedges

Preparation

In large bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil, the salt, cumin and pepper. Add yellow onion and bell pepper; toss to coat. Spray oval 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Spread vegetable mixture in bottom of slow cooker.

In same bowl, mix remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil and the taco seasoning mix. Add chicken; turn to coat. Place chicken in single layer over vegetables.

Pour drained pineapple over chicken. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours, until chicken is cooked through and easy to shred (at least 165°F).

Drain chicken and vegetables, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid; discard remaining cooking liquid. Shred chicken with two forks; return to slow cooker, and toss shredded chicken and vegetables in reserved cooking liquid to coat.

Divide cabbage among heated taco shells; top with chicken and vegetables, cheese, green onions and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.

Expert Tips

Boneless skinless chicken thighs are not only more flavorful than breasts—they also stay more tender with longer cooking.

Shredded iceberg lettuce makes a nice substitute for the shredded cabbage.

Nutrition: 10 servings (1 taco each)

1 Taco Calories 230 (Calories from Fat 100); Total Fat 12g (Saturated Fat 4.5g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 65mg; Sodium 420mg; Total Carbohydrate 16g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 4g); Protein 15g

% Daily Value: Vitamin A 8%; Vitamin C 20%; Calcium 10%; Iron 6%

Exchanges: 1 Starch, 2 Very Lean Meat, 2 Fat

Carbohydrate Choice: 1