If it's Tuesday (and it seems like it is), then it's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's offerings include Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Sriracha Slaw and Pulled Pork Tacos with Pineapple Slaw. Enjoy!
EASY BEEF ENCHILADAS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "Try these easy, cheesy ground beef enchiladas, complete with sassy sauce and mild chiles."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Makes 5 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/easy-beef-enchiladas.
Ingredients
1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
2 cans (10 oz each) Old El Paso™ enchilada sauce
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles
1 package (8.2 oz) Old El Paso™ flour tortillas for soft tacos & fajitas (6 inch)
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (6 oz)
Make it FRESH toppings, as desired (see below)
Directions
Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish or pan with cooking spray.
In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce and the chiles.
Spread 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce evenly in baking dish. Spread 1/4 cup beef mixture down center of each tortilla; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cheese. Wrap tortillas tightly around filling, placing seam side down in baking dish. Top with remaining enchilada sauce. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving; add Make it FRESH toppings.
Expert Tips
Ideas for make it FRESH toppings: diced tomatoes, fresh cilantro leaves, green onions, diced avocado.
Try green enchilada sauce for a new twist!
CLASSIC BEEF TACOS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "Stuffed with seasoned ground beef, diced tomato, lettuce, sour cream and cheese, you can’t go wrong with this classic taco—unless you forget to crack open a cold Corona™ Extra to go with it, that is."
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Makes 10 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/classic-beef-taco.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef (at least 80% lean)
2/3 cup water
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix
1 package (4.7 oz) Old El Paso™ Stand ‘N Stuff™ taco shells (10 shells), heated as directed on package
1 1/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese (5 oz)
1 1/4 cups shredded lettuce
3/4 cup diced tomato
1 cup sour cream
Preparation
In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in water and taco seasoning mix; heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened.
Divide beef among heated shells; top with cheese, lettuce, tomato and sour cream.
Expert Tips
Choose crunchy lettuce for this recipe, such as iceberg or romaine.
Want more toppings? Try sliced green onion, sliced jalapeño, or drizzle with your favorite hot sauce.
TACO SPAGHETTI BAKE
This is from Betty Crocker kitchens, and begins, "This easy, family friendly casserole, dotted with melty pockets of cheese, proves that tacos and spaghetti are a match made in heaven."
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/taco-spaghetti-bake/d777fa4f-7a46-4106-a893-bbc49e9fa97c.
Ingredients
12 oz uncooked spaghetti
1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix
1/4 cup water
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 can (14.5 oz) Muir Glen™ organic fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15 oz) Muir Glen™ organic tomato sauce
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (8 oz)
8 oz Kraft™ Velveeta™ pasteurized prepared cheese product, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook spaghetti to al dente as directed on package.
In 5-quart Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium heat 8 to 9 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown; drain. Stir in taco seasoning mix, water, chiles and cumin; stir until well blended. Cook 1 to 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese and the spaghetti; stir well to blend. Pour mixture into baking dish. Scatter cheese cubes throughout casserole, and push gently into pasta mixture. Top with remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheese.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until cheese is melted and lightly browned.
Expert Tips
Garnish with sour cream, sliced jalapeño chiles and chopped fresh cilantro.
Ground turkey can be substituted for ground beef in this recipe.
PULLED PORK TACOS WITH PINEAPPLE SLAW
This is from Delish. The recipe begins, “You'll want to use the pineapple slaw on everything.”
Yields: 8; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
4 lb. pork shoulder
1 c. barbecue sauce
1/2 c. brown sugar
Juice of 3 limes, divided
2 tbsp. garlic powder
2 tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 head cabbage, shredded
1 whole pineapple, cut and diced
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 small red onion, sliced
2 green onions, sliced
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
8 corn tortillas
Directions
In a 6-quart slow-cooker, add pork. In a medium bowl, combine barbecue sauce, brown sugar, juice of 2 limes, garlic powder, chili powder, and cayenne, then mix together into a thick paste and spread all over pork.
Cook on high for 5 to 6 hours or on low 8 to 9 hours, until tender, then shred.
When ready to eat, make pineapple slaw: Combine cabbage, pineapple, remaining lime juice, olive oil, red onions, green onions, and red pepper flakes.
Top tortillas with shredded pork and pineapple slaw.
GRILLED SHRIMP TACOS WITH SRIRACHA SLAW
This is from Delish, and begins, “Smoky, grilled shrimp and spicy slaw are the keys to next-level tacos.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yields: 4
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro
Juice of 3 limes, divided
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 head red cabbage, shredded
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1 tbsp. sriracha
4 medium tortillas
Directions
In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, cilantro, and 1/3 of the lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Add shrimp to a baking dish and pour over mixture. Toss until completely coated and let marinate 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, make slaw: In a large bowl, toss cabbage with mayo, remaining lime juice and Sriracha. Season with salt.
Heat grill to high. Skewer shrimp and grill until charred, 3 minutes per side.
Grill tortillas until charred, 1 minute per side.
Serve shrimp in tortillas with slaw.
TACOS AL PASTOR
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. Makinze wrote, “The process of making these tacos may seem a little daunting, but trust me when I say they are 100 percent worth it. And the pork for these tacos would normally be slowly cooked for hours so, actually, you're welcome. If you don't want to make your own achiote paste, you can always buy a premade paste to streamline the recipe. Serve it up with some queso and call it a fiesta.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes; Yields: 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For Achiote Paste
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. annatto seeds
1 tbsp. coriander seeds
1 tbsp. cumin seeds
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. mustard seeds
5 allspice berries
4 cloves garlic
1/3 c. orange juice
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. kosher salt
For the Pork
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grill
3 dried guaillo chilis, seeds removed
3 dried chiles de arbol, seeds removed
1/3 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. achiote paste
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 lb. boneless pork shoulder, sliced 1/2" thick
For Serving
1 pineapple, cored and cut into rings
1 red onion, cut into rings
12 corn tortillas
Freshly chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
Make Achiote Paste
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add annatto seeds, coriander, cumin, oregano, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and allspice berries and toast until fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted seeds, garlic, orange juice, vinegar, and salt. Blend until it turns into a mostly smooth paste, scraping down sides as needed.
Make Tacos
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chilis and toast until slightly charred and fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted chilis, pineapple juice, achiote paste, vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Blend until fully combined.
Place pork in a large bowl and pour marinade over. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours and up to overnight.
Preheat grill to medium-high and brush with oil. Grill pork until slightly charred and cooked through, 6 minutes per side. Let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes then cut into 1" pieces.
Add pineapple and onions to grill and cook until slightly charred and onion is softened, 3 minutes per side. Break pineapple rings into large pieces.
Add tortillas to grill and cook until warmed, 1 minute per side.
On warmed tortillas, add pork, pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
Showing posts with label Tacos Al Pastor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tacos Al Pastor. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 2, 2022
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Taco Tuesday
If you're ready for another Taco Tuesday, fear not. Here are six yummy taco recipes to help you through the day, including Instant Pot Spicy Chicken Tacos and Beef Tacos. Enjoy!
CRUNCHY BLACK BEAN TACOS
This comes from The Kitchn’s e-newsletter. If you haven’t signed up for The Kitchn’s e-newsletter yet, I highly recommend that, as well as its sibling site, Apartment Therapy. Both are very cool sites.
This recipe serves 3 to 4, or makes 8 tacos; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes and can be found online by clicking here.
2 cups cooked black beans
1/2 cup minced red onion
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
Pinch of salt
4 to 6 ounces (1 heaping cup) grated Pepper Jack cheese
2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
8 corn tortillas
Toppings
Avocado
Hot sauce
Salsa
Sour cream
In a medium bowl, add beans along with red onion, cilantro, cumin, and paprika. Add a pinch of salt and lightly mash all the ingredients together. Grate the cheese and have it ready as well.
In a large, nonstick or cast-iron skillet, add the 2 tablespoons oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add one corn tortilla at a time and let each get hot in the oil for a few seconds. Then add about 1/4 cup of the bean filling to one half of the tortilla. Top with a sprinkle of grated cheese. Try not to overfill the tacos, or you might have issues flipping them without losing filling.
Using a spatula, carefully fold the other half of the tortilla over to form a shell. Press down lightly on the tortilla so it holds its shape. If some cheese spills out, don’t worry — it will get crispy and delicious.
As the first taco cooks, move it to the side and begin a second one. Depending on the size of your pan, you can cook two or three tacos at once. A griddle will hold even more.
Cook each taco until they are nicely browned and crispy, about 3 minutes per side. When flipping the taco to cook on the other side, use a spatula and flip the taco toward the fold so the filling doesn’t fall out. If your pan is very dry between batches, add another drizzle of oil.
Place the cooked tacos in a warm oven while you finish the rest. If the tacos are very greasy, blot them with a paper towel before moving them to the oven.
Serve tacos with toppings like hot sauce, salsa, avocados, and sour cream.
Recipe Notes:
Corn tortillas are resilient to heat. Don’t worry about burning them; they are very sturdy. Just be sure to cook tortillas on each side long enough to get them really crispy.
VEGGIE TACOS WITH AVOCADO TOMATILLO SALSA
This is from Love and Lemons and can be viewed online at https://www.loveandlemons.com/vegetable-tacos-avocado-tomatillo-salsa/.
Prep time: 10 mins; Cook time: 30 mins; Total time: 40 mins; Serves: 2 – 3.
Ingredients
1 small Japanese eggplant, chopped into 1-inch pieces
1 cup chopped summer squash (yellow, pattypan, or zucchini)
1 red bell pepper, deseeded and sliced into 1-inch pieces
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil
6 corn or flour tortillas
1 cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 avocado, diced
handful of cilantro
1 serrano pepper, sliced (optional)
crumbled cotija cheese (optional)
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Avocado Tomatillo Sauce:
1/3 cup store-bought or homemade tomatillo salsa
1/4 cup pepitas
1/2 avocado
handful of spinach
2 tbsp olive oil
squeezes of lime, to taste
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the chopped eggplant, squash, red pepper and tomatoes onto the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and pinches of salt and pepper and roast until golden brown around the edges 25-30 minutes.
Meanwhile, make your sauce. In a food processor, blend together the tomatillo salsa, pepitas, avocado, spinach, olive oil, lime juice and pinches of salt and pepper, to taste. Chill until ready to use.
Assemble the tacos with the black beans, roasted vegetables, diced avocado, cilantro, serrano, cotija (if using), and a generous scoop of the avocado tomatillo sauce. Serve with extra sauce on the side.
Store extra sauce in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Notes
Vegan: skip the cotija cheese
Gluten free: use corn tortillas
BEEF TACOS
This is from Ree Drummond at the Food Network. Level: Easy; Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 10 servings.
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/beef-tacos-2632842.
Ingredients
Beef:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, diced
2 pounds ground beef
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Fixins:
20 fajita-sized flour tortillas
18 hard taco shells
1 pound Cheddar-Jack cheese, grated
15 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 head green leaf lettuce, shredded
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
For the beef: In a skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and onions. Cook until starting to soften, then add the ground beef. Cook the meat until it's totally browned, then drain the fat. Add the chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper and stir to combine. Add 1/2 cup hot water and stir. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
For the fixins:
Meanwhile, wrap the flour tortillas in foil and warm in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Right before serving, crisp the taco shells in the oven according to package instructions.
Serve with the grated cheese, diced tomatoes and shredded lettuce.
BLACK BEAN TACOS WITH AVOCADO AND SPICY ONIONS
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Spicy pickled onions add brightness and tang to these hearty black bean tacos. The filling is a bit like chili but without the tomato, and perfect to wrap up in a tortilla. You can make the black beans up to 5 days ahead; they even freeze well. Then just warm them up, along with the tortillas, right before serving. The spicy onions will last for weeks in the fridge. Use them on everything: soups, salads, even grilled cheese sandwiches.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in “The Meat-Lover’s Guide to Eating Less Meat”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020744-black-bean-tacos-with-avocado-and-spicy-onions.
Ingredients
For the Spicy Onions:
1 lime
1 small red onion or large shallot, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, seeded and thinly sliced
Large pinch of fine sea salt
Small pinch of granulated sugar
For the Black Beans
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup diced red or green bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
Fine sea salt
Corn tortillas, warmed
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
Fresh cilantro, salsa and sour cream, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Make the spicy onions: Squeeze the lime into a bowl and add the onion or shallot, jalapeño, salt and sugar to the juice. Set aside while you make the black beans.
Prepare the beans: Heat a large skillet, then add 2 tablespoons oil. When oil is hot, add the onion and bell pepper and sauté until soft and golden, about 10 minutes. If the pan looks dry, drizzle in a little more oil.
Add the garlic and jalapeño and sauté until fragrant, 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, oregano and cumin, and sauté until fragrant. Add the beans and a few large pinches of salt and let simmer until the flavors meld, about 15 minutes.
Taste and add more salt, chili powder and oregano to taste. Serve beans with tortillas and avocado and top with the pickled onions and jalapeño and some of their liquid, adding any of the garnishes you like.
TACOS AL PASTOR
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. Makinze wrote, “The process of making these tacos may seem a little daunting, but trust me when I say they are 100 percent worth it. And the pork for these tacos would normally be slowly cooked for hours so, actually, you're welcome. If you don't want to make your own achiote paste, you can always buy a premade paste to streamline the recipe. Serve it up with some queso and call it a fiesta.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes; Yields: 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For Achiote Paste
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. annatto seeds
1 tbsp. coriander seeds
1 tbsp. cumin seeds
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. mustard seeds
5 allspice berries
4 cloves garlic
1/3 c. orange juice
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. kosher salt
For the Pork
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grill
3 dried guaillo chilis, seeds removed
3 dried chiles de arbol, seeds removed
1/3 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. achiote paste
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 lb. boneless pork shoulder, sliced 1/2" thick
For Serving
1 pineapple, cored and cut into rings
1 red onion, cut into rings
12 corn tortillas
Freshly chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
Make Achiote Paste
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add annatto seeds, coriander, cumin, oregano, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and allspice berries and toast until fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted seeds, garlic, orange juice, vinegar, and salt. Blend until it turns into a mostly smooth paste, scraping down sides as needed.
Make Tacos
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chilis and toast until slightly charred and fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted chilis, pineapple juice, achiote paste, vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Blend until fully combined.
Place pork in a large bowl and pour marinade over. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours and up to overnight.
Preheat grill to medium-high and brush with oil. Grill pork until slightly charred and cooked through, 6 minutes per side. Let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes then cut into 1" pieces.
Add pineapple and onions to grill and cook until slightly charred and onion is softened, 3 minutes per side. Break pineapple rings into large pieces.
Add tortillas to grill and cook until warmed, 1 minute per side.
On warmed tortillas, add pork, pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
INSTANT POT SPICY CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. She wrote, “If we knew the Instant Pot could turn out delicious, juicy chicken tacos, then we would have bought one a lot sooner. If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon already you're going to want to for these.”
Yields: 12; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 4)
1 (15-oz.) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 c. low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 c. hot sauce
1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
For Serving
Corn tortillas
Avocado, diced
Jalapeño, sliced
Red onion, thinly sliced
Freshly chopped cilantro
Sour cream
Directions
In a 6-quart Instant Pot add chicken, diced tomatoes, broth, hot sauce, and seasonings. Lock lid and set to Pressure Cook on High for 12 minutes.
Follow manufacturer’s guide for quick release, making sure to wait until cycle is complete before unlocking and removing lid. Shred chicken with two forks.
Use a slotted spoon to serve chicken on tortillas with desired toppings.
CRUNCHY BLACK BEAN TACOS
This comes from The Kitchn’s e-newsletter. If you haven’t signed up for The Kitchn’s e-newsletter yet, I highly recommend that, as well as its sibling site, Apartment Therapy. Both are very cool sites.
This recipe serves 3 to 4, or makes 8 tacos; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes and can be found online by clicking here.
2 cups cooked black beans
1/2 cup minced red onion
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
Pinch of salt
4 to 6 ounces (1 heaping cup) grated Pepper Jack cheese
2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
8 corn tortillas
Toppings
Avocado
Hot sauce
Salsa
Sour cream
In a medium bowl, add beans along with red onion, cilantro, cumin, and paprika. Add a pinch of salt and lightly mash all the ingredients together. Grate the cheese and have it ready as well.
In a large, nonstick or cast-iron skillet, add the 2 tablespoons oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add one corn tortilla at a time and let each get hot in the oil for a few seconds. Then add about 1/4 cup of the bean filling to one half of the tortilla. Top with a sprinkle of grated cheese. Try not to overfill the tacos, or you might have issues flipping them without losing filling.
Using a spatula, carefully fold the other half of the tortilla over to form a shell. Press down lightly on the tortilla so it holds its shape. If some cheese spills out, don’t worry — it will get crispy and delicious.
As the first taco cooks, move it to the side and begin a second one. Depending on the size of your pan, you can cook two or three tacos at once. A griddle will hold even more.
Cook each taco until they are nicely browned and crispy, about 3 minutes per side. When flipping the taco to cook on the other side, use a spatula and flip the taco toward the fold so the filling doesn’t fall out. If your pan is very dry between batches, add another drizzle of oil.
Place the cooked tacos in a warm oven while you finish the rest. If the tacos are very greasy, blot them with a paper towel before moving them to the oven.
Serve tacos with toppings like hot sauce, salsa, avocados, and sour cream.
Recipe Notes:
Corn tortillas are resilient to heat. Don’t worry about burning them; they are very sturdy. Just be sure to cook tortillas on each side long enough to get them really crispy.
VEGGIE TACOS WITH AVOCADO TOMATILLO SALSA
This is from Love and Lemons and can be viewed online at https://www.loveandlemons.com/vegetable-tacos-avocado-tomatillo-salsa/.
Prep time: 10 mins; Cook time: 30 mins; Total time: 40 mins; Serves: 2 – 3.
Ingredients
1 small Japanese eggplant, chopped into 1-inch pieces
1 cup chopped summer squash (yellow, pattypan, or zucchini)
1 red bell pepper, deseeded and sliced into 1-inch pieces
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil
6 corn or flour tortillas
1 cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 avocado, diced
handful of cilantro
1 serrano pepper, sliced (optional)
crumbled cotija cheese (optional)
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Avocado Tomatillo Sauce:
1/3 cup store-bought or homemade tomatillo salsa
1/4 cup pepitas
1/2 avocado
handful of spinach
2 tbsp olive oil
squeezes of lime, to taste
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the chopped eggplant, squash, red pepper and tomatoes onto the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and pinches of salt and pepper and roast until golden brown around the edges 25-30 minutes.
Meanwhile, make your sauce. In a food processor, blend together the tomatillo salsa, pepitas, avocado, spinach, olive oil, lime juice and pinches of salt and pepper, to taste. Chill until ready to use.
Assemble the tacos with the black beans, roasted vegetables, diced avocado, cilantro, serrano, cotija (if using), and a generous scoop of the avocado tomatillo sauce. Serve with extra sauce on the side.
Store extra sauce in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Notes
Vegan: skip the cotija cheese
Gluten free: use corn tortillas
BEEF TACOS
This is from Ree Drummond at the Food Network. Level: Easy; Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 10 servings.
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/beef-tacos-2632842.
Ingredients
Beef:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, diced
2 pounds ground beef
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Fixins:
20 fajita-sized flour tortillas
18 hard taco shells
1 pound Cheddar-Jack cheese, grated
15 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 head green leaf lettuce, shredded
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
For the beef: In a skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and onions. Cook until starting to soften, then add the ground beef. Cook the meat until it's totally browned, then drain the fat. Add the chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper and stir to combine. Add 1/2 cup hot water and stir. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
For the fixins:
Meanwhile, wrap the flour tortillas in foil and warm in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Right before serving, crisp the taco shells in the oven according to package instructions.
Serve with the grated cheese, diced tomatoes and shredded lettuce.
BLACK BEAN TACOS WITH AVOCADO AND SPICY ONIONS
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Spicy pickled onions add brightness and tang to these hearty black bean tacos. The filling is a bit like chili but without the tomato, and perfect to wrap up in a tortilla. You can make the black beans up to 5 days ahead; they even freeze well. Then just warm them up, along with the tortillas, right before serving. The spicy onions will last for weeks in the fridge. Use them on everything: soups, salads, even grilled cheese sandwiches.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in “The Meat-Lover’s Guide to Eating Less Meat”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020744-black-bean-tacos-with-avocado-and-spicy-onions.
Ingredients
For the Spicy Onions:
1 lime
1 small red onion or large shallot, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, seeded and thinly sliced
Large pinch of fine sea salt
Small pinch of granulated sugar
For the Black Beans
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup diced red or green bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
Fine sea salt
Corn tortillas, warmed
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
Fresh cilantro, salsa and sour cream, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Make the spicy onions: Squeeze the lime into a bowl and add the onion or shallot, jalapeño, salt and sugar to the juice. Set aside while you make the black beans.
Prepare the beans: Heat a large skillet, then add 2 tablespoons oil. When oil is hot, add the onion and bell pepper and sauté until soft and golden, about 10 minutes. If the pan looks dry, drizzle in a little more oil.
Add the garlic and jalapeño and sauté until fragrant, 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, oregano and cumin, and sauté until fragrant. Add the beans and a few large pinches of salt and let simmer until the flavors meld, about 15 minutes.
Taste and add more salt, chili powder and oregano to taste. Serve beans with tortillas and avocado and top with the pickled onions and jalapeño and some of their liquid, adding any of the garnishes you like.
TACOS AL PASTOR
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. Makinze wrote, “The process of making these tacos may seem a little daunting, but trust me when I say they are 100 percent worth it. And the pork for these tacos would normally be slowly cooked for hours so, actually, you're welcome. If you don't want to make your own achiote paste, you can always buy a premade paste to streamline the recipe. Serve it up with some queso and call it a fiesta.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes; Yields: 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For Achiote Paste
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. annatto seeds
1 tbsp. coriander seeds
1 tbsp. cumin seeds
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. mustard seeds
5 allspice berries
4 cloves garlic
1/3 c. orange juice
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. kosher salt
For the Pork
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grill
3 dried guaillo chilis, seeds removed
3 dried chiles de arbol, seeds removed
1/3 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. achiote paste
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 lb. boneless pork shoulder, sliced 1/2" thick
For Serving
1 pineapple, cored and cut into rings
1 red onion, cut into rings
12 corn tortillas
Freshly chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
Make Achiote Paste
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add annatto seeds, coriander, cumin, oregano, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and allspice berries and toast until fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted seeds, garlic, orange juice, vinegar, and salt. Blend until it turns into a mostly smooth paste, scraping down sides as needed.
Make Tacos
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chilis and toast until slightly charred and fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted chilis, pineapple juice, achiote paste, vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Blend until fully combined.
Place pork in a large bowl and pour marinade over. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours and up to overnight.
Preheat grill to medium-high and brush with oil. Grill pork until slightly charred and cooked through, 6 minutes per side. Let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes then cut into 1" pieces.
Add pineapple and onions to grill and cook until slightly charred and onion is softened, 3 minutes per side. Break pineapple rings into large pieces.
Add tortillas to grill and cook until warmed, 1 minute per side.
On warmed tortillas, add pork, pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
INSTANT POT SPICY CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. She wrote, “If we knew the Instant Pot could turn out delicious, juicy chicken tacos, then we would have bought one a lot sooner. If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon already you're going to want to for these.”
Yields: 12; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 4)
1 (15-oz.) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 c. low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 c. hot sauce
1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
For Serving
Corn tortillas
Avocado, diced
Jalapeño, sliced
Red onion, thinly sliced
Freshly chopped cilantro
Sour cream
Directions
In a 6-quart Instant Pot add chicken, diced tomatoes, broth, hot sauce, and seasonings. Lock lid and set to Pressure Cook on High for 12 minutes.
Follow manufacturer’s guide for quick release, making sure to wait until cycle is complete before unlocking and removing lid. Shred chicken with two forks.
Use a slotted spoon to serve chicken on tortillas with desired toppings.
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Taco Tuesday
It's that time again: time for another Taco Tuesday. What'll it be tonight? The Southwest Chipotle Fish Tacos? How about Lime Chicken Tacos? Or you can try any of the other yummy taco recipes in today's post. Enjoy!
SLOW COOKER TACO SALAD
This is from Better Homes & Gardens, and begins, “This slow cooker Cinco de Mayo recipe is ready when you are! Perfect for an after work party, this spicy salad is as easy as setting your slow cooker. Serve up the finished meat mix with fresh lettuce, corn, and avocado.”
Prep: 25 mins; Cook: 5 hrs to 6 hrs (low) or 2 1/2 to 3 hours (high); Servings: 8; Yield: 15 cups
View online here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
1 16 ounce jar green salsa
1 15 ounce can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 large sweet onion, cut into thin wedges (2 cups)
1 medium red sweet pepper, coarsely chopped (3/4 cup)
Directions
In a large skillet cook ground meat over medium heat until browned. Drain off fat.
In a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker combine meat and the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove half of the meat mixture from the slow cooker. Cover and refrigerate for another use.
Make It a Salad
Arrange 6 cups chopped leaf lettuce on a large platter. Top with 3 ounces (3 cups) blue corn tortilla chips. Spoon half of the meat mixture (chill or freeze remaining meat mixture for another use) over tortilla chips. Sprinkle with 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese cheese (4 ounces). Top with 3/4 cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed; 1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and chopped (or 3/4 cup purchased guacamole); and 3/4 cup halved cherry tomatoes. Serve with 1/4 cup sour cream.
Tip
Use remaining half of meat mixture for a second taco salad another night. Or use it to make hard- or soft-shell tacos. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in a saucepan over medium low heat.
Make-Ahead Directions
Cook ground meat as directed in Step 1. In the removable crockery liner of the slow cooker combine meat and remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before placing liner in the slow cooker unit. Slow cook as directed, Chop lettuce, cut tomatoes, thaw corn; place in separate covered containers and store in the refrigerator up to 24 hours.
For Easy Cleanup
Line your slow cooker with a disposable slow cooker liner. Add ingredients as directed in recipe. Once your dish is finished cooking, spoon the food out of your slow cooker and simply dispose of the liner. Do not lift or transport the disposable liner with food inside.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 298 calories, (7 g saturated fat, 1 g polyunsaturated fat, 7 g monounsaturated fat), 45 mg cholesterol, 411 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 15 g protein.
INSTANT POT CHEESY TACO PASTA
This yummy recipe is from Christin Mahrlig on her very cool site, Spicy Southern Kitchen. If you’ve never heard of her site (or you have, but never checked it out), I suggest you check it out ASAP. Go ahead, I’ll wait…(Tap, tap, tap…).
Anyway, the recipe begins, “Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta is creamy, cheesy, and full of Tex-Mex flavor No need to precook the pasta. This easy recipe can be on the table in under 30 minutes.”
Prep Time: 20 mins; Cook Time: 4 mins; Total Time: 24 mins; Servings: 6
To view this recipe online, go to https://spicysouthernkitchen.com/instant-pot-cheesy-taco-pasta/.
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup diced onion
1 packet taco seasoning
2 cups low sodium beef broth
1 cup salsa
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
8 ounces uncooked pasta shells
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
2 ounces cream cheese, cut into pieces
sour cream, olives, red onion, cilantro for serving
Instructions
Lightly spray the Instant Pot with cooking spray and set to "Saute" mode. When hot add the ground beef and onion. Break the meat apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
When meat is almost cooked through, add taco seasoning. Stir it in and continue to cook until the meat is cooked. Turn Instant Pot off.
Add beef broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to make sure nothing is stuck on the bottom.
Add salsa, green chilies, and pasta shells. Press pasta down in the liquid as much as you can. Place the lid on and set to "Pressure Cook" for 4 minutes.
Once time is up, open up the valve to release the pressure. Once the pin drops, remove the lid. Add shredded cheese and cream cheese and stir it in. Place lid back on for a minute or two to help melt the cheese.
Stir well and serve with toppings.
Recipe Notes
If you want your pasta extra meaty, use 1.5 pounds of ground beef.
I find 4 minutes of pressure cooking is perfect for al dente pasta. If you want your pasta softer, try 5 minutes.
TACOS AL PASTOR
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. Makinze wrote, “The process of making these tacos may seem a little daunting, but trust me when I say they are 100 percent worth it. And the pork for these tacos would normally be slowly cooked for hours so, actually, you're welcome. If you don't want to make your own achiote paste, you can always buy a premade paste to streamline the recipe. Serve it up with some queso and call it a fiesta.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes; Yields: 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For Achiote Paste
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. annatto seeds
1 tbsp. coriander seeds
1 tbsp. cumin seeds
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. mustard seeds
5 allspice berries
4 cloves garlic
1/3 c. orange juice
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. kosher salt
For the Pork
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grill
3 dried guaillo chilis, seeds removed
3 dried chiles de arbol, seeds removed
1/3 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. achiote paste
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 lb. boneless pork shoulder, sliced 1/2" thick
For Serving
1 pineapple, cored and cut into rings
1 red onion, cut into rings
12 corn tortillas
Freshly chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
Make Achiote Paste
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add annatto seeds, coriander, cumin, oregano, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and allspice berries and toast until fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted seeds, garlic, orange juice, vinegar, and salt. Blend until it turns into a mostly smooth paste, scraping down sides as needed.
Make Tacos
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chilis and toast until slightly charred and fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted chilis, pineapple juice, achiote paste, vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Blend until fully combined.
Place pork in a large bowl and pour marinade over. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours and up to overnight.
Preheat grill to medium-high and brush with oil. Grill pork until slightly charred and cooked through, 6 minutes per side. Let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes then cut into 1" pieces.
Add pineapple and onions to grill and cook until slightly charred and onion is softened, 3 minutes per side. Break pineapple rings into large pieces.
Add tortillas to grill and cook until warmed, 1 minute per side.
On warmed tortillas, add pork, pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
LIME CHICKEN TACOS
This comes from Taste of Home, and begins with this note from Tracy Gunter (of Boise, Idaho), "Our fun, simple chicken taco recipe is perfect for a relaxing dinner with friends. If we have any leftover filling, I toss it into a garden-fresh taco salad."
Prep: 10 minutes; Cook: 5 1/2 hours; Makes: 6 servings
View this online at https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/lime-chicken-tacos/.
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast halves
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 cup chunky salsa
12 fat-free flour tortillas (6 inches), warmed
Optional: Sour cream, pickled onions, shredded lettuce and shredded cheddar or Cotija cheese
Directions
Place chicken in a 3-qt. slow cooker. Combine lime juice and chili powder; pour over chicken. Cook, covered, on low until chicken is tender, 5-6 hours.
Remove chicken. When cool enough to handle, shred meat with 2 forks; return to slow cooker. Stir in corn and salsa. Cook, covered, on low until heated through, about 30 minutes. Place filling on tortillas; if desired, serve with sour cream, pickled onions, lettuce and cheese.
SPICY BLACK BEAN AND CORN TACOS
This is from Katherine Sacks, associate food editor at Epicurious. Katherine wrote, "Ripe summer corn is so delicious, so fresh, and so full of flavor, you can enjoy it raw. Filled with black beans, avocado, and raw corn marinated in bright lime juice along with jalapeño, cilantro, and toasted nuts and seeds, these hearty tacos make an easy to cook, easy to eat weeknight dinner."
Yield: 4 servings; Active Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes
To view this online, go to https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/spicy-black-bean-and-corn-tacos.
Ingredients
1/4 cup hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
2 ears of corn, shucked
1 medium jalapeño, seeded, finely chopped
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup chopped cilantro, plus more for serving
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
5 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided, plus lime wedges for serving
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 red onion, coarsely chopped
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed, drained
1 tablespoon ground cumin
12 small corn tortillas
1/2 cup sour cream
1 large avocado, thinly sliced
Directions
Toast hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds in a medium skillet over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until golden brown, 8–10 minutes.
Meanwhile, slice corn off cobs into a large bowl (you should have about 2 cups kernels). Add toasted nuts and seeds, jalapeño, red pepper, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, 1/4 cup oil, 3 Tbsp. lime juice, and 1/2 tsp. salt; toss to combine.
Heat remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in a medium skillet over medium. Add onion and cook, stirring, until onion starts to release moisture and turns translucent, 4–5 minutes. Add beans, cumin, 1/3 cup water, and remaining 3/4 tsp. salt. Cover and cook until liquid is reduced and beans soften, about 5 minutes. Uncover, add 1/3 cup water, and use the back of a fork to mash up about half of beans.
Working one at a time, warm tortillas with tongs directly over a gas burner over medium heat, turning often, until lightly charred and puffed in spots, about 45 seconds per side. (Alternatively, wrap tortillas in foil and heat in a 350°F oven until warmed through, or wrap in damp paper towels and microwave in 20-second bursts until warm.) Transfer to a plate and cover with a kitchen towel to keep warm.
Whisk sour cream and remaining 2 Tbsp. lime juice in a small bowl. Fill tortillas with bean mixture, then top with corn salsa, avocado, and cilantro leaves. Drizzle with sour cream mixture and serve with lime wedges alongside.
Do Ahead
Corn salsa and beans can be made 3 days ahead; store separately, cover, and chill. Bring corn salsa to room temperature. Reheat beans in skillet before serving.
Cooks' Note
When ripe, fresh corn is unavailable, cook ears in boiling salted water until bright yellow and tender, about 6 minutes. Let cool and continue with recipe.
SOUTHWEST CHIPOTLE FISH TACOS
This is from Hidden Valley. Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.hiddenvalley.com/recipe/southwest-chipotle-fish-tacos/.
Ingredients
8 frozen fish fillets
1/2 pound coleslaw or shredded cabbage
1/4 cup Hidden Valley® Spicy Ranch Dressing
8 corn tortillas
1 cup salsa
Directions
Prepare fish fillets according to package directions.
In a medium bowl, toss coleslaw and dressing until well-combined.
Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds or until warm.
To assemble, place 1 fish fillet on each tortilla, top with coleslaw and salsa. Serve immediately.
Notes: For safe meat preparation, reference the USDA website.
For dips, make and enjoy your dip creation. Then, refrigerate within 2 hours or discard.
SLOW COOKER TACO SALAD
This is from Better Homes & Gardens, and begins, “This slow cooker Cinco de Mayo recipe is ready when you are! Perfect for an after work party, this spicy salad is as easy as setting your slow cooker. Serve up the finished meat mix with fresh lettuce, corn, and avocado.”
Prep: 25 mins; Cook: 5 hrs to 6 hrs (low) or 2 1/2 to 3 hours (high); Servings: 8; Yield: 15 cups
View online here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
1 16 ounce jar green salsa
1 15 ounce can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 large sweet onion, cut into thin wedges (2 cups)
1 medium red sweet pepper, coarsely chopped (3/4 cup)
Directions
In a large skillet cook ground meat over medium heat until browned. Drain off fat.
In a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker combine meat and the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove half of the meat mixture from the slow cooker. Cover and refrigerate for another use.
Make It a Salad
Arrange 6 cups chopped leaf lettuce on a large platter. Top with 3 ounces (3 cups) blue corn tortilla chips. Spoon half of the meat mixture (chill or freeze remaining meat mixture for another use) over tortilla chips. Sprinkle with 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese cheese (4 ounces). Top with 3/4 cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed; 1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and chopped (or 3/4 cup purchased guacamole); and 3/4 cup halved cherry tomatoes. Serve with 1/4 cup sour cream.
Tip
Use remaining half of meat mixture for a second taco salad another night. Or use it to make hard- or soft-shell tacos. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in a saucepan over medium low heat.
Make-Ahead Directions
Cook ground meat as directed in Step 1. In the removable crockery liner of the slow cooker combine meat and remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before placing liner in the slow cooker unit. Slow cook as directed, Chop lettuce, cut tomatoes, thaw corn; place in separate covered containers and store in the refrigerator up to 24 hours.
For Easy Cleanup
Line your slow cooker with a disposable slow cooker liner. Add ingredients as directed in recipe. Once your dish is finished cooking, spoon the food out of your slow cooker and simply dispose of the liner. Do not lift or transport the disposable liner with food inside.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 298 calories, (7 g saturated fat, 1 g polyunsaturated fat, 7 g monounsaturated fat), 45 mg cholesterol, 411 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 15 g protein.
INSTANT POT CHEESY TACO PASTA
This yummy recipe is from Christin Mahrlig on her very cool site, Spicy Southern Kitchen. If you’ve never heard of her site (or you have, but never checked it out), I suggest you check it out ASAP. Go ahead, I’ll wait…(Tap, tap, tap…).
Anyway, the recipe begins, “Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta is creamy, cheesy, and full of Tex-Mex flavor No need to precook the pasta. This easy recipe can be on the table in under 30 minutes.”
Prep Time: 20 mins; Cook Time: 4 mins; Total Time: 24 mins; Servings: 6
To view this recipe online, go to https://spicysouthernkitchen.com/instant-pot-cheesy-taco-pasta/.
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup diced onion
1 packet taco seasoning
2 cups low sodium beef broth
1 cup salsa
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
8 ounces uncooked pasta shells
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
2 ounces cream cheese, cut into pieces
sour cream, olives, red onion, cilantro for serving
Instructions
Lightly spray the Instant Pot with cooking spray and set to "Saute" mode. When hot add the ground beef and onion. Break the meat apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
When meat is almost cooked through, add taco seasoning. Stir it in and continue to cook until the meat is cooked. Turn Instant Pot off.
Add beef broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to make sure nothing is stuck on the bottom.
Add salsa, green chilies, and pasta shells. Press pasta down in the liquid as much as you can. Place the lid on and set to "Pressure Cook" for 4 minutes.
Once time is up, open up the valve to release the pressure. Once the pin drops, remove the lid. Add shredded cheese and cream cheese and stir it in. Place lid back on for a minute or two to help melt the cheese.
Stir well and serve with toppings.
Recipe Notes
If you want your pasta extra meaty, use 1.5 pounds of ground beef.
I find 4 minutes of pressure cooking is perfect for al dente pasta. If you want your pasta softer, try 5 minutes.
TACOS AL PASTOR
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. Makinze wrote, “The process of making these tacos may seem a little daunting, but trust me when I say they are 100 percent worth it. And the pork for these tacos would normally be slowly cooked for hours so, actually, you're welcome. If you don't want to make your own achiote paste, you can always buy a premade paste to streamline the recipe. Serve it up with some queso and call it a fiesta.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes; Yields: 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For Achiote Paste
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. annatto seeds
1 tbsp. coriander seeds
1 tbsp. cumin seeds
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. mustard seeds
5 allspice berries
4 cloves garlic
1/3 c. orange juice
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. kosher salt
For the Pork
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grill
3 dried guaillo chilis, seeds removed
3 dried chiles de arbol, seeds removed
1/3 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. achiote paste
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 lb. boneless pork shoulder, sliced 1/2" thick
For Serving
1 pineapple, cored and cut into rings
1 red onion, cut into rings
12 corn tortillas
Freshly chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
Make Achiote Paste
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add annatto seeds, coriander, cumin, oregano, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and allspice berries and toast until fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted seeds, garlic, orange juice, vinegar, and salt. Blend until it turns into a mostly smooth paste, scraping down sides as needed.
Make Tacos
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chilis and toast until slightly charred and fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted chilis, pineapple juice, achiote paste, vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Blend until fully combined.
Place pork in a large bowl and pour marinade over. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours and up to overnight.
Preheat grill to medium-high and brush with oil. Grill pork until slightly charred and cooked through, 6 minutes per side. Let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes then cut into 1" pieces.
Add pineapple and onions to grill and cook until slightly charred and onion is softened, 3 minutes per side. Break pineapple rings into large pieces.
Add tortillas to grill and cook until warmed, 1 minute per side.
On warmed tortillas, add pork, pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
LIME CHICKEN TACOS
This comes from Taste of Home, and begins with this note from Tracy Gunter (of Boise, Idaho), "Our fun, simple chicken taco recipe is perfect for a relaxing dinner with friends. If we have any leftover filling, I toss it into a garden-fresh taco salad."
Prep: 10 minutes; Cook: 5 1/2 hours; Makes: 6 servings
View this online at https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/lime-chicken-tacos/.
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast halves
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 cup chunky salsa
12 fat-free flour tortillas (6 inches), warmed
Optional: Sour cream, pickled onions, shredded lettuce and shredded cheddar or Cotija cheese
Directions
Place chicken in a 3-qt. slow cooker. Combine lime juice and chili powder; pour over chicken. Cook, covered, on low until chicken is tender, 5-6 hours.
Remove chicken. When cool enough to handle, shred meat with 2 forks; return to slow cooker. Stir in corn and salsa. Cook, covered, on low until heated through, about 30 minutes. Place filling on tortillas; if desired, serve with sour cream, pickled onions, lettuce and cheese.
SPICY BLACK BEAN AND CORN TACOS
This is from Katherine Sacks, associate food editor at Epicurious. Katherine wrote, "Ripe summer corn is so delicious, so fresh, and so full of flavor, you can enjoy it raw. Filled with black beans, avocado, and raw corn marinated in bright lime juice along with jalapeño, cilantro, and toasted nuts and seeds, these hearty tacos make an easy to cook, easy to eat weeknight dinner."
Yield: 4 servings; Active Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes
To view this online, go to https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/spicy-black-bean-and-corn-tacos.
Ingredients
1/4 cup hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
2 ears of corn, shucked
1 medium jalapeño, seeded, finely chopped
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup chopped cilantro, plus more for serving
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
5 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided, plus lime wedges for serving
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 red onion, coarsely chopped
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed, drained
1 tablespoon ground cumin
12 small corn tortillas
1/2 cup sour cream
1 large avocado, thinly sliced
Directions
Toast hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds in a medium skillet over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until golden brown, 8–10 minutes.
Meanwhile, slice corn off cobs into a large bowl (you should have about 2 cups kernels). Add toasted nuts and seeds, jalapeño, red pepper, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, 1/4 cup oil, 3 Tbsp. lime juice, and 1/2 tsp. salt; toss to combine.
Heat remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in a medium skillet over medium. Add onion and cook, stirring, until onion starts to release moisture and turns translucent, 4–5 minutes. Add beans, cumin, 1/3 cup water, and remaining 3/4 tsp. salt. Cover and cook until liquid is reduced and beans soften, about 5 minutes. Uncover, add 1/3 cup water, and use the back of a fork to mash up about half of beans.
Working one at a time, warm tortillas with tongs directly over a gas burner over medium heat, turning often, until lightly charred and puffed in spots, about 45 seconds per side. (Alternatively, wrap tortillas in foil and heat in a 350°F oven until warmed through, or wrap in damp paper towels and microwave in 20-second bursts until warm.) Transfer to a plate and cover with a kitchen towel to keep warm.
Whisk sour cream and remaining 2 Tbsp. lime juice in a small bowl. Fill tortillas with bean mixture, then top with corn salsa, avocado, and cilantro leaves. Drizzle with sour cream mixture and serve with lime wedges alongside.
Do Ahead
Corn salsa and beans can be made 3 days ahead; store separately, cover, and chill. Bring corn salsa to room temperature. Reheat beans in skillet before serving.
Cooks' Note
When ripe, fresh corn is unavailable, cook ears in boiling salted water until bright yellow and tender, about 6 minutes. Let cool and continue with recipe.
SOUTHWEST CHIPOTLE FISH TACOS
This is from Hidden Valley. Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.hiddenvalley.com/recipe/southwest-chipotle-fish-tacos/.
Ingredients
8 frozen fish fillets
1/2 pound coleslaw or shredded cabbage
1/4 cup Hidden Valley® Spicy Ranch Dressing
8 corn tortillas
1 cup salsa
Directions
Prepare fish fillets according to package directions.
In a medium bowl, toss coleslaw and dressing until well-combined.
Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds or until warm.
To assemble, place 1 fish fillet on each tortilla, top with coleslaw and salsa. Serve immediately.
Notes: For safe meat preparation, reference the USDA website.
For dips, make and enjoy your dip creation. Then, refrigerate within 2 hours or discard.
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Taco Tuesday
It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's yummy offerings include Pulled Chicken Tacos with Hidden Valley® Sriracha Ranch® Sour Cream and Grilled Chicken Tacos with Avocado-Lime Blender Sauce. Enjoy!
GRILLED SHRIMP TACOS WITH SRIRACHA SLAW
This is from Delish, and begins, “Smoky, grilled shrimp and spicy slaw are the keys to next-level tacos.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yields: 4
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro
Juice of 3 limes, divided
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 head red cabbage, shredded
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1 tbsp. sriracha
4 medium tortillas
Directions
In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, cilantro, and 1/3 of the lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Add shrimp to a baking dish and pour over mixture. Toss until completely coated and let marinate 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, make slaw: In a large bowl, toss cabbage with mayo, remaining lime juice and Sriracha. Season with salt.
Heat grill to high. Skewer shrimp and grill until charred, 3 minutes per side.
Grill tortillas until charred, 1 minute per side.
Serve shrimp in tortillas with slaw.
TACOS AL PASTOR
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. Makinze wrote, “The process of making these tacos may seem a little daunting, but trust me when I say they are 100 percent worth it. And the pork for these tacos would normally be slowly cooked for hours so, actually, you're welcome. If you don't want to make your own achiote paste, you can always buy a premade paste to streamline the recipe. Serve it up with some queso and call it a fiesta.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes; Yields: 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For Achiote Paste
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. annatto seeds
1 tbsp. coriander seeds
1 tbsp. cumin seeds
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. mustard seeds
5 allspice berries
4 cloves garlic
1/3 c. orange juice
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. kosher salt
For the Pork
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grill
3 dried guaillo chilis, seeds removed
3 dried chiles de arbol, seeds removed
1/3 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. achiote paste
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 lb. boneless pork shoulder, sliced 1/2" thick
For Serving
1 pineapple, cored and cut into rings
1 red onion, cut into rings
12 corn tortillas
Freshly chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
Make Achiote Paste
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add annatto seeds, coriander, cumin, oregano, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and allspice berries and toast until fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted seeds, garlic, orange juice, vinegar, and salt. Blend until it turns into a mostly smooth paste, scraping down sides as needed.
Make Tacos
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chilis and toast until slightly charred and fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted chilis, pineapple juice, achiote paste, vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Blend until fully combined.
Place pork in a large bowl and pour marinade over. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours and up to overnight.
Preheat grill to medium-high and brush with oil. Grill pork until slightly charred and cooked through, 6 minutes per side. Let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes then cut into 1" pieces.
Add pineapple and onions to grill and cook until slightly charred and onion is softened, 3 minutes per side. Break pineapple rings into large pieces.
Add tortillas to grill and cook until warmed, 1 minute per side.
On warmed tortillas, add pork, pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
BLACK BEAN TACOS WITH AVOCADO AND SPICY ONIONS
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Spicy pickled onions add brightness and tang to these hearty black bean tacos. The filling is a bit like chili but without the tomato, and perfect to wrap up in a tortilla. You can make the black beans up to 5 days ahead; they even freeze well. Then just warm them up, along with the tortillas, right before serving. The spicy onions will last for weeks in the fridge. Use them on everything: soups, salads, even grilled cheese sandwiches.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in “The Meat-Lover’s Guide to Eating Less Meat”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020744-black-bean-tacos-with-avocado-and-spicy-onions.
Ingredients
For the Spicy Onions:
1 lime
1 small red onion or large shallot, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, seeded and thinly sliced
Large pinch of fine sea salt
Small pinch of granulated sugar
For the Black Beans
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup diced red or green bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
Fine sea salt
Corn tortillas, warmed
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
Fresh cilantro, salsa and sour cream, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Make the spicy onions: Squeeze the lime into a bowl and add the onion or shallot, jalapeño, salt and sugar to the juice. Set aside while you make the black beans.
Prepare the beans: Heat a large skillet, then add 2 tablespoons oil. When oil is hot, add the onion and bell pepper and sauté until soft and golden, about 10 minutes. If the pan looks dry, drizzle in a little more oil.
Add the garlic and jalapeño and sauté until fragrant, 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, oregano and cumin, and sauté until fragrant. Add the beans and a few large pinches of salt and let simmer until the flavors meld, about 15 minutes.
Taste and add more salt, chili powder and oregano to taste. Serve beans with tortillas and avocado and top with the pickled onions and jalapeño and some of their liquid, adding any of the garnishes you like.
GRILLED CHICKEN TACOS WITH AVOCADO-LIME BLENDER SAUCE
This came from Brooklyn Supper, a really cool site I found recently. This recipe begins, "These quick and easy grilled chicken tacos start with a vibrant orange and lime juice marinade, and are layered with avocado-lime sauce, and a simple red cabbage and radish slaw."
Prep Time: 20 mins; Cook Time: 10 mins; Marinating time: 3 hrs; Servings: 4
To view this online, go to https://brooklynsupper.com/grilled-chicken-tacos/#more-18294.
Ingredients
Marinade
3/4 cup orange juice (from 2 - 3 oranges)
Juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin seed, fresh ground
1 teaspoon spicy paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 tsp dried oregano leaves
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 package Farmer Focus Chicken Tenders (about 1 1/2 pounds)
Canola oil, for grilling
Slaw
1/2 head red cabbage, cored and sliced thin
1/2 cup watermelon radish or radishes of choice, julienned
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 teaspoon cumin seed, fresh ground
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
2 green onions, trimmed and cut into thin strips
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
Avocado Sauce
2 avocados, peeled and pitted
1 - 2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup cilantro (stems and all)
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
3/4 - 1 cup water, as needed
For Serving
12 corn tortillas, warmed
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
1 jalapeño, seeded and sliced thin (if desired, toss with thinly sliced radishes and a squeeze of lime)
Lime wedges
Instructions
The night before, or at least an hour ahead of time, set out a container with a tight fitting lid large enough to hold all the chicken. Combine citrus juices, ACV, olive oil, spices, and sea salt, and whisk with a fork. Immerse chicken in marinade. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
To make the slaw, toss cabbage and radishes with lime, cumin, and sea salt, and set aside. After 15 minutes, fold in cilantro and green onion. Slaw will keep well covered in the fridge for three days.
To make the sauce, pulse to combine avocado, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and sea salt. With blender running on high, drizzle in 3/4 cup water. Mixture should be thin enough to just drip off a spoon, so add up to 1/4 cup more water as needed.
To grill chicken tenders, prepare a hot grill or heat a grill pan over medium-high/medium heat. Douse a paper towel with canola oil and lightly grease the grill grate or pan. Shake excess liquid from the chicken and arrange over indirect heat on a grill grate or in a grill pan. If using open flame, grill 3 minutes per side, and then move to indirect heat until internal temp reaches 165 degrees F. For a grill pan, grill 5 minutes per side or until internal temp hits 165 degrees F (edge heat down as needed if things get smoky). For either method, you’ll want to move chicken just a bit as it cooks to prevent it sticking to the grate or grill pan.
On a large cutting board, slice and pull chicken tenders into bite-sized pieces.
Serve grilled chicken with warm tortillas, cabbage slaw, avocado sauce, and the fixings of your choice.
PULLED CHICKEN TACOS WITH HIDDEN VALLEY® SRIRACHA RANCH® SOUR CREAM
This is from Hidden Valley. Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.hiddenvalley.com/recipe/pulled-chicken-tacos-with-hidden-valley-sriracha-ranch-sour-cream/
Ingredients
4 large chicken breasts (about 2 pounds)
1 stick (4 ounces) butter
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup Hidden Valley® Sriracha Ranch® Dressing
1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning
warm flour or corn tortillas, for serving
Directions
In a large pot, add chicken, butter, and enough water to just cover the contents. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, about 20 to 25 minutes.
While the chicken is cooking, combine sour cream and dressing in a small bowl; refrigerate until ready to use.
Remove chicken from pot, reserving 1 1/2 cups of the liquid. Shred chicken and return to pot with reserved liquid; add taco seasoning and bring to a simmer.
Spoon chicken filling into warm tortillas and dollop each with some of the Sriracha Ranch® sour cream. (If desired, feel free top the tacos with more of your favorite garnishes, like sliced avocados, chopped red onion, diced tomatoes, and shredded cheese.
Note: For safe meat preparation, reference the USDA website.
OUTRAGEOUS RANCH TACOS
This also came from Hidden Valley. Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.hiddenvalley.com/recipe/outrageous-ranch-tacos/.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
1 packet (1.25 ounces) taco seasoning mix
3 cups shredded lettuce
1/2 cup Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® dressing
8 large taco shells, heated
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
Directions
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat, then add the ground beef and taco seasoning and cook for about 10 minutes, or until browned; drain.
In a large bowl, toss the lettuce with the dressing until evenly coated.
Fill each taco shell with the beef mixture and top with lettuce, cheese and tomato. Serve immediately.
Notes: For safe meat preparation, reference the USDA website.
For dips, make and enjoy your dip creation. Then, refrigerate within 2 hours or discard.
GRILLED SHRIMP TACOS WITH SRIRACHA SLAW
This is from Delish, and begins, “Smoky, grilled shrimp and spicy slaw are the keys to next-level tacos.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yields: 4
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro
Juice of 3 limes, divided
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 head red cabbage, shredded
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1 tbsp. sriracha
4 medium tortillas
Directions
In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, cilantro, and 1/3 of the lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Add shrimp to a baking dish and pour over mixture. Toss until completely coated and let marinate 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, make slaw: In a large bowl, toss cabbage with mayo, remaining lime juice and Sriracha. Season with salt.
Heat grill to high. Skewer shrimp and grill until charred, 3 minutes per side.
Grill tortillas until charred, 1 minute per side.
Serve shrimp in tortillas with slaw.
TACOS AL PASTOR
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. Makinze wrote, “The process of making these tacos may seem a little daunting, but trust me when I say they are 100 percent worth it. And the pork for these tacos would normally be slowly cooked for hours so, actually, you're welcome. If you don't want to make your own achiote paste, you can always buy a premade paste to streamline the recipe. Serve it up with some queso and call it a fiesta.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes; Yields: 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For Achiote Paste
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. annatto seeds
1 tbsp. coriander seeds
1 tbsp. cumin seeds
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. mustard seeds
5 allspice berries
4 cloves garlic
1/3 c. orange juice
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. kosher salt
For the Pork
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grill
3 dried guaillo chilis, seeds removed
3 dried chiles de arbol, seeds removed
1/3 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. achiote paste
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 lb. boneless pork shoulder, sliced 1/2" thick
For Serving
1 pineapple, cored and cut into rings
1 red onion, cut into rings
12 corn tortillas
Freshly chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
Make Achiote Paste
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add annatto seeds, coriander, cumin, oregano, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and allspice berries and toast until fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted seeds, garlic, orange juice, vinegar, and salt. Blend until it turns into a mostly smooth paste, scraping down sides as needed.
Make Tacos
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chilis and toast until slightly charred and fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted chilis, pineapple juice, achiote paste, vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Blend until fully combined.
Place pork in a large bowl and pour marinade over. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours and up to overnight.
Preheat grill to medium-high and brush with oil. Grill pork until slightly charred and cooked through, 6 minutes per side. Let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes then cut into 1" pieces.
Add pineapple and onions to grill and cook until slightly charred and onion is softened, 3 minutes per side. Break pineapple rings into large pieces.
Add tortillas to grill and cook until warmed, 1 minute per side.
On warmed tortillas, add pork, pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
BLACK BEAN TACOS WITH AVOCADO AND SPICY ONIONS
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Spicy pickled onions add brightness and tang to these hearty black bean tacos. The filling is a bit like chili but without the tomato, and perfect to wrap up in a tortilla. You can make the black beans up to 5 days ahead; they even freeze well. Then just warm them up, along with the tortillas, right before serving. The spicy onions will last for weeks in the fridge. Use them on everything: soups, salads, even grilled cheese sandwiches.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in “The Meat-Lover’s Guide to Eating Less Meat”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020744-black-bean-tacos-with-avocado-and-spicy-onions.
Ingredients
For the Spicy Onions:
1 lime
1 small red onion or large shallot, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, seeded and thinly sliced
Large pinch of fine sea salt
Small pinch of granulated sugar
For the Black Beans
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup diced red or green bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
Fine sea salt
Corn tortillas, warmed
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
Fresh cilantro, salsa and sour cream, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Make the spicy onions: Squeeze the lime into a bowl and add the onion or shallot, jalapeño, salt and sugar to the juice. Set aside while you make the black beans.
Prepare the beans: Heat a large skillet, then add 2 tablespoons oil. When oil is hot, add the onion and bell pepper and sauté until soft and golden, about 10 minutes. If the pan looks dry, drizzle in a little more oil.
Add the garlic and jalapeño and sauté until fragrant, 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, oregano and cumin, and sauté until fragrant. Add the beans and a few large pinches of salt and let simmer until the flavors meld, about 15 minutes.
Taste and add more salt, chili powder and oregano to taste. Serve beans with tortillas and avocado and top with the pickled onions and jalapeño and some of their liquid, adding any of the garnishes you like.
GRILLED CHICKEN TACOS WITH AVOCADO-LIME BLENDER SAUCE
This came from Brooklyn Supper, a really cool site I found recently. This recipe begins, "These quick and easy grilled chicken tacos start with a vibrant orange and lime juice marinade, and are layered with avocado-lime sauce, and a simple red cabbage and radish slaw."
Prep Time: 20 mins; Cook Time: 10 mins; Marinating time: 3 hrs; Servings: 4
To view this online, go to https://brooklynsupper.com/grilled-chicken-tacos/#more-18294.
Ingredients
Marinade
3/4 cup orange juice (from 2 - 3 oranges)
Juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin seed, fresh ground
1 teaspoon spicy paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 tsp dried oregano leaves
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 package Farmer Focus Chicken Tenders (about 1 1/2 pounds)
Canola oil, for grilling
Slaw
1/2 head red cabbage, cored and sliced thin
1/2 cup watermelon radish or radishes of choice, julienned
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 teaspoon cumin seed, fresh ground
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
2 green onions, trimmed and cut into thin strips
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
Avocado Sauce
2 avocados, peeled and pitted
1 - 2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup cilantro (stems and all)
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
3/4 - 1 cup water, as needed
For Serving
12 corn tortillas, warmed
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
1 jalapeño, seeded and sliced thin (if desired, toss with thinly sliced radishes and a squeeze of lime)
Lime wedges
Instructions
The night before, or at least an hour ahead of time, set out a container with a tight fitting lid large enough to hold all the chicken. Combine citrus juices, ACV, olive oil, spices, and sea salt, and whisk with a fork. Immerse chicken in marinade. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
To make the slaw, toss cabbage and radishes with lime, cumin, and sea salt, and set aside. After 15 minutes, fold in cilantro and green onion. Slaw will keep well covered in the fridge for three days.
To make the sauce, pulse to combine avocado, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and sea salt. With blender running on high, drizzle in 3/4 cup water. Mixture should be thin enough to just drip off a spoon, so add up to 1/4 cup more water as needed.
To grill chicken tenders, prepare a hot grill or heat a grill pan over medium-high/medium heat. Douse a paper towel with canola oil and lightly grease the grill grate or pan. Shake excess liquid from the chicken and arrange over indirect heat on a grill grate or in a grill pan. If using open flame, grill 3 minutes per side, and then move to indirect heat until internal temp reaches 165 degrees F. For a grill pan, grill 5 minutes per side or until internal temp hits 165 degrees F (edge heat down as needed if things get smoky). For either method, you’ll want to move chicken just a bit as it cooks to prevent it sticking to the grate or grill pan.
On a large cutting board, slice and pull chicken tenders into bite-sized pieces.
Serve grilled chicken with warm tortillas, cabbage slaw, avocado sauce, and the fixings of your choice.
PULLED CHICKEN TACOS WITH HIDDEN VALLEY® SRIRACHA RANCH® SOUR CREAM
This is from Hidden Valley. Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.hiddenvalley.com/recipe/pulled-chicken-tacos-with-hidden-valley-sriracha-ranch-sour-cream/
Ingredients
4 large chicken breasts (about 2 pounds)
1 stick (4 ounces) butter
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup Hidden Valley® Sriracha Ranch® Dressing
1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning
warm flour or corn tortillas, for serving
Directions
In a large pot, add chicken, butter, and enough water to just cover the contents. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, about 20 to 25 minutes.
While the chicken is cooking, combine sour cream and dressing in a small bowl; refrigerate until ready to use.
Remove chicken from pot, reserving 1 1/2 cups of the liquid. Shred chicken and return to pot with reserved liquid; add taco seasoning and bring to a simmer.
Spoon chicken filling into warm tortillas and dollop each with some of the Sriracha Ranch® sour cream. (If desired, feel free top the tacos with more of your favorite garnishes, like sliced avocados, chopped red onion, diced tomatoes, and shredded cheese.
Note: For safe meat preparation, reference the USDA website.
OUTRAGEOUS RANCH TACOS
This also came from Hidden Valley. Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.hiddenvalley.com/recipe/outrageous-ranch-tacos/.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
1 packet (1.25 ounces) taco seasoning mix
3 cups shredded lettuce
1/2 cup Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® dressing
8 large taco shells, heated
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
Directions
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat, then add the ground beef and taco seasoning and cook for about 10 minutes, or until browned; drain.
In a large bowl, toss the lettuce with the dressing until evenly coated.
Fill each taco shell with the beef mixture and top with lettuce, cheese and tomato. Serve immediately.
Notes: For safe meat preparation, reference the USDA website.
For dips, make and enjoy your dip creation. Then, refrigerate within 2 hours or discard.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Taco Tuesday
It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Check out the Grilled Chicken Tacos with Avocado-Lime Blender Sauce, the Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Sriracha Slaw, and the rest of today's yummy tacos. Enjoy!
SLOW COOKER TACO SALAD
This is from Better Homes & Gardens, and begins, “This slow cooker Cinco de Mayo recipe is ready when you are! Perfect for an after work party, this spicy salad is as easy as setting your slow cooker. Serve up the finished meat mix with fresh lettuce, corn, and avocado.”
Prep: 25 mins; Cook: 5 hrs to 6 hrs (low) or 2 1/2 to 3 hours (high); Servings: 8; Yield: 15 cups
View online here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
1 16 ounce jar green salsa
1 15 ounce can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 large sweet onion, cut into thin wedges (2 cups)
1 medium red sweet pepper, coarsely chopped (3/4 cup)
Directions
In a large skillet cook ground meat over medium heat until browned. Drain off fat.
In a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker combine meat and the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove half of the meat mixture from the slow cooker. Cover and refrigerate for another use.
Make It a Salad
Arrange 6 cups chopped leaf lettuce on a large platter. Top with 3 ounces (3 cups) blue corn tortilla chips. Spoon half of the meat mixture (chill or freeze remaining meat mixture for another use) over tortilla chips. Sprinkle with 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese cheese (4 ounces). Top with 3/4 cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed; 1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and chopped (or 3/4 cup purchased guacamole); and 3/4 cup halved cherry tomatoes. Serve with 1/4 cup sour cream.
Tip
Use remaining half of meat mixture for a second taco salad another night. Or use it to make hard- or soft-shell tacos. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in a saucepan over medium low heat.
Make-Ahead Directions
Cook ground meat as directed in Step 1. In the removable crockery liner of the slow cooker combine meat and remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before placing liner in the slow cooker unit. Slow cook as directed, Chop lettuce, cut tomatoes, thaw corn; place in separate covered containers and store in the refrigerator up to 24 hours.
For Easy Cleanup
Line your slow cooker with a disposable slow cooker liner. Add ingredients as directed in recipe. Once your dish is finished cooking, spoon the food out of your slow cooker and simply dispose of the liner. Do not lift or transport the disposable liner with food inside.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 298 calories, (7 g saturated fat, 1 g polyunsaturated fat, 7 g monounsaturated fat), 45 mg cholesterol, 411 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 15 g protein.
SPAGHETTI SQUASH & BLACK BEAN TACOS
This comes from Kelly, whose site, Mountain Mama Cooks is really pretty awesome. I highly recommend checking it out!
This recipe begins, “Crispy blue corn shells filled with black beans, savory spaghetti squash, cotija cheese and plenty of hot sauce. Vegetarian tacos never looked so good.”
To view this online on Kelly’s site, go to https://mountainmamacooks.com/spaghetti-squash-black-bean-tacos/.
Ingredients
1– 2 lb spaghetti squash (if you go bigger, increase spices accordingly)
2 tablespoons melted butter
juice of 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 14oz can black beans, thoroughly rinsed
8–10 crispy blue corn tortillas
crumbled cojita cheese
cilantro
hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, throw about 1 teaspoon olive oil on each half and roast both halves face down on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast the squash halves in the pre-heated oven until tender and easily pierced with a fork, 45-60 minutes. (Alternately, you can microwave the squash if you’re short on time.)
Meanwhile, combine melted butter, lime juice, chili powder, salt, cumin and garlic powder in a small bowl.
When spaghetti squash is done remove from oven and let cool a few minutes until you can handle it easily. Working over a large bowl, gently scrape out the flesh with a fork. Add butter mixture to the squash and toss well to combine.
In the bottom of each corn tortilla, spread out a small handful (about 2 tablespoons) of black beans. Top with some spaghetti squash (about 1/4 cup). Top again with crumbled cojita cheese.
Line the tacos in a 9×13 baking dish or similar and bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes.
To serve, top with fresh cilantro and hot sauce if desired.
GRILLED SHRIMP TACOS WITH SRIRACHA SLAW
This is from Delish, and begins, “Smoky, grilled shrimp and spicy slaw are the keys to next-level tacos.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yields: 4
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro
Juice of 3 limes, divided
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 head red cabbage, shredded
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1 tbsp. sriracha
4 medium tortillas
Directions
In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, cilantro, and 1/3 of the lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Add shrimp to a baking dish and pour over mixture. Toss until completely coated and let marinate 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, make slaw: In a large bowl, toss cabbage with mayo, remaining lime juice and Sriracha. Season with salt.
Heat grill to high. Skewer shrimp and grill until charred, 3 minutes per side.
Grill tortillas until charred, 1 minute per side.
Serve shrimp in tortillas with slaw.
TACOS AL PASTOR
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. Makinze wrote, “The process of making these tacos may seem a little daunting, but trust me when I say they are 100 percent worth it. And the pork for these tacos would normally be slowly cooked for hours so, actually, you're welcome. If you don't want to make your own achiote paste, you can always buy a premade paste to streamline the recipe. Serve it up with some queso and call it a fiesta.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes; Yields: 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For Achiote Paste
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. annatto seeds
1 tbsp. coriander seeds
1 tbsp. cumin seeds
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. mustard seeds
5 allspice berries
4 cloves garlic
1/3 c. orange juice
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. kosher salt
For the Pork
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grill
3 dried guaillo chilis, seeds removed
3 dried chiles de arbol, seeds removed
1/3 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. achiote paste
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 lb. boneless pork shoulder, sliced 1/2" thick
For Serving
1 pineapple, cored and cut into rings
1 red onion, cut into rings
12 corn tortillas
Freshly chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
Make Achiote Paste
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add annatto seeds, coriander, cumin, oregano, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and allspice berries and toast until fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted seeds, garlic, orange juice, vinegar, and salt. Blend until it turns into a mostly smooth paste, scraping down sides as needed.
Make Tacos
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chilis and toast until slightly charred and fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted chilis, pineapple juice, achiote paste, vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Blend until fully combined.
Place pork in a large bowl and pour marinade over. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours and up to overnight.
Preheat grill to medium-high and brush with oil. Grill pork until slightly charred and cooked through, 6 minutes per side. Let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes then cut into 1" pieces.
Add pineapple and onions to grill and cook until slightly charred and onion is softened, 3 minutes per side. Break pineapple rings into large pieces.
Add tortillas to grill and cook until warmed, 1 minute per side.
On warmed tortillas, add pork, pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
BLACK BEAN TACOS WITH AVOCADO AND SPICY ONIONS
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Spicy pickled onions add brightness and tang to these hearty black bean tacos. The filling is a bit like chili but without the tomato, and perfect to wrap up in a tortilla. You can make the black beans up to 5 days ahead; they even freeze well. Then just warm them up, along with the tortillas, right before serving. The spicy onions will last for weeks in the fridge. Use them on everything: soups, salads, even grilled cheese sandwiches.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in “The Meat-Lover’s Guide to Eating Less Meat”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020744-black-bean-tacos-with-avocado-and-spicy-onions.
Ingredients
For the Spicy Onions:
1 lime
1 small red onion or large shallot, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, seeded and thinly sliced
Large pinch of fine sea salt
Small pinch of granulated sugar
For the Black Beans
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup diced red or green bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
Fine sea salt
Corn tortillas, warmed
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
Fresh cilantro, salsa and sour cream, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Make the spicy onions: Squeeze the lime into a bowl and add the onion or shallot, jalapeño, salt and sugar to the juice. Set aside while you make the black beans.
Prepare the beans: Heat a large skillet, then add 2 tablespoons oil. When oil is hot, add the onion and bell pepper and sauté until soft and golden, about 10 minutes. If the pan looks dry, drizzle in a little more oil.
Add the garlic and jalapeño and sauté until fragrant, 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, oregano and cumin, and sauté until fragrant. Add the beans and a few large pinches of salt and let simmer until the flavors meld, about 15 minutes.
Taste and add more salt, chili powder and oregano to taste. Serve beans with tortillas and avocado and top with the pickled onions and jalapeño and some of their liquid, adding any of the garnishes you like.
GRILLED CHICKEN TACOS WITH AVOCADO-LIME BLENDER SAUCE
This came from Brooklyn Supper, a really cool site I found recently. This recipe begins, "These quick and easy grilled chicken tacos start with a vibrant orange and lime juice marinade, and are layered with avocado-lime sauce, and a simple red cabbage and radish slaw."
Prep Time: 20 mins; Cook Time: 10 mins; Marinating time: 3 hrs; Servings: 4
To view this online, go to https://brooklynsupper.com/grilled-chicken-tacos/#more-18294.
Ingredients
Marinade
3/4 cup orange juice (from 2 - 3 oranges)
Juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin seed, fresh ground
1 teaspoon spicy paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 tsp dried oregano leaves
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 package Farmer Focus Chicken Tenders (about 1 1/2 pounds)
Canola oil, for grilling
Slaw
1/2 head red cabbage, cored and sliced thin
1/2 cup watermelon radish or radishes of choice, julienned
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 teaspoon cumin seed, fresh ground
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
2 green onions, trimmed and cut into thin strips
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
Avocado Sauce
2 avocados, peeled and pitted
1 - 2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup cilantro (stems and all)
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
3/4 - 1 cup water, as needed
For Serving
12 corn tortillas, warmed
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
1 jalapeño, seeded and sliced thin (if desired, toss with thinly sliced radishes and a squeeze of lime)
Lime wedges
Instructions
The night before, or at least an hour ahead of time, set out a container with a tight fitting lid large enough to hold all the chicken. Combine citrus juices, ACV, olive oil, spices, and sea salt, and whisk with a fork. Immerse chicken in marinade. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
To make the slaw, toss cabbage and radishes with lime, cumin, and sea salt, and set aside. After 15 minutes, fold in cilantro and green onion. Slaw will keep well covered in the fridge for three days.
To make the sauce, pulse to combine avocado, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and sea salt. With blender running on high, drizzle in 3/4 cup water. Mixture should be thin enough to just drip off a spoon, so add up to 1/4 cup more water as needed.
To grill chicken tenders, prepare a hot grill or heat a grill pan over medium-high/medium heat. Douse a paper towel with canola oil and lightly grease the grill grate or pan. Shake excess liquid from the chicken and arrange over indirect heat on a grill grate or in a grill pan. If using open flame, grill 3 minutes per side, and then move to indirect heat until internal temp reaches 165 degrees F. For a grill pan, grill 5 minutes per side or until internal temp hits 165 degrees F (edge heat down as needed if things get smoky). For either method, you’ll want to move chicken just a bit as it cooks to prevent it sticking to the grate or grill pan.
On a large cutting board, slice and pull chicken tenders into bite-sized pieces.
Serve grilled chicken with warm tortillas, cabbage slaw, avocado sauce, and the fixings of your choice.
SLOW COOKER TACO SALAD
This is from Better Homes & Gardens, and begins, “This slow cooker Cinco de Mayo recipe is ready when you are! Perfect for an after work party, this spicy salad is as easy as setting your slow cooker. Serve up the finished meat mix with fresh lettuce, corn, and avocado.”
Prep: 25 mins; Cook: 5 hrs to 6 hrs (low) or 2 1/2 to 3 hours (high); Servings: 8; Yield: 15 cups
View online here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
1 16 ounce jar green salsa
1 15 ounce can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 large sweet onion, cut into thin wedges (2 cups)
1 medium red sweet pepper, coarsely chopped (3/4 cup)
Directions
In a large skillet cook ground meat over medium heat until browned. Drain off fat.
In a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker combine meat and the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove half of the meat mixture from the slow cooker. Cover and refrigerate for another use.
Make It a Salad
Arrange 6 cups chopped leaf lettuce on a large platter. Top with 3 ounces (3 cups) blue corn tortilla chips. Spoon half of the meat mixture (chill or freeze remaining meat mixture for another use) over tortilla chips. Sprinkle with 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese cheese (4 ounces). Top with 3/4 cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed; 1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and chopped (or 3/4 cup purchased guacamole); and 3/4 cup halved cherry tomatoes. Serve with 1/4 cup sour cream.
Tip
Use remaining half of meat mixture for a second taco salad another night. Or use it to make hard- or soft-shell tacos. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in a saucepan over medium low heat.
Make-Ahead Directions
Cook ground meat as directed in Step 1. In the removable crockery liner of the slow cooker combine meat and remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before placing liner in the slow cooker unit. Slow cook as directed, Chop lettuce, cut tomatoes, thaw corn; place in separate covered containers and store in the refrigerator up to 24 hours.
For Easy Cleanup
Line your slow cooker with a disposable slow cooker liner. Add ingredients as directed in recipe. Once your dish is finished cooking, spoon the food out of your slow cooker and simply dispose of the liner. Do not lift or transport the disposable liner with food inside.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 298 calories, (7 g saturated fat, 1 g polyunsaturated fat, 7 g monounsaturated fat), 45 mg cholesterol, 411 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 15 g protein.
SPAGHETTI SQUASH & BLACK BEAN TACOS
This comes from Kelly, whose site, Mountain Mama Cooks is really pretty awesome. I highly recommend checking it out!
This recipe begins, “Crispy blue corn shells filled with black beans, savory spaghetti squash, cotija cheese and plenty of hot sauce. Vegetarian tacos never looked so good.”
To view this online on Kelly’s site, go to https://mountainmamacooks.com/spaghetti-squash-black-bean-tacos/.
Ingredients
1– 2 lb spaghetti squash (if you go bigger, increase spices accordingly)
2 tablespoons melted butter
juice of 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 14oz can black beans, thoroughly rinsed
8–10 crispy blue corn tortillas
crumbled cojita cheese
cilantro
hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, throw about 1 teaspoon olive oil on each half and roast both halves face down on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast the squash halves in the pre-heated oven until tender and easily pierced with a fork, 45-60 minutes. (Alternately, you can microwave the squash if you’re short on time.)
Meanwhile, combine melted butter, lime juice, chili powder, salt, cumin and garlic powder in a small bowl.
When spaghetti squash is done remove from oven and let cool a few minutes until you can handle it easily. Working over a large bowl, gently scrape out the flesh with a fork. Add butter mixture to the squash and toss well to combine.
In the bottom of each corn tortilla, spread out a small handful (about 2 tablespoons) of black beans. Top with some spaghetti squash (about 1/4 cup). Top again with crumbled cojita cheese.
Line the tacos in a 9×13 baking dish or similar and bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes.
To serve, top with fresh cilantro and hot sauce if desired.
GRILLED SHRIMP TACOS WITH SRIRACHA SLAW
This is from Delish, and begins, “Smoky, grilled shrimp and spicy slaw are the keys to next-level tacos.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yields: 4
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro
Juice of 3 limes, divided
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 head red cabbage, shredded
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1 tbsp. sriracha
4 medium tortillas
Directions
In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, cilantro, and 1/3 of the lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Add shrimp to a baking dish and pour over mixture. Toss until completely coated and let marinate 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, make slaw: In a large bowl, toss cabbage with mayo, remaining lime juice and Sriracha. Season with salt.
Heat grill to high. Skewer shrimp and grill until charred, 3 minutes per side.
Grill tortillas until charred, 1 minute per side.
Serve shrimp in tortillas with slaw.
TACOS AL PASTOR
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. Makinze wrote, “The process of making these tacos may seem a little daunting, but trust me when I say they are 100 percent worth it. And the pork for these tacos would normally be slowly cooked for hours so, actually, you're welcome. If you don't want to make your own achiote paste, you can always buy a premade paste to streamline the recipe. Serve it up with some queso and call it a fiesta.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes; Yields: 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For Achiote Paste
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. annatto seeds
1 tbsp. coriander seeds
1 tbsp. cumin seeds
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. mustard seeds
5 allspice berries
4 cloves garlic
1/3 c. orange juice
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. kosher salt
For the Pork
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grill
3 dried guaillo chilis, seeds removed
3 dried chiles de arbol, seeds removed
1/3 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. achiote paste
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 lb. boneless pork shoulder, sliced 1/2" thick
For Serving
1 pineapple, cored and cut into rings
1 red onion, cut into rings
12 corn tortillas
Freshly chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
Make Achiote Paste
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add annatto seeds, coriander, cumin, oregano, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and allspice berries and toast until fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted seeds, garlic, orange juice, vinegar, and salt. Blend until it turns into a mostly smooth paste, scraping down sides as needed.
Make Tacos
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chilis and toast until slightly charred and fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted chilis, pineapple juice, achiote paste, vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Blend until fully combined.
Place pork in a large bowl and pour marinade over. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours and up to overnight.
Preheat grill to medium-high and brush with oil. Grill pork until slightly charred and cooked through, 6 minutes per side. Let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes then cut into 1" pieces.
Add pineapple and onions to grill and cook until slightly charred and onion is softened, 3 minutes per side. Break pineapple rings into large pieces.
Add tortillas to grill and cook until warmed, 1 minute per side.
On warmed tortillas, add pork, pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
BLACK BEAN TACOS WITH AVOCADO AND SPICY ONIONS
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Spicy pickled onions add brightness and tang to these hearty black bean tacos. The filling is a bit like chili but without the tomato, and perfect to wrap up in a tortilla. You can make the black beans up to 5 days ahead; they even freeze well. Then just warm them up, along with the tortillas, right before serving. The spicy onions will last for weeks in the fridge. Use them on everything: soups, salads, even grilled cheese sandwiches.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in “The Meat-Lover’s Guide to Eating Less Meat”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020744-black-bean-tacos-with-avocado-and-spicy-onions.
Ingredients
For the Spicy Onions:
1 lime
1 small red onion or large shallot, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, seeded and thinly sliced
Large pinch of fine sea salt
Small pinch of granulated sugar
For the Black Beans
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup diced red or green bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
Fine sea salt
Corn tortillas, warmed
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
Fresh cilantro, salsa and sour cream, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Make the spicy onions: Squeeze the lime into a bowl and add the onion or shallot, jalapeño, salt and sugar to the juice. Set aside while you make the black beans.
Prepare the beans: Heat a large skillet, then add 2 tablespoons oil. When oil is hot, add the onion and bell pepper and sauté until soft and golden, about 10 minutes. If the pan looks dry, drizzle in a little more oil.
Add the garlic and jalapeño and sauté until fragrant, 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, oregano and cumin, and sauté until fragrant. Add the beans and a few large pinches of salt and let simmer until the flavors meld, about 15 minutes.
Taste and add more salt, chili powder and oregano to taste. Serve beans with tortillas and avocado and top with the pickled onions and jalapeño and some of their liquid, adding any of the garnishes you like.
GRILLED CHICKEN TACOS WITH AVOCADO-LIME BLENDER SAUCE
This came from Brooklyn Supper, a really cool site I found recently. This recipe begins, "These quick and easy grilled chicken tacos start with a vibrant orange and lime juice marinade, and are layered with avocado-lime sauce, and a simple red cabbage and radish slaw."
Prep Time: 20 mins; Cook Time: 10 mins; Marinating time: 3 hrs; Servings: 4
To view this online, go to https://brooklynsupper.com/grilled-chicken-tacos/#more-18294.
Ingredients
Marinade
3/4 cup orange juice (from 2 - 3 oranges)
Juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin seed, fresh ground
1 teaspoon spicy paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 tsp dried oregano leaves
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 package Farmer Focus Chicken Tenders (about 1 1/2 pounds)
Canola oil, for grilling
Slaw
1/2 head red cabbage, cored and sliced thin
1/2 cup watermelon radish or radishes of choice, julienned
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 teaspoon cumin seed, fresh ground
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
2 green onions, trimmed and cut into thin strips
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
Avocado Sauce
2 avocados, peeled and pitted
1 - 2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup cilantro (stems and all)
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
3/4 - 1 cup water, as needed
For Serving
12 corn tortillas, warmed
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
1 jalapeño, seeded and sliced thin (if desired, toss with thinly sliced radishes and a squeeze of lime)
Lime wedges
Instructions
The night before, or at least an hour ahead of time, set out a container with a tight fitting lid large enough to hold all the chicken. Combine citrus juices, ACV, olive oil, spices, and sea salt, and whisk with a fork. Immerse chicken in marinade. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
To make the slaw, toss cabbage and radishes with lime, cumin, and sea salt, and set aside. After 15 minutes, fold in cilantro and green onion. Slaw will keep well covered in the fridge for three days.
To make the sauce, pulse to combine avocado, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and sea salt. With blender running on high, drizzle in 3/4 cup water. Mixture should be thin enough to just drip off a spoon, so add up to 1/4 cup more water as needed.
To grill chicken tenders, prepare a hot grill or heat a grill pan over medium-high/medium heat. Douse a paper towel with canola oil and lightly grease the grill grate or pan. Shake excess liquid from the chicken and arrange over indirect heat on a grill grate or in a grill pan. If using open flame, grill 3 minutes per side, and then move to indirect heat until internal temp reaches 165 degrees F. For a grill pan, grill 5 minutes per side or until internal temp hits 165 degrees F (edge heat down as needed if things get smoky). For either method, you’ll want to move chicken just a bit as it cooks to prevent it sticking to the grate or grill pan.
On a large cutting board, slice and pull chicken tenders into bite-sized pieces.
Serve grilled chicken with warm tortillas, cabbage slaw, avocado sauce, and the fixings of your choice.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Taco Tuesday
It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Yum! Today's offerings include Middle School Tacos and Chicken Tacos. Enjoy!
MAPO TOFU TACOS
I first found this at Nosh On.It, along with several other vegetarian taco recipes (you can check out all nine here). This one is from Alice Choi and her wonderul blog, Hip Foodie Mom.
Alice wrote, “While in college, mapo tofu was one of the first dishes I learned to make. . . well, kind of. You have to remember, I was in college and needed to eat quickly so I could go back to playing or studying or whatever I was doing so I was hardly ever in the kitchen cooking. Ever.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; servings: 5 - 6.
To view this recipes online, as well as the rest of Alice’s description of this recipe, go to https://hipfoodiemom.com/2013/02/07/mapo-tofu-tacos/. And while you’re there, check out the rest of the site. I think you’ll be glad you did!
Note: You can double the ingredients for the mapo sauce in order to have a bowl of the sauce on the table if dipping is desired while eating.
Ingredients
For the baked tofu:
1-2 cups all purpose flour
2 eggs; slightly beaten
about 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1 - 19 oz container of firm tofu; cubed not small cubes but slightly larger ones; should make about 30 tofu cubes
For the mapo sauce:
1 tablespoon soy bean paste
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1-2 tablespoons szechuan sauce start with 1 tablespoon
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
2 gloves garlic minced
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste; if needed
For the tacos:
corn or flour tortillas I actually preferred the flour tortillas for this even though they are photographed with the corn tortillas
shredded carrots
shredded cabbage
scallions; diced for garnish
sriracha sauce
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and prepare a lined baking sheet with foil, a non-stick baking sheet or parchment paper.
Set-up the dredging area: Place the flour in a medium bowl and place the eggs in another bowl and whisk with a fork for about 20 seconds. Place the panko in a third bowl.
After you have cut your tofu, pat dry each one in paper towels to drain the excess water/liquid. Dip each tofu cube into the flour, then in the eggs and then lastly into the panko. You want each cube lightly breaded with panko. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip each tofu cube and bake for another 10 minutes.
While your tofu is in the oven, prepare the sauce. Heat a medium sized sauce pan over high heat. Add all of the sauce ingredients (start with 1 tablespoon of the szechuan sauce) and mix well for a couple minutes. Taste and add more szechuan sauce or water or salt if needed and bring to a slight boil. Turn the heat to medium-low and let simmer for an additional 4 - 5 minutes. Gently stir and blend well.
When the sauce and tofu is ready, prepare your tacos. Heat the tortillas slightly in a toaster oven and assemble: place your warm tortilla on a plate, place 3-4 tofu cubes on top, pour the mapo sauce over the crispy tofu cubes, add the shredded carrots, then the cabbage (you can drizzle some more mapo sauce over the cabbage if desired) and garnish with the diced scallions and drizzle on some sriracha sauce if needed. Serve immediately.
CHICKPEA TACOS
This comes from the March 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 36. It begins, “Turns out, tacos don’t have to be hot to be delicious. The chickpea-avocado mash used as a filling here is prepared and served at room temperature. (It makes a great sandwich spread as well.) Because the fat content of taco shells can vary, look for brands that contain approximately 6 grams or fewer per shell.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
3 Tbs. chopped cilantro
4 tsp. fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
8 corn taco shells
2 cups baby salad greens
1 cup prepared salsa (medium or hot)
1/2 cup nondairy sour cream
Place avocado in small bowl, and mash with fork. Stir in chickpeas, cilantro, lime juice, and garlic; season with salt and pepper.
Set taco shells in napkin-lined basket. Place salad greens, salsa, and sour cream in separate bowls, and set out alongside chickpea-avocado mash.
To serve, let each person build their own taco by filling each shell with 1/4 cup chickpea-avocado mash, some greens, salsa, and sour cream.
nutritional information Per Serving (2 tacos): Calories: 402; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 19 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 800 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 2 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
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.
CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. She wrote, “These chicken tacos are loaded with all the best spices. They pair perfectly with watermelon margaritas.”
Yields: 4 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Tacos
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1" strips
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. cayenne
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Toppings
Thinly sliced red onion
Diced tomatoes
Shredded Monterey Jack
Diced avocados
Fresh cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper and add to skillet. Cook until golden, 6 minutes. Add spices and stir until coated, 1 minute more.
Build tacos: In tortillas, layer chicken and desired toppings. Serve with lime wedges.
GROUND BEEF TACOS
This comes from Pillsbury, and begins, “This taco recipe is the classic Tex-Mex-style version of tacos that many Americans grow up with: seasoned ground beef stuffed in a crispy taco shell with additional fillings like lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and sour cream. Even better, these ground beef tacos can be on the table in just 25 minutes.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
12 Old El Paso™ crunchy taco shells
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (6 oz)
2 cups shredded lettuce
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
3/4 cup Old El Paso™ Thick 'n Chunky salsa
3/4 cup sour cream, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 250°F. In large skillet, brown ground beef and onion over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until beef is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain.
Stir in chili powder, salt, garlic powder and tomato sauce. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, place taco shells on ungreased cookie sheet. Heat at 250°F. for 5 minutes.
To assemble tacos, layer beef mixture, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes in each taco shell. Serve with salsa; top with sour cream.
Expert Tips
Chili powder is a vibrant mix of dried oregano, garlic, cumin, and mild to hot chiles. Commercial blends can vary in flavor, but they all add that south-of-the-border taste to the meat. Choose a chipotle chili powder for more heat and a smoky undertone to the flavor it adds.
These are very classic Mexican-American style tacos, the beauty of which is they’re completely customizable. Skip the ground beef and swap in ground chicken (which is terrific with taco seasoning), use Old El Paso™ soft flour tortillas warmed per package directions instead of the crunch taco shells, and bump up the toppings—set out bowls of chopped radish, sliced green onion, pickled jalapeños, and/or torn fresh cilantro leaves.
TACOS AL PASTOR
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. Makinze wrote, “The process of making these tacos may seem a little daunting, but trust me when I say they are 100 percent worth it. And the pork for these tacos would normally be slowly cooked for hours so, actually, you're welcome. If you don't want to make your own achiote paste, you can always buy a premade paste to streamline the recipe. Serve it up with some queso and call it a fiesta.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes; Yields: 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For Achiote Paste
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. annatto seeds
1 tbsp. coriander seeds
1 tbsp. cumin seeds
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. mustard seeds
5 allspice berries
4 cloves garlic
1/3 c. orange juice
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. kosher salt
For the Pork
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grill
3 dried guaillo chilis, seeds removed
3 dried chiles de arbol, seeds removed
1/3 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. achiote paste
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 lb. boneless pork shoulder, sliced 1/2" thick
For Serving
1 pineapple, cored and cut into rings
1 red onion, cut into rings
12 corn tortillas
Freshly chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
Make Achiote Paste
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add annatto seeds, coriander, cumin, oregano, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and allspice berries and toast until fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted seeds, garlic, orange juice, vinegar, and salt. Blend until it turns into a mostly smooth paste, scraping down sides as needed.
Make Tacos
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chilis and toast until slightly charred and fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted chilis, pineapple juice, achiote paste, vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Blend until fully combined.
Place pork in a large bowl and pour marinade over. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours and up to overnight.
Preheat grill to medium-high and brush with oil. Grill pork until slightly charred and cooked through, 6 minutes per side. Let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes then cut into 1" pieces.
Add pineapple and onions to grill and cook until slightly charred and onion is softened, 3 minutes per side. Break pineapple rings into large pieces.
Add tortillas to grill and cook until warmed, 1 minute per side.
On warmed tortillas, add pork, pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
MAPO TOFU TACOS
I first found this at Nosh On.It, along with several other vegetarian taco recipes (you can check out all nine here). This one is from Alice Choi and her wonderul blog, Hip Foodie Mom.
Alice wrote, “While in college, mapo tofu was one of the first dishes I learned to make. . . well, kind of. You have to remember, I was in college and needed to eat quickly so I could go back to playing or studying or whatever I was doing so I was hardly ever in the kitchen cooking. Ever.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; servings: 5 - 6.
To view this recipes online, as well as the rest of Alice’s description of this recipe, go to https://hipfoodiemom.com/2013/02/07/mapo-tofu-tacos/. And while you’re there, check out the rest of the site. I think you’ll be glad you did!
Note: You can double the ingredients for the mapo sauce in order to have a bowl of the sauce on the table if dipping is desired while eating.
Ingredients
For the baked tofu:
1-2 cups all purpose flour
2 eggs; slightly beaten
about 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1 - 19 oz container of firm tofu; cubed not small cubes but slightly larger ones; should make about 30 tofu cubes
For the mapo sauce:
1 tablespoon soy bean paste
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1-2 tablespoons szechuan sauce start with 1 tablespoon
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
2 gloves garlic minced
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste; if needed
For the tacos:
corn or flour tortillas I actually preferred the flour tortillas for this even though they are photographed with the corn tortillas
shredded carrots
shredded cabbage
scallions; diced for garnish
sriracha sauce
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and prepare a lined baking sheet with foil, a non-stick baking sheet or parchment paper.
Set-up the dredging area: Place the flour in a medium bowl and place the eggs in another bowl and whisk with a fork for about 20 seconds. Place the panko in a third bowl.
After you have cut your tofu, pat dry each one in paper towels to drain the excess water/liquid. Dip each tofu cube into the flour, then in the eggs and then lastly into the panko. You want each cube lightly breaded with panko. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip each tofu cube and bake for another 10 minutes.
While your tofu is in the oven, prepare the sauce. Heat a medium sized sauce pan over high heat. Add all of the sauce ingredients (start with 1 tablespoon of the szechuan sauce) and mix well for a couple minutes. Taste and add more szechuan sauce or water or salt if needed and bring to a slight boil. Turn the heat to medium-low and let simmer for an additional 4 - 5 minutes. Gently stir and blend well.
When the sauce and tofu is ready, prepare your tacos. Heat the tortillas slightly in a toaster oven and assemble: place your warm tortilla on a plate, place 3-4 tofu cubes on top, pour the mapo sauce over the crispy tofu cubes, add the shredded carrots, then the cabbage (you can drizzle some more mapo sauce over the cabbage if desired) and garnish with the diced scallions and drizzle on some sriracha sauce if needed. Serve immediately.
CHICKPEA TACOS
This comes from the March 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 36. It begins, “Turns out, tacos don’t have to be hot to be delicious. The chickpea-avocado mash used as a filling here is prepared and served at room temperature. (It makes a great sandwich spread as well.) Because the fat content of taco shells can vary, look for brands that contain approximately 6 grams or fewer per shell.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
3 Tbs. chopped cilantro
4 tsp. fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
8 corn taco shells
2 cups baby salad greens
1 cup prepared salsa (medium or hot)
1/2 cup nondairy sour cream
Place avocado in small bowl, and mash with fork. Stir in chickpeas, cilantro, lime juice, and garlic; season with salt and pepper.
Set taco shells in napkin-lined basket. Place salad greens, salsa, and sour cream in separate bowls, and set out alongside chickpea-avocado mash.
To serve, let each person build their own taco by filling each shell with 1/4 cup chickpea-avocado mash, some greens, salsa, and sour cream.
nutritional information Per Serving (2 tacos): Calories: 402; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 19 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 800 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 2 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
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.
CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. She wrote, “These chicken tacos are loaded with all the best spices. They pair perfectly with watermelon margaritas.”
Yields: 4 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Tacos
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1" strips
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. cayenne
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Toppings
Thinly sliced red onion
Diced tomatoes
Shredded Monterey Jack
Diced avocados
Fresh cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper and add to skillet. Cook until golden, 6 minutes. Add spices and stir until coated, 1 minute more.
Build tacos: In tortillas, layer chicken and desired toppings. Serve with lime wedges.
GROUND BEEF TACOS
This comes from Pillsbury, and begins, “This taco recipe is the classic Tex-Mex-style version of tacos that many Americans grow up with: seasoned ground beef stuffed in a crispy taco shell with additional fillings like lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and sour cream. Even better, these ground beef tacos can be on the table in just 25 minutes.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
12 Old El Paso™ crunchy taco shells
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (6 oz)
2 cups shredded lettuce
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
3/4 cup Old El Paso™ Thick 'n Chunky salsa
3/4 cup sour cream, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 250°F. In large skillet, brown ground beef and onion over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until beef is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain.
Stir in chili powder, salt, garlic powder and tomato sauce. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, place taco shells on ungreased cookie sheet. Heat at 250°F. for 5 minutes.
To assemble tacos, layer beef mixture, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes in each taco shell. Serve with salsa; top with sour cream.
Expert Tips
Chili powder is a vibrant mix of dried oregano, garlic, cumin, and mild to hot chiles. Commercial blends can vary in flavor, but they all add that south-of-the-border taste to the meat. Choose a chipotle chili powder for more heat and a smoky undertone to the flavor it adds.
These are very classic Mexican-American style tacos, the beauty of which is they’re completely customizable. Skip the ground beef and swap in ground chicken (which is terrific with taco seasoning), use Old El Paso™ soft flour tortillas warmed per package directions instead of the crunch taco shells, and bump up the toppings—set out bowls of chopped radish, sliced green onion, pickled jalapeños, and/or torn fresh cilantro leaves.
TACOS AL PASTOR
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. Makinze wrote, “The process of making these tacos may seem a little daunting, but trust me when I say they are 100 percent worth it. And the pork for these tacos would normally be slowly cooked for hours so, actually, you're welcome. If you don't want to make your own achiote paste, you can always buy a premade paste to streamline the recipe. Serve it up with some queso and call it a fiesta.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes; Yields: 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For Achiote Paste
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. annatto seeds
1 tbsp. coriander seeds
1 tbsp. cumin seeds
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. mustard seeds
5 allspice berries
4 cloves garlic
1/3 c. orange juice
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. kosher salt
For the Pork
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grill
3 dried guaillo chilis, seeds removed
3 dried chiles de arbol, seeds removed
1/3 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. achiote paste
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 lb. boneless pork shoulder, sliced 1/2" thick
For Serving
1 pineapple, cored and cut into rings
1 red onion, cut into rings
12 corn tortillas
Freshly chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
Make Achiote Paste
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add annatto seeds, coriander, cumin, oregano, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and allspice berries and toast until fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted seeds, garlic, orange juice, vinegar, and salt. Blend until it turns into a mostly smooth paste, scraping down sides as needed.
Make Tacos
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chilis and toast until slightly charred and fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted chilis, pineapple juice, achiote paste, vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Blend until fully combined.
Place pork in a large bowl and pour marinade over. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours and up to overnight.
Preheat grill to medium-high and brush with oil. Grill pork until slightly charred and cooked through, 6 minutes per side. Let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes then cut into 1" pieces.
Add pineapple and onions to grill and cook until slightly charred and onion is softened, 3 minutes per side. Break pineapple rings into large pieces.
Add tortillas to grill and cook until warmed, 1 minute per side.
On warmed tortillas, add pork, pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Taco Tuesday
It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's offerings include Chili Tacos and Buffalo Soft Tacos. Enjoy!
VEGGIE TACOS WITH AVOCADO TOMATILLO SALSA
This is from Love and Lemons and can be viewed online at https://www.loveandlemons.com/vegetable-tacos-avocado-tomatillo-salsa/.
Prep time: 10 mins; Cook time: 30 mins; Total time: 40 mins; Serves: 2 – 3.
Ingredients
1 small Japanese eggplant, chopped into 1-inch pieces
1 cup chopped summer squash (yellow, pattypan, or zucchini)
1 red bell pepper, deseeded and sliced into 1-inch pieces
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil
6 corn or flour tortillas
1 cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 avocado, diced
handful of cilantro
1 serrano pepper, sliced (optional)
crumbled cotija cheese (optional)
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Avocado Tomatillo Sauce:
1/3 cup store-bought or homemade tomatillo salsa
1/4 cup pepitas
1/2 avocado
handful of spinach
2 tbsp olive oil
squeezes of lime, to taste
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the chopped eggplant, squash, red pepper and tomatoes onto the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and pinches of salt and pepper and roast until golden brown around the edges 25-30 minutes.
Meanwhile, make your sauce. In a food processor, blend together the tomatillo salsa, pepitas, avocado, spinach, olive oil, lime juice and pinches of salt and pepper, to taste. Chill until ready to use.
Assemble the tacos with the black beans, roasted vegetables, diced avocado, cilantro, serrano, cotija (if using), and a generous scoop of the avocado tomatillo sauce. Serve with extra sauce on the side.
Store extra sauce in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Notes
Vegan: skip the cotija cheese
Gluten free: use corn tortillas
CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. She wrote, “These chicken tacos are loaded with all the best spices. They pair perfectly with watermelon margaritas.”
Yields: 4 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Tacos
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1" strips
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. cayenne
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Toppings
Thinly sliced red onion
Diced tomatoes
Shredded Monterey Jack
Diced avocados
Fresh cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper and add to skillet. Cook until golden, 6 minutes. Add spices and stir until coated, 1 minute more.
Build tacos: In tortillas, layer chicken and desired toppings. Serve with lime wedges.
EASY AND WARM FARMSTAND CHILI TACOS
This is from Stephanie Lang, MS, RDN, CDN, who wrote for VeryWellFit. Stephanie wrote, “These chili tacos offer a rainbow of color—red (tomato), orange (sweet potato), yellow (summer squash), green (zucchini, green olives), and purple (pinto beans, red onion)—all from plant-based ingredients, making for an antioxidant-rich Mediterranean-style meal.
“All the ingredients get mixed together and baked in the oven, allowing for a relatively hands-off cooking experience. The finely chopped green olives add umami, a meat-like savoriness to the recipe. Use umami-enhancing ingredients like mushrooms, soy sauce, miso, tomato paste and olives to deepen the flavor of vegetarian dishes.
“Pinto beans provide the main source of protein in these tacos. Make this dish on Meatless Monday, or any day of the week, for a plant-based family favorite.”
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 6 (2 tacos each).
To view this online, click here.
Note:This recipe adheres to recipe guidelines and cancer prevention recommendations outlined by the American Institute for Cancer Research.
Ingredients
1 medium zucchini, cubed
1 medium yellow squash, cubed
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 medium jalapeno, de-seeded and finely chopped
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chili powder, divided
1/2 cup green olives, rinsed and finely chopped
1, 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
1, 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
salt and pepper to taste
12 6-inch corn tortillas
6 tablespoons non-fat plain Greek yogurt or sour cream (1/2 tablespoon per taco)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 F.
Mix together the zucchini, squash, sweet potato, jalapeno, and red onion with the olive oil and half the chili powder and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then toss with a spatula.
Add the green olives, diced tomatoes, and pinto beans to the vegetable mixture with the remaining chili powder and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, until everything is heated through and the vegetables are tender.
Stir in the cilantro. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Warm the tortillas by wrapping in a clean towel and microwaving for 15 to 30 seconds, or heat individually over a flame on the stove top.
Spoon the vegetable-bean mixture into the tortillas and serve with extra cilantro and a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
If any of the vegetables or beans in this recipe are not your cup of tea (or chili), you can easily replace them with a food that you prefer. Perhaps you'll want to swap the pinto beans for chickpeas. Chickpeas are nutritionally similar to pinto beans, with the exception of being higher in vitamin A, calories and omega-6 fatty acids, and lower in omega-3 fatty acids.
Try using plain Greek yogurt as a substitute for sour cream; it has a similar consistency and flavor but contains more protein.
Cooking and Serving Tips
Make enough of this recipe and serve it differently for 5 tasty meals! Try the tacos one night, a warm bowl of chili the next, and Tex Mex migas for a flavorsome and colorful breakfast. On the weekend, enjoy leftovers piled onto a whole grain roll (like a sloppy joe) or served cold atop greens for a salsa-like touch to your favorite salad.
Chili can be stored in the freezer for 4 to 6 months. Scoop your leftover chili into an airtight container, write the packaged and use-by dates on the top, and store. Not only will you have a quick meal to defrost and heat up in the future, but you can revisit your delicious farmstand seasonal vegetables in the winter and spring.
TACOS AL PASTOR
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. Makinze wrote, “The process of making these tacos may seem a little daunting, but trust me when I say they are 100 percent worth it. And the pork for these tacos would normally be slowly cooked for hours so, actually, you're welcome. If you don't want to make your own achiote paste, you can always buy a premade paste to streamline the recipe. Serve it up with some queso and call it a fiesta.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes; Yields: 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For Achiote Paste
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. annatto seeds
1 tbsp. coriander seeds
1 tbsp. cumin seeds
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. mustard seeds
5 allspice berries
4 cloves garlic
1/3 c. orange juice
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. kosher salt
For the Pork
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grill
3 dried guaillo chilis, seeds removed
3 dried chiles de arbol, seeds removed
1/3 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. achiote paste
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 lb. boneless pork shoulder, sliced 1/2" thick
For Serving
1 pineapple, cored and cut into rings
1 red onion, cut into rings
12 corn tortillas
Freshly chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
Make Achiote Paste
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add annatto seeds, coriander, cumin, oregano, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and allspice berries and toast until fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted seeds, garlic, orange juice, vinegar, and salt. Blend until it turns into a mostly smooth paste, scraping down sides as needed.
Make Tacos
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chilis and toast until slightly charred and fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted chilis, pineapple juice, achiote paste, vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Blend until fully combined.
Place pork in a large bowl and pour marinade over. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours and up to overnight.
Preheat grill to medium-high and brush with oil. Grill pork until slightly charred and cooked through, 6 minutes per side. Let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes then cut into 1" pieces.
Add pineapple and onions to grill and cook until slightly charred and onion is softened, 3 minutes per side. Break pineapple rings into large pieces.
Add tortillas to grill and cook until warmed, 1 minute per side.
On warmed tortillas, add pork, pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
BUFFALO SOFT TACOS
4 Servings. Serving size: 1 taco
Source: Cooking Up Fun For Kids With Diabetes
View Recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/573.shtml
Ingredients
1/3 cup mild cayenne pepper sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot Sauce)
1 teaspoon corn oil
2 cups (about 10 ounces) diced cooked chicken breast
4 (8 inch) tortillas, warmed if desired
1/2 cup (2 ounces) finely shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup finely chopped lettuce
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons light ranch dressing
Directions
Put cayenne pepper sauce and oil in a large zip-top bag. Add cooked chicken, seal bag, and shake to coat chicken well. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow chicken to marinate.
Pour chicken and sauce in a microwave-safe dish, cover, and heat 2 minutes or until hot (or pour chicken and marinade in a pan and warm on the stove over medium heat).
Lay 4 flour tortillas on the counter. Spoon 1/4 of chicken in the center of each one. Drizzle with the warm marinade if you want to. Top each with 1/4 of the cheese and 1/4 of the lettuce. Drizzle each with 1/4 of the dressing.
Fold each taco in half, or roll it up. Slice in half if you want to.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 351; Protein: 30 g; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 1220 mg; Cholesterol: 72 mg; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Dietary Fiber: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 4 Meat, lean
INSTANT POT SPICY CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. She wrote, “If we knew the Instant Pot could turn out delicious, juicy chicken tacos, then we would have bought one a lot sooner. If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon already you're going to want to for these.”
Yields: 12; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 4)
1 (15-oz.) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 c. low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 c. hot sauce
1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
For Serving
Corn tortillas
Avocado, diced
Jalapeño, sliced
Red onion, thinly sliced
Freshly chopped cilantro
Sour cream
Directions
In a 6-quart Instant Pot add chicken, diced tomatoes, broth, hot sauce, and seasonings. Lock lid and set to Pressure Cook on High for 12 minutes.
Follow manufacturer’s guide for quick release, making sure to wait until cycle is complete before unlocking and removing lid. Shred chicken with two forks.
Use a slotted spoon to serve chicken on tortillas with desired toppings.
VEGGIE TACOS WITH AVOCADO TOMATILLO SALSA
This is from Love and Lemons and can be viewed online at https://www.loveandlemons.com/vegetable-tacos-avocado-tomatillo-salsa/.
Prep time: 10 mins; Cook time: 30 mins; Total time: 40 mins; Serves: 2 – 3.
Ingredients
1 small Japanese eggplant, chopped into 1-inch pieces
1 cup chopped summer squash (yellow, pattypan, or zucchini)
1 red bell pepper, deseeded and sliced into 1-inch pieces
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil
6 corn or flour tortillas
1 cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 avocado, diced
handful of cilantro
1 serrano pepper, sliced (optional)
crumbled cotija cheese (optional)
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Avocado Tomatillo Sauce:
1/3 cup store-bought or homemade tomatillo salsa
1/4 cup pepitas
1/2 avocado
handful of spinach
2 tbsp olive oil
squeezes of lime, to taste
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the chopped eggplant, squash, red pepper and tomatoes onto the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and pinches of salt and pepper and roast until golden brown around the edges 25-30 minutes.
Meanwhile, make your sauce. In a food processor, blend together the tomatillo salsa, pepitas, avocado, spinach, olive oil, lime juice and pinches of salt and pepper, to taste. Chill until ready to use.
Assemble the tacos with the black beans, roasted vegetables, diced avocado, cilantro, serrano, cotija (if using), and a generous scoop of the avocado tomatillo sauce. Serve with extra sauce on the side.
Store extra sauce in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Notes
Vegan: skip the cotija cheese
Gluten free: use corn tortillas
CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. She wrote, “These chicken tacos are loaded with all the best spices. They pair perfectly with watermelon margaritas.”
Yields: 4 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Tacos
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1" strips
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. cayenne
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Toppings
Thinly sliced red onion
Diced tomatoes
Shredded Monterey Jack
Diced avocados
Fresh cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper and add to skillet. Cook until golden, 6 minutes. Add spices and stir until coated, 1 minute more.
Build tacos: In tortillas, layer chicken and desired toppings. Serve with lime wedges.
EASY AND WARM FARMSTAND CHILI TACOS
This is from Stephanie Lang, MS, RDN, CDN, who wrote for VeryWellFit. Stephanie wrote, “These chili tacos offer a rainbow of color—red (tomato), orange (sweet potato), yellow (summer squash), green (zucchini, green olives), and purple (pinto beans, red onion)—all from plant-based ingredients, making for an antioxidant-rich Mediterranean-style meal.
“All the ingredients get mixed together and baked in the oven, allowing for a relatively hands-off cooking experience. The finely chopped green olives add umami, a meat-like savoriness to the recipe. Use umami-enhancing ingredients like mushrooms, soy sauce, miso, tomato paste and olives to deepen the flavor of vegetarian dishes.
“Pinto beans provide the main source of protein in these tacos. Make this dish on Meatless Monday, or any day of the week, for a plant-based family favorite.”
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 6 (2 tacos each).
To view this online, click here.
Note:This recipe adheres to recipe guidelines and cancer prevention recommendations outlined by the American Institute for Cancer Research.
Ingredients
1 medium zucchini, cubed
1 medium yellow squash, cubed
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 medium jalapeno, de-seeded and finely chopped
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chili powder, divided
1/2 cup green olives, rinsed and finely chopped
1, 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
1, 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
salt and pepper to taste
12 6-inch corn tortillas
6 tablespoons non-fat plain Greek yogurt or sour cream (1/2 tablespoon per taco)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 F.
Mix together the zucchini, squash, sweet potato, jalapeno, and red onion with the olive oil and half the chili powder and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then toss with a spatula.
Add the green olives, diced tomatoes, and pinto beans to the vegetable mixture with the remaining chili powder and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, until everything is heated through and the vegetables are tender.
Stir in the cilantro. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Warm the tortillas by wrapping in a clean towel and microwaving for 15 to 30 seconds, or heat individually over a flame on the stove top.
Spoon the vegetable-bean mixture into the tortillas and serve with extra cilantro and a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
If any of the vegetables or beans in this recipe are not your cup of tea (or chili), you can easily replace them with a food that you prefer. Perhaps you'll want to swap the pinto beans for chickpeas. Chickpeas are nutritionally similar to pinto beans, with the exception of being higher in vitamin A, calories and omega-6 fatty acids, and lower in omega-3 fatty acids.
Try using plain Greek yogurt as a substitute for sour cream; it has a similar consistency and flavor but contains more protein.
Cooking and Serving Tips
Make enough of this recipe and serve it differently for 5 tasty meals! Try the tacos one night, a warm bowl of chili the next, and Tex Mex migas for a flavorsome and colorful breakfast. On the weekend, enjoy leftovers piled onto a whole grain roll (like a sloppy joe) or served cold atop greens for a salsa-like touch to your favorite salad.
Chili can be stored in the freezer for 4 to 6 months. Scoop your leftover chili into an airtight container, write the packaged and use-by dates on the top, and store. Not only will you have a quick meal to defrost and heat up in the future, but you can revisit your delicious farmstand seasonal vegetables in the winter and spring.
TACOS AL PASTOR
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. Makinze wrote, “The process of making these tacos may seem a little daunting, but trust me when I say they are 100 percent worth it. And the pork for these tacos would normally be slowly cooked for hours so, actually, you're welcome. If you don't want to make your own achiote paste, you can always buy a premade paste to streamline the recipe. Serve it up with some queso and call it a fiesta.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes; Yields: 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For Achiote Paste
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. annatto seeds
1 tbsp. coriander seeds
1 tbsp. cumin seeds
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. mustard seeds
5 allspice berries
4 cloves garlic
1/3 c. orange juice
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. kosher salt
For the Pork
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grill
3 dried guaillo chilis, seeds removed
3 dried chiles de arbol, seeds removed
1/3 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. achiote paste
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 lb. boneless pork shoulder, sliced 1/2" thick
For Serving
1 pineapple, cored and cut into rings
1 red onion, cut into rings
12 corn tortillas
Freshly chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Directions
Make Achiote Paste
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add annatto seeds, coriander, cumin, oregano, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and allspice berries and toast until fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted seeds, garlic, orange juice, vinegar, and salt. Blend until it turns into a mostly smooth paste, scraping down sides as needed.
Make Tacos
In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chilis and toast until slightly charred and fragrant, 1 minute. In a food processor or blender, add toasted chilis, pineapple juice, achiote paste, vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Blend until fully combined.
Place pork in a large bowl and pour marinade over. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours and up to overnight.
Preheat grill to medium-high and brush with oil. Grill pork until slightly charred and cooked through, 6 minutes per side. Let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes then cut into 1" pieces.
Add pineapple and onions to grill and cook until slightly charred and onion is softened, 3 minutes per side. Break pineapple rings into large pieces.
Add tortillas to grill and cook until warmed, 1 minute per side.
On warmed tortillas, add pork, pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
BUFFALO SOFT TACOS
4 Servings. Serving size: 1 taco
Source: Cooking Up Fun For Kids With Diabetes
View Recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/573.shtml
Ingredients
1/3 cup mild cayenne pepper sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot Sauce)
1 teaspoon corn oil
2 cups (about 10 ounces) diced cooked chicken breast
4 (8 inch) tortillas, warmed if desired
1/2 cup (2 ounces) finely shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup finely chopped lettuce
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons light ranch dressing
Directions
Put cayenne pepper sauce and oil in a large zip-top bag. Add cooked chicken, seal bag, and shake to coat chicken well. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow chicken to marinate.
Pour chicken and sauce in a microwave-safe dish, cover, and heat 2 minutes or until hot (or pour chicken and marinade in a pan and warm on the stove over medium heat).
Lay 4 flour tortillas on the counter. Spoon 1/4 of chicken in the center of each one. Drizzle with the warm marinade if you want to. Top each with 1/4 of the cheese and 1/4 of the lettuce. Drizzle each with 1/4 of the dressing.
Fold each taco in half, or roll it up. Slice in half if you want to.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 351; Protein: 30 g; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 1220 mg; Cholesterol: 72 mg; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Dietary Fiber: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 4 Meat, lean
INSTANT POT SPICY CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Makinze Gore on Delish. She wrote, “If we knew the Instant Pot could turn out delicious, juicy chicken tacos, then we would have bought one a lot sooner. If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon already you're going to want to for these.”
Yields: 12; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 4)
1 (15-oz.) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 c. low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 c. hot sauce
1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
For Serving
Corn tortillas
Avocado, diced
Jalapeño, sliced
Red onion, thinly sliced
Freshly chopped cilantro
Sour cream
Directions
In a 6-quart Instant Pot add chicken, diced tomatoes, broth, hot sauce, and seasonings. Lock lid and set to Pressure Cook on High for 12 minutes.
Follow manufacturer’s guide for quick release, making sure to wait until cycle is complete before unlocking and removing lid. Shred chicken with two forks.
Use a slotted spoon to serve chicken on tortillas with desired toppings.
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