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Showing posts with label tacos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tacos. Show all posts

Garden Salad 'Tacos'


Inspired by my Sun Kissed Tomato and Avocado dish I made yesterday after gardening, I decided to make Garden Salad 'Tacos' for lunch. I love eating fresh and raw in the summer and spring. These left me feeling satisfied and still able to get everything done that I needed to do. Something about eating living foods for a living body that energizes you. 

Ingredients
  • grape tomatoes, halved 
  • avocado, diced
  • cucumber, julienned
  • scallions, thinly sliced
  • carrots, julienned
  • hummus 
  • cilantro, chop or leave as is like I did
  • Himalayan salt & cracked pepper, to taste
  • romaine hearts, washed and dried

Directions

Wash and dry romaine leaves. Start with your hummus and layer up. 





I myself can eat about four, five or six of these as a meal...very clean, refreshing and satisfying!


Enjoy!

BLACK BEAN FAJITAS + GUACAMOLE

BLACK BEAN FAJITAS + GUACAMOLE

Happy Friday to you all! For most of you, your work week is ending and you’re ready for some days off. Today I hope to inspire something wonderful for you to eat on your time off. I've always loved fajitas and if you’re like me you love them too. Finally, they have arrived to the recipe collection and I'm so happy to share them with you!

 I was so excited the day I was going to put this together, trying to do my full workout at the gym, just knowing I would be coming home to put this recipe together. I imagined a flavorful fajita mix with a big helping of guacamole on top. At last minute I added some shredded cabbage I had on hand, but that is optional. They are everything I wanted them to be and more! These are 'Eat like you mean it' tacos! I loaded mine and ate them just as you see here with no problem at all, hardly any mess either. Although the next couple tacos I had were a bit messier, just because I was at the bottom of the fajita mix where all the juiciness is. Not a bad thing at all, just be sure to have a couple extra napkins handy, and just like your mom might have told you, 'Eat over your plate'. I especially love making tacos, mainly because I love corn tortillas, but if you prefer flour tortillas, your options are open for making tacos or burritos (see notes). However you like, gather your ingredients and get ready to enjoy some of the best darn black bean fajitas you've ever had! At least I think they're pretty darn good. :)

Black Bean Fajitas + Guacamole

Just simple, colorful ingredients that come together in the best way. If you're lucky enough, you may even find a prepared fajita mix where you just add your spice and protein. That's exactly what I have here, 2 packages, but the ingredients will reflect buying and slices your own bell peppers and onion. The tortillas I used are homemade tortillas from Trader Joe's. They are thick and can withstand a large helping.

Black Bean Fajitas + GuacamoleBlack Bean Fajitas + GuacamoleBlack Bean Fajitas + Guacamole

Start with your guacamole. This is a very simple, classic chunky guacamole. I added chopped cilantro just before serving. Feel free to omit/add anything you like!

Black Bean Fajitas + GuacamoleBlack Bean Fajitas + Guacamole

Cook up your fajita mix and warm up the tortillas...

Black Bean Fajita Tacos + Guacamole

  Layer your tacos and serve you & yours some hearty black bean fajita tacos!

Black Bean Fajitas + Guacamole

BLACK BEAN FAJITAS + GUACAMOLE

Ingredients
  • 2 cans (15 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed (about 3 cups)
  • 1 red bell pepper, cored and sliced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, cored and sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper, cored and sliced
  • 1 small white onion, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon grapeseed or olive oil or 3 tablespoon water (for water saute)
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon chipotle or cayenne powder, optional
  • 1/2 teaspoon mineral salt
  • corn or flour tortillas
  • 1/4 head of cabbage, shredded (optional), to serve
  • lime wedges, to serve

Guacamole
  • 2 - 3 avocados
  • 1 small jalapeno, most seeds removed and diced
  • 1/4 red onion, diced
  • small handful cherry tomatoes, quartered or 1 small tomato, diced
  • 1/2 teaspoon mineral salt, or to taste
  • few sprigs cilantro leaves, diced
  • 1 lime, squeezed

Start with your guacamole. Cut avocados in half lengthwise, remove seed and using a spoon scoop out the flesh, place in medium size bowl. Using a fork cut the halves into large chunks and mash about 1/3 - 1/2. Add diced jalapeno, onion, tomatoes, mineral salt and lime juice. Mix to incorporate. Add in chopped cilantro and mix again gently. TIP: To keep your guacamole from browning, pack your guacamole well, add about 1/4 - 1/2 inch water over top and place in the fridge. When ready to serve, drain water, mix and serve. This will keep air away preventing oxidation. 

In a large wok/skillet, heat oil or water over medium high heat. Add bell peppers, onions, and spices, cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add black beans and cook until heated through, about 3 more minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste adding anything extra you like.

Warm your tortillas. I like to heat mine carefully over the open flame of the stove top.

Serve layering the fajita mix on top of each tortilla, then add cabbage and a nice helping of guacamole. Add a squeeze of lime to each taco if you like.

Serves 3 generously.

Notes:

These can easily double as burritos by simply using large flour tortillas. Layer just as you would the taco leaving about 2 inches at one end, fold up the end over the mixture, take one side of the burrito, fold over and roll. This style will leave you with one open end at the top. It's the way I usually make my burritos. For a completely closed burrito, take a look at this tutorial from the Kitchn: How To Wrap A Burrito (So It Doesn't Fall Apart When You Eat It!)

I read about the water trick for the guacamole from an article at Huff Post Taste: How To Make The Best Guacamole: Tips and Mistakes To Avoid


Enjoy!


QUICK & EASY CHICKPEA TACOS

QUICK & EASY CHICKPEA TACOS

I have been eating these tacos on a fairly regular basis. I shared a similar version of this on Instagram and Facebook about seven months ago (my how time flies!). It went over very well, especially on Facebook! I don't know why it took me so long for but I finally decided it was time to put this simple taco here as a valuable veggie resource. They are so quick and easy to pull together. They can be eaten as a snack or a meal. Usually I skip the cabbage and cilantro if I don't have it on hand. I love it simply with chickpeas, mashed avocado and sriracha but for the recipe I decided to add a few extras for your consideration making it a heartier taco. Chickpeas are one of my favorite beans and are about the most versatile bean in existence! They work well here served at room temp so there's no heating involved making your taco preparation speed along. Of course, if you prefer your beans heated, by all means heat them up. These tacos have been a useful creation and a complete meal to boot. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Cheers :)

QUICK & EASY CHICKPEA TACOSQUICK & EASY CHICKPEA TACOSQUICK & EASY CHICKPEA TACOS

QUICK & EASY CHICKPEA TACOS

Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans) or 1 can (15oz.), drained and rinsed
  • 1/4 head green cabbage, shredded
  • avocado, sliced
  • cilantro
  • corn tortillas, warmed
  • sriracha, sambal oelek or your favorite hot sauce
  • lime wedges, to serve
  • mineral salt

I'll let you do the measuring on most of the ingredients. I usually eat about 3 of these tacos at one sitting...sometimes 5. I will have left over chickpeas and cabbage with both of those amounts. If serving 7 or more tacos, add a bit more chickpeas to your list just to be on the safe side.

Warm your tortillas. I do this carefully on the stove top over an open flame to give it some charring on the edges.

Layer your tacos with chickpeas, cabbage, avocado and cilantro. Top with mineral salt, sriracha and a squeeze of lime. You may also opt to mash some avocado as your first layer and then add the chickpeas, cabbage and cilantro. This will help hold the chickpeas in place a little better.

So quick and easy...enjoy!


I'd love to see your masterpieces!
#thesimpleveganista