Monday, June 3, 2013
I love Tex-Mex, and a search here on my blog will bring up all kinds of fabulous Southwestern recipes. A few examples:
- Rice and Beans
- Fajitas
- Quesadillas
- Mexican salad
- Tortilla soup
- Soft lobster tacos
- Southwestern scrambled eggs
- Breakfast taco
- Nachos
- Chili
- Mexican street corn
And let’s not forget about the varied array of accoutrements that make it Mexican:
- Guacamole
- Mango Salsa
- Pico de Gallo (aka, Salsa Fresca, Fresh Tomato Salsa)
- Salsa Verde (aka, Tomatillo Salsa)
- Cilantro Vinaigrette (the key to Mexican salad)
- Peach Salsa
In all this time, it’s hard to believe I’ve not yet shared my recipe for that most familiar of Tex-Mex fare, the basic taco. No doubt a favorite of many, there are lots of fun and creative things you can do with tacos, like my soft lobster version with avocado cream and mango salsa. That said, there’s a time when you just want a traditional meaty taco with all the fixings stuffed into a crispy corn shell.
I agree.
So what if you don’t eat meat, you ask? No problem at all, because if you employ my meatless taco filling you’ll have even your meat-loving guests complimenting your rad tacos. (Yes, I did just say “rad,” I think for the first time ever. Forgive me, but it just seemed to fit.) I’ve already provided the (true) story and recipe here, so check it out and grab your frying pan as that’s the base for these tacos.
In the pictured version, I first lined a crispy taco shell with creamy sliced avocado and then stuffed in the savory filling. (The sliced avocado was just to mix things up: I usually use diced avocado or guacamole.) My toppings included diced white onion, a bit of grated cheddar cheese, and a dollop of corn salsa. The tacos look and taste a bit different every time depending on what I have on hand and what strikes my fancy. Pico de gallo and/or tomatillo salsa are terrific. (Mango doesn’t work here in my view.) And, yes, I often include a spoonful of sour cream, though I hadn’t any when I took this photo and it’s certainly not necessary if you want to watch calories or keep these vegan.
Not sure about my “meaty” meatless tacos? It’s okay to be skeptical. I also grew up eating beef tacos, so I understand. But I really do find that these tacos fully, er, meet my need. So perhaps today’s Meatless Monday is the perfect time to expand your taco horizons with this better-for-you-and-the-environment-and-cow-too alternative. Do they taste exactly like meat? Perhaps not; it depends on what your palate is used to, of course. But I’ve had many a meat-enthusiast adore my tacos, and once you add the fillings you love I think you’ll find these a great twist on a classic that you and your kids will come to crave.
Olé indeed.
