Quinoa Tacos
I haven’t posted a Taco Tuesday recipe for a while, and I know that you have all been really sad about it too ;). I actually have been sitting on this recipe for a while, waiting for just the right time to post it. For no particular reason at all, I decided that today was the day haha. These tacos are great though, so today is your lucky day!
Did you know that the part of the quinoa plant that we eat is actually a seed? Don’t say I never taught you anything…
Quinoa is actually a really awesome food. It has a unique earthy flavor, chewy texture, and it is super versatile, which makes it perfect for this recipe. This taco filling can be used for topping salads and nachos, or as part of a southwest breakfast scramble. YUM! Want to take a look?
Quinoa cooking tip: Always rinse your quinoa before cooking. Quinoa has a soapy coating called a saponin, which has a bitter taste. I usually put the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and rinse it under running water until it no longer makes soapy bubbles.
When haters ask you, “Where you get your protein though?”, tell them, “QUINOA TACOS!!” Quinoa has about 8 grams of complete protein (contains all essential amino acids) per cup and we are adding another 15 grams with a cup a black beans in this recipe. Quinoa and black beans are a good source of iron too! Seriously, who even needs meat? #eatplants
Ready to make some tacos?
Happy eating and best health,
Dr. G
Ingredients
Filling:
- 2 cups cooked red quinoa (white works here too, I just like the color of the red for this recipe), prepare per package instructions...or google it.
- 1 cup cooked black beans, mashed into a thick paste
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 3 Tbsp onion, minced
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced (optional, can use 1/4 of a bell pepper to make it less spicy or simply add less jalapeno)
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste plus 1 Tbsp water whisked together
- salt to taste
Tacos:
- 8 tortillas of your choice
- salsa, cilantro, lettuce, lime wedges, and avocado slices for serving
Instructions
Filling:
- In a large skillet over medium heat add a small amount of cooking spray, oil, or water then add the garlic, onion, and jalapeno pepper. Saute until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
- Add the spices to the skillet and mix well.
- Add the tomato paste and water mixture, mix well.
- Add the quinoa and black bean mash to the skillet, mix well, and heat through.
Tacos:
- Assemble tacos and have fun!
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