One of my rules to live by is that “if you can eat it, you can taco it.”
Now, I’m not saying I’m going to go and stuff a chocolate cake into a corn tortilla anytime soon (slash, I might just try it tomorrow), but there really is very little in my life that has totally escaped taco-ification. It’s an obsession of sorts, fueled in part by the fact that everything seems to taste better in taco form—also because “taco night” yields no complaints from the peanut gallery, whereas just about anything else is met with moans, groans and shrieks of “NOT KALE, AGAIN!!”
One thing I’ve learned in all my years of taco-ing is that making a good taco is not really as simple as throwing everything but your kitchen sink into a tortilla and calling it dinner. The best tacos have a mix of flavors and textures so that all your tastebuds are activated with every bite, creating a feeling of being totally satisfied as you’re chowing down.
When I got it into my head that I wanted to make butternut squash tacos as a celebration of fall, I knew immediately that I had to add some texture into the mix so that it wouldn’t feel like I was eating bite after bite of mush. That’s where the relish comes in – a mix of cranberries, apples, jalapeños and ginger, it adds some much-needed sweet-tart-spicy pizzazz, as well as some serious crunch. Black beans are thrown in for protein, making these tacos a satisfying lunch or dinner. Both the roasted butternut squash and the relish can be made ahead, so with a little bit of planning, these tacos can really come together in almost no time.
Taco night every night? I am SO in.
Stuffed with roasted butternut squash, hearty black beans and a sweet-tart-spicy cranberry relish, these tacos couldn't be any more perfect for fall if they tried.
Ingredients
- 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 12 small corn tortillas
- 2 cups cooked black beans
- 1 (12-ounce) package fresh cranberries
- 1 1/2 pounds tart apples, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- In a large bowl, toss together the butternut squash, olive oil and salt. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet in an even layer and roast until tender, 20-30 minutes, tossing once halfway through.
- Meanwhile, prepare the Cranberry-Jalapeño Relish. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the cranberries, apples, sugar and apple cider vinegar. Cook, stirring frequently, until sugar has dissolved. Raise the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring constantly, until cranberries start to pop and mixture has thickened, 5-7 minutes. Stir in the jalapeño and ginger and remove from heat.
- Warm the corn tortillas according to package directions. Serve the tortillas stuffed with the butternut squash and black beans, and topped with the Cranberry-Jalapeño Relish.
Notes
Both the butternut squash and relish can be made ahead of time! Just reheat the butternut squash before stuffing it into the tortillas.
Relish adapted from The New York Times
4 Comments
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan
November 6, 2014 at 2:25 pmThis looks perfect for ramping up to the holiday season!
Joanne Bruno
November 10, 2014 at 11:15 pmThanks! It definitely is a pretty festive dish.
Liz @ Tip Top Shape
November 7, 2014 at 9:44 amI never thought I’d say that a taco was festive, but these are!! Looks great!
Joanne Bruno
November 10, 2014 at 11:16 pmHaha that is EXACTLY the word I would use to describe them!