Next to Korean food, Mexican food is one of my husband’s favorites. While we were dating, I saw him devour a HUGE burrito from Chipotle in under 6 mins. Their burritos are monstrous, thick and huge. I was shocked. He also has a special technique when eating these burritos in particular. It’s hard to describe but he holds the burrito in such a way that he can literally pour on the salsa and eats the sucker- I have no idea how he does this- without letting any of the salsa or burrito filling fall out. I must have been wearing those rose-coloured glasses because I’m not sure how I would react if I saw this now.
And I shouldn’t be surprised.
Before we got married, Paul lived with his brother Phil and they had a Taco Tuesday night. Every Tuesday. Every Tuesday, they would hit Taco Bell and would seriously load up- and I’m not kidding when I say load up- on their 59 cent tacos. I was in their kitchen one day looking for something and opened one of the drawers, which I thought was a utensil drawer.
Wrong.
They apparently had an entire drawer – and this was a big drawer- dedicated to saving those Taco Bell sauce packets. Like they would ever use these things because every Tuesday night, they would get more. Makes no sense to me. I’m actually not sure if this was my husband, Paul’s idea or Phil, my brother-in-law. Either way, it was kind of ridiculous. And after we got married and I moved in, Paul looked at me like I was crazy because I immediately went for the TACO SAUCE drawer and threw all of that junk in the trash. There was no way we were going to keep even one of those sauce packets.
We still love Mexican food and because there are no good Mexican food restaurants close to us (or none that I know of), I have to make it at home. OK, so Tofu?! Yes, I put tofu in my tacos. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again. I really love tofu (and I’ll explain more tomorrow for my first Weekday Supper post) and am just trying to eat lighter and a little healthier, with less meat.
I added the guacamole because it’s Cinco de Mayo and Cinco de Mayo is not complete for me without homemade guacamole, tortillas, chips and salsa. But if the guac seems too weird for you, simply omit it.
Also, I actually prefer flour tortillas but I like the size of the corn tortillas better for this recipe. If you’re a vegetarian or just like tofu, I hope you give this recipe a try. These tacos were really delicious and my Chipotle eating husband even liked them.
I hope you enjoy!
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped fine or minced
- 1 heaping teaspoon cumin
- for added heat: a few pinches of crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 14 oz package tofu; drained well on paper towels and crumbled
- salt and freshly ground pepper
- avocado; mashed, sliced or cubed
- freshly squeezed lime juice
- cucumbers; diced tiny (optional)
- tomatoes; diced tiny
- for added protein: black beans; rinsed and drained
- chives, green onions and/or white onions for garnish
- salsa
- your favorite tortillas (flour or corn); warmed or slightly toasted
- Heat the olive oil in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat and cook the garlic, cumin and crushed red pepper flakes (if using), stirring until fragrant, for about 1-2 minutes. Add the crumbled tofu and cook for about 5 minutes or until slightly browned. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Mix the diced veggies with the avocado and add the lime juice. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
- To assemble your tacos: layer on top of the tortilla in this order: tofu, black beans, avocado mixture and garnish with the chives and/or green onions and pour on the salsa to your liking.
Inspired by Gwyneth Paltrow’s It’s All Good and her Tofu Scramble.
This week we’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo!! The lovely Jen, from Juanita’s Cocina, is hosting today’s Mexican feast celebration!
Cinco de Mayo Appetizers & Sides {Aperitivos}:
- Chipotle Roasted Chickpeas from Home Cooking Memories
- Cinco de Mayo Tuna Pepper Poppers from Shockingly Delicious
- Elote (Mexican Grilled Corn) from Magnolia Days
- Esquites or Mexican Corn Salad from Kimchi Mom
- Grilled Corn on the Cob with Lime-Cayenne Butter from Healthy. Delicious.
- Guacamole Rice from Foxes Love Lemons
- Healthy Mexican Ceviche from Mama’s Blissful Bites
- Loaded Cheesy Nachos from Gotta Get Baked
- Lobster Guacamole from I Run For Wine
- Roasted Garlic and Bacon Guacamole from Ruffles & Truffles
- Slow Cooker Chicken Con Queso from Daily Dish Recipes
Cinco de Mayo Main Dishes {Platos Principales}:
- Barbacoa Beef from The Urban Mrs.
- Chicken Enchiladas with Avocado Cream Sauce from Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
- Chicken Fajita Feta-ccine from Chocolate Moosey
- Chicken Fajita Salad w/Home made Easy Salsa from Momma’s Meals
- Chicken Mole Potato Skins from Noshing with the Nolands
- Corona Beer-Battered Fish Tacos from Pescetarian Journal
- Duck Carnitas from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Enchiladas with Red Chili Sauce from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Fish Tacos with Lime Salsa from Curious Cuisiniere
- Japanese Mexican Tacos from Ninja Baking
- Lightened Up Taco Salad from Kudos Kitchen
- Mexican Pizza with Chipotle Orange Sauce from Family Foodie
- Oven Baked Beef, Bean, and Cheese Chimichangas from In The Kitchen With KP
- Pork Carnitas from From the Bookshelf
- Red Chile Jam + Tequila Chicken Quesadillas from Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Roasted Poblano and Corn Lasagna from Juanita’s Cocina
- Shrimp Soft Tacos with Lime Dressing and Crunchy Vegetables from Crazy Foodie Stunts
- Slow Cooked Carne Asadas from Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Soft Shell Tacos from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Spicy Shredded Beef Chimichangas from Supper for a Steal
- Spicy Steak Fajitas from Cravings of a Lunatic
- Stuffed Poblano Peppers from Country Girl in the Village
- Tequila Lime Chicken from No One Likes Crumbley Cookies
- Tex-Mex Chopped Chicken Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing from The Weekend Gourmet
- Tofu Tacos from Hip Foodie Mom
- Yucatan Pollo Pibil and Corn Tortillas from MarocMama
Cinco de Mayo Desserts {Postres}:
- Dairy-free Flan from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
- Dark and Spicy Chocolate Pots de Creme from Happy Baking Days
- Fried Ice Cream for a Crowd from Growing Up Gabel
- Luxuriously Healthy Chocolate Frosting from What Smells So Good?
- Mexican Brownies from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Paletas de Tamarindo (Tamarind Popsicles) from La Cocina de Leslie
- Peanut Mazapanes from Pies and Plots
Cinco de Mayo Drinks {Bebidas}:
- Fresh & Fruity Sangria from Webicurean
- Fruity Aguas Frescas from The Foodie Patootie
- Mango Aqua Fresca With Chia Seeds from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
- Margarona from The Messy Baker
- Tamarindo Drink (Agua de Tamarindo) from Basic N Delicious
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on Twitter on Sunday, May 5th to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! We’ll tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag, and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more delicious recipes and food photos.
Fantastic idea to use tofu in tacos, Alice!
Applause, applause, too, for throwing out the Taco Bell packets upon taking your marriage vows =)
The taco packets and burrito story, I´m still laughing! There was a time here when people would save the burned matches they used to light up the stoves. Maybe you can use the same one if you´re lighting two stoves at a time, but when would you ever use up the used ones? You have to light a new one to use the old one… And if you don´t cook mexican at home, when are you going to use the salsa packets, right? hahaha
Those tacos sound perfect for today Alice, and the corn tortilla is the right size! Have a great day!
I have never had tofu, but I do try it, it’s going to be made with your recipe! Looks delish!
We both wrote about our husbands in our posts this week, AND we both posted about tacos. I’m in love with the idea of Tofu Tacos, and as much as we eat tofu, I can’t believe I haven’t tried it already. Now I get to try your recipe! Lovely photos!
See? This just goes to prove that everything is better in a taco!
Delicious! I love tofu tacos and meatless options. Colorful recipe!
An entire drawer full of sauce packets from Taco Bell?! Good thing that you threw all of them out 🙂
I really, really, really like tofu {have mentioned that I like tofu} and adding them to taco’s sounds fantastic! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Such a good idea to use tofu – these look great 🙂
I haven’t eaten a ton of tofu, but this recipe is one that is really appealing. I’m trying to cut back on meat as well…and I definitely need to up my protein. Happy Cinco de Mayo, my friend!
WIN on the tofu! Been forever since I’ve made tacos with it
Delicious! I so love the idea of going meatless when it comes to tacos! Fantastic!!!
Haha… Alice, you are such a great storyteller. My husband used to inhale food too, but he’s slowed down a bit these days (he’s trying to eat less as his metabolism has slowed; he’s finally realised that making food last longer is a good thing!). Good on you for chucking the sauce packets… though, with the huge stockpile, it does sound like you probably could’ve made a killing by squeezing out those suckers to bottle and sell the Taco Bell sauce! Thanks for the gorgeous recipe. I’m not a huge fan of tofu but with the yummy cinco de mayo accompaniments I might just give this a go (especially if your carnivore hubby enjoys them!) x
I’ve never tried tofu in a taco before, but I am definitely intrigued! And I’m with you – gotta have the guac!
What a fun post!!! Paul and Phil sound like my brothers growing up, hitting Taco Bell and seeing who can out-eat each other! And too funny on the sauce drawer. Yup… rose colored glasses. Necessary at times to find (and keep) true love! 😉 Thanks for this great recipe.
MMM… love tofu tacos! Yours look fantastic of course!
I’ve never made tofu tacos, but they definitely sound like something I would enjoy!
Great looking vegetarian tacos!!
Tacos are so popular that we run them weekly at work too and offer beef, chicken and tofu!
These look really fresh and great. And I CANNOT believe your husband ate a Chipotle burrito in 6 minutes! That’s talented 🙂
I’m laughing over here at the mental picture of Paul gorging on a ginormous burrito, surrounded by dozens of tacos and sauce packets. That’s hilarious! You must’ve been really smitten to ignore all of this when you were just dating 😉 There’s an incredible Mexican restaurant in Seattle – when I get home later, I’ll find the name for you. I’m so intrigued by these tofu tacos – I bet they tasted awesome, especially if Paul was a fan of them.
Love the use of Tofu in these tacos!
It’s crazy the stuff people keep from fast food or delivery places. I have a friend who has a drawer full of soy sauce from picking up sushi. She never uses it because she uses the soy sauce in a bottle. So why keep it? Who knows. At least you did the right thing and trashed that collection.