Taco night may be the best night of the week – and not only because tacos are absolutely delicious. What I love even more than how delicious tacos are, is how tacos are so easy to customize and add in the flavors you’re craving on the night you’re having them. Or, in the case of these tacos, you can use up the leftover ingredients from other recipes!
These tacos feature red cabbage because I bought a head of red cabbage over two weeks ago and STILL hadn’t used all of it. My partner & I have been working on ways to lower our food waste, so I have been striving to really use every bit of the fresh vegetables we get every week. With just a bit of it left, I knew it would make the perfect ingredient in my taco night. By adding a bit of lime juice and a dash of salt, I was able to bring out the sweetness of the cabbage in a great way that added something different to these tacos. It also added a really nice color!
The beans featured here are a staple in my house – we use them for lots of different recipes and swap in and out ingredients as needed for the specific flavor profile we’re going for. I’ve used smoked paprika and lime juice here as a complement to the cabbage. You can use other ingredients you have in your kitchen, and feel free to play with the spices to find a unique flavor that you love.
Lastly, go wild with the toppings. Whatever you have in the fridge and in your kitchen, go for it. Some ideas might include:
- minced red onion
- taco shells, hard or soft (or eat this in a bowl!)
- tortilla chips
- diced tomato
- cilantro
- avocado
- vegan cheese
- vegan sour cream
- hot sauces
- jalapeño slices
- sauteed peppers and onions or mushrooms
- cilantro lime rice, or Spanish quinoa
- cheese sauce
- & so many other options!
I’m really interested in how other folks are thinking about food waste, and what you are doing to combat it in your own homes. I would also love the hear how this recipe turns out for you and how you made it your own. Let me know in the comments or message me at @thejewishvegan on Instagram. And, as always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out. Now, let’s get started!
Cabbage Tacos with Beans
Ingredients
Cabbage
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cups red cabbage sliced into small pieces
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- salt & pepper to taste
- smoked paprika to taste
Beans
- 1 can black beans
- 1 tomato chopped
- 1 yellow or white onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp minced cilantro
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- salt & pepper to taste
- any additional vegetables corn, spinach, peas, etc.
Optional Ingredients
- red onion minced
- hard or soft taco shells
- tomato diced
- cilantro
- avocado
- vegan cheese
- other toppings as desired
Instructions
To Make Cabbage
- Heat the oil over medium heat in a pan. Add the cabbage and sauté for about 4-5 minutes until it starts to get softer. Add the lime juice and sauté for another 2-3 minutes. Then season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika to taste.
To Make Beans
- Add all of the ingredients into a pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Lower to medium-low and let simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the onions become translucent. Adjust seasonings to taste.
To Make Tacos
- Add all of your ingredients to your tacos shells as desired! You may want to double up on your soft shells so that it all doesn't leak through. Enjoy!
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