Picked With Passion

Portobello and Poblano Tacos need to make an appearance at your next taco Tuesday. No one will even miss the meat in these delicious vegetarian tacos.

Even though today I am a full fledged carnivore, for about 10 years I was a vegetarian. Unfortunately during that time I also didn’t cook very much, so let’s just suffice to say there were way to many carbs, cheese, and some very tight jeans. Looking back, if I had cooked at home more back then, I may still be a vegetarian today especially with dishes like these simple portobello mushroom and poblano tacos. The portobellos make a perfect substitution for meat with their meaty texture and the poblanos add just enough spice without being overwhelming.

The taco filling comes together in about 15 minutes. It starts with onions and poblano peppers that get seasoned with cumin, oregano, and a touch of paprika. Then the mushrooms are added to that and everything is finished with some fresh cilantro, lime juice, and salt. That’s really all it takes for a tasty vegetarian taco filling.

On top of all that, everything is finished with the most delicious avocado herb salsa that’s made in the blender in about 2 minutes. It starts with creamy avocado plus a good helping of cilantro, fresh basil, lime juice, and salt. That’s it but I promise you will want to eat it on everything. You could add a jalapeno as well if you wanted some extra spice since the poblanos can be mild.

Now depending on your tastes, you can mix up these Portobello and Poblano Tacos in all kinds of ways:

• If you love spice, I recommend adding a jalapeno to either the avocado herb salsa or to the onions and poblanos. Personally I find poblano peppers mild so I love having the extra spice.
• Craving more veggies? You can add all kinds of veggies to this taco filling to mix up the flavors. My personal favorites are diced zucchini and corn. Add it alongside the mushrooms. The corn adds some sweetness and crunch which I love.
• Looking for fiber? Add some black beans to the mix for a more substantial and filling taco. You could also toss in some quinoa or brown rice.
• Cheese! If you aren’t looking for a vegan taco, I recommend topping these with some Mexican queso fresco if you can find it. Mozzarella, goat cheese, and feta are all pretty delicious as well.
• Want to add some crunch? Consider making some quick pickled red onions to add on top. Just soak sliced red onion in lime juice for at least one hour before serving.

Looking for other vegetarian taco recipes?

Here are some tools I used while preparing this meal:

• Nonstick pans: There are all kinds of nonstick pans on the market but I have been using these All Clad Nonstick Fry Pans for years and love them. The nonstick surface hasn’t deteriorated at all over tons of use and they still work like the first time I used them. Also just FYI, it’s best not to use aerosol on non-stick pans since it can damae the surface. Look for a non-aerosol cooking spray or use regular oil if you need anything.
• Vegetable brush: I always have a hard time cleaning mushrooms since the dirt can stick to them. For a long time I used wet paper towels but still felt like they weren’t clean. Recently I switched over to a  Mushroom Brush and find it removes a lot more dirt.
• Blender: I have been using this blender for years and it works great. It’s definitely a bit of an investment on the front end but after making millions of smoothies, soups, and salsas, it is still going strong.