Tacos have become one of my go-to meals that I never get tired of. Perhaps this is influenced by my trip to Mexico City last year, or perhaps influenced to my healthy obsession with Bar Clavel, an amazing Mexican restaurant a few minutes from my house in Baltimore, Maryland. Either way, I always seem to have the taste of tacos on the brain.
In 2019, I took a trip to Mexico City and it was outstanding. The food was so delicious and I learned so much. Since then I have sought out more traditional Mexican food and I’ve found that the signs of a legit, traditional taco are these:
– small corn tortillas, handmade of course! (mine at home are not, I have not taken on that challenge yet)
– a little bit of filling on the tortilla
– fresh cilantro and white onion, chopped
– a variety of sauces on the side, mild or hot
– fresh cucumber slices, radish rounds, and lime wedges on the side
I think many Americans have a very Americanized picture of tacos in their mind – it’s something like ground beef spiced with a taco-seasoning packet, stuffed inside a hard taco shell and topped with shredded cheddar cheese and iceberg lettuce. This was my idea of tacos in the past, too!
Of course now I am swapping veggies for the ground beef, but I also want to make something more… authentico. I love learning about different cultures, traveling, and trying all sorts of foods and using those experiences to create something similar at home in my kitchen!
Although my recipe here is very simple, it is very tasty and can be customized easily. You can add in other sliced veggies like squash, tomatoes, and cactus (nopales). You can also make it as spicy as you like!
I believe the key to a more traditional Mexican vegetarian taco is using poblano peppers, as this has been a constant theme in my experience. Poblanos have a dark earthy flavor compared the bright green flavor of a bell pepper. If you can’t find poblanos though, then use bell pepper. Also fun fact – when dried, poblano peppers are called ancho chiles.
As always, I hope you enjoy! Stay healthy!
xx
Dr. Romay
Makes about 8 tacos
A few ingredients make the most delicious vegetarian tacos. Inspired by traditional Mexican recipes and my travels to Mexico, I’m keeping it simple and quick with this easy taco recipe! See the notes about sides before you start.
Author: Leah Romay
– serve the tacos with hot sauce of your choice or with salsa verde
– it is typical to have tacos served with slices of radish and cucumber on the side
– side dishes to accompany the tacos could include black beans, red rice, or guacamole
– try adding summer squash, sliced tomatoes, or nopales slices to mix it up
Dr. Leah Romay is a dentist passionate about health and wellness and believes that health is possible for everyone. She’s been in the kitchen cooking from scratch for most of her life and greatly enjoys creating healthy and delicious recipes. In addition to practicing dentistry full time, she spends her free time developing recipes, reading scientific studies, and helping others live their healthiest lives through evidence-based lifestyle and diet. Read more about Dr. Romay and her story here.
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