Chipotle Zucchini and Corn Tacos
Question: why is Taco Tuesday such a widespread event, but Taco Thursday isn’t?
Seriously. Why is this? As far as I can tell, both days should be equally acceptable days to consume tacos. They both start with the letter “T”, thus satisfying the important requirement that the food we’re eating must start with the same first letter of that of the day it’s being consumed. And HELLO, the more days that we get to enjoy tacos, the better. Right?!?!
This all seems fairly straightforward to me. So as far as I’m concerned, today is Taco Thursday. And to celebrate, I’m sharing the recipe for these crazy easy Chipotle Zucchini and Corn Tacos.
It’s also 30 Minute Thursday, meaning that these babies can be made in just about 30 minutes. Which makes them ideal for a low stress weeknight dinner, even on the busiest of work/school nights.
Oh and did I mention that you only need one baking sheet and one bowl for this recipe? Yeah. That’s a pretty sweet bonus, if you ask me.
For more quick and easy recipes, check out the links below!
The filling for these tacos is pretty simple (but definitely not short on flavor!). And I narrowed down the toppings to just a few of my favorite things, like avocado, crumbled goat cheese and cilantro. But feel free to get crazier with the toppings if you want. Or maybe add some black beans if you want a more “stick to your ribs” version of this recipe. Whatever you do, just make sure you get out there and celebrate Taco Thursday!
Cheers,
Liz
Ingredients
- For the Filling
- 2 medium zucchini, sliced into rounds
- 2 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons adobo sauce (from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce)
- 1 tsp. salt, divided
- 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
- 2 ears fresh corn, husks and silks removed
- For Serving
- Corn tortillas, warmed or grilled
- Diced avocado
- Crumbled feta or goat cheese
- Fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
- In a medium bowl, toss together the zucchini slices, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the adobo sauce, 1/2 tsp. of the salt and the cumin until the zucchini is well coated. Spread the zucchini slices out into a single layer on the parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Then transfer them to your pre-heated oven to roast for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, slice the kernels off the corn cobs and add them to the same bowl you used to toss the zucchini. Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil and 1/2 tsp. salt, tossing to combine. After the zucchini has roasted for 15 minutes, carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven and add the corn kernels, tossing to combine and flipping the zucchini over to the second side. Place the baking sheet back in your oven to roast for an additional 10 minutes. Then remove and cover to keep warm.
- To assemble the tacos, fill each tortilla with a spoonful of the roasted zucchini and corn. Then top with diced avocado, cheese, cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Enjoy immediately.
Chicken and Spinach Pesto Quesadillas from Pumpkin ‘N Spice
One Pot Baked Ziti from The Recipe Rebel
One Pot Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole from Kristine’s Kitchen
One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta from Savory Nothings
Peanut Chicken Stir Fry from Bake.Eat.Repeat.
Grilled Eggplant with Goat Cheese Polenta and Basil Pesto
I’m currently experiencing some post-Labor Day Weekend blues. It’s really starting to sink into my brain that Summer is wrapping up. And frankly, I’m not ready for that to happen.
I still have so much ice cream to eat!!!
Luckily, there is still an abundance of late Summer produce to be enjoyed. And that’s helping to elevate my mood. I know people are going crazy for pumpkin-everything right now. But here in New England, early September is one of the best times for local produce like tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, cucumbers, corn and more! So I’m diving headfirst into all of these things.
Last week, I found the most precious baby eggplants at the farmer’s market and I knew instantly that I wanted them to become the focus of my September Eat Seasonal recipe post. So I grilled them up and served them on top of a creamy bed of goat cheese polenta. And then I finished off the dish with some homemade basil pesto and a handful of sliced plum tomatoes. It’s a recipe that totally celebrates Summer. But also has a bit of a “cozy” feel, too. In the past, I’ve treated polenta as one of those food items that I only make and eat during the cooler months. But now, I’m really digging this version with its Summery spin! And I can see myself using it more frequently in my kitchen throughout the entire year.
The other great thing about this recipe for Grilled Eggplant with Goat Cheese Polenta and Basil Pesto is that – for such a hearty dish – it’s relatively fast to prepare. You can have everything done in just about 30 minutes. Which is always a win in my book!
For more September cooking inspiration, check out my friend Becky’s monthly produce guide, which is filled with tons of great recipe suggestions and tips. I hope it will help make your transition into Fall a little bit easier. And if you make any of our #eatseasonal recipes, give us a shout out on social media. We would love to hear about it!
Cheers,
Liz
Ingredients
- For the Pesto
- 1 cup firmly packed basil leaves
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- About 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- For the Polenta
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup polenta
- 2 ounces goat cheese
- 1 tsp. salt
- About 1/2 cup milk
- For the Eggplant
- 4 baby eggplant (about 3-5 inches in length)
- 1 tsp. salt
- About 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- For Serving
- Plum or cherry tomatoes, halved
Instructions
- To make the pesto, add the basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts and salt to the bowl of your food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse until coarsely chopped. Then with your food processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and process until well combined. Transfer the pesto to a clean container. Cover and refrigerate it until you’re ready to use it.
- To make the polenta, bring the water to a boil in a heavy bottom saucepan. Slowly whisk in the polenta and turn down the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook the polenta for 15-17 minutes, whisking frequently so it doesn’t burn. You may have to reduce the heat further as it cooks to prevent the polenta from splattering and bubbling. Once the polenta has thickened and the water is absorbed, whisk in the goat cheese and the salt. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Then whisk in enough milk to thin it to your desired consistency. Cover to keep warm.
- Meanwhile, pre-heat your grill to medium-high.
- Slice the baby eggplants in half lengthwise and sprinkle the cut-sides with the salt. Let sit 10-15 minutes at room temperature. Then pat the surfaces dry with a paper towel. Drizzle the eggplant halves with the olive oil, turning to coat them on all sides. Then add them to your pre-heated grill. Cook for about 5-7 minutes per side, until softened and well darkened in places. Remove the eggplant halves from your grill and place them in a large bowl or baking dish. Drizzle with some of the pesto while they are still warm.
- To serve, divide the polenta between bowls. Top with the grilled eggplant halves, tomatoes and additional pesto, if desired. Serve immediately.
September Eat Seasonal Recipes
Small Batch Cherry Tomato Jam by Flavor the Moments
Hazelnut Zucchini Bread by Vintage Mixer
Balsamic Sausage Tortellini Bake by JoyFoodSunshine
Baked Enchilada Style Veggie Burritos by She Likes Food
Peach and Tomato Salsa with Pan Seared Tofu by Letty’s Kitchen
