Description
These Black Bean Quinoa Tacos are a quick, healthy, and flavor-packed meal made with smoky spices, hearty quinoa, and creamy cilantro lime sauce—perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Taco Filling:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup dry quinoa
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable stock (or water)
- 1 (14-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 lime, juiced
- Kosher salt and black pepper
For Serving:
- Charred corn tortillas
- Sliced avocado
- Chopped cilantro
- Salsa of choice
- Lime wedges
For the Cilantro Lime Cashew Crema:
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
- Optional: 1 small jalapeño, deseeded
- Juice of 1 lime
- Juice of ½ lemon
- ¾ cup water
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion with a pinch of salt and cook for 3–4 minutes until soft.
- Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and tomato paste. Stir and cook for 1–2 minutes.
- Add quinoa and toast for 1 minute. Pour in vegetable stock and bring to a boil.
- Add black beans, cover, and reduce heat. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and add lime juice.
- For the crema, blend all ingredients until smooth, adding water as needed.
- Assemble tacos with quinoa mixture, avocado, crema, and desired toppings. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Soak cashews in hot water for 10 minutes for a smoother crema.
- Leftover filling keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Adjust spice level by adding jalapeño or cayenne.
- Great for meal prep and reheats easily.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tacos
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
