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Chickpea, Spinach, Feta, and Pepita Tacos

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(1)

I have to admit that making a vegetarian dinner is liberating. When I don’t include meat, I feel entitled to splurge on other riches, in this case avocado and pumpkin seeds. Nonetheless, these veggie-packed tacos are proof that something can be hearty and healthful at the same time.

Note:

To roast the pumpkin seeds, spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 375˚F for 5 to 7 minutes, until the seeds are very fragrant. Immediately transfer to a plate to stop the cooking and allow the seeds to cool completely.

Ingredients

3 or 4 corn tortillas, preferably homemade (page 84)
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon ground ancho chile
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 small shallot lobe, thinly sliced
1 small tomato, chopped (or substitute 1/3 cup canned crushed tomatoes in their juices)
1/3 cup cooked chickpeas, preferably homemade (page 47), drained and rinsed
3/4 cup lightly packed spinach leaves, stacked, rolled, and thinly sliced
Kosher or sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 avocado, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks
1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled
1 tablespoon roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
Hot pepper sauce, such as Tabasco
1/2 lime

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Warm the tortillas (see page 81) and wrap them in aluminum foil to keep warm.

    Step 2

    Pour the oil into a medium skillet over medium heat. When the oil starts to shimmer, add the ground ancho, stir to combine, and cook until it sizzles and becomes very fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the garlic and shallot and cook until the vegetables start to soften and slightly brown, 4 to 6 minutes.

    Step 3

    Stir in the tomato and chickpeas and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato softens and starts to break down. Add the spinach and cook until the spinach wilts, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

    Step 4

    Lay the tortillas out on a plate and divide the chickpea-spinach mixture among them. Top with the avocado and feta and sprinkle with the pumpkin seeds. Dash a little Tabasco on each taco, squeeze the lime over them, and eat.

Cover of Joe Yonan's cookbook Serve Yourself Featuring a cherry tomato and squid stir fry.
Reprinted with permission from Serve Yourself: Nightly Adventures in Cooking for One by Joe Yonan. Copyright © 2011 by Joe Yonan. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. Buy the full book at Amazon or AbeBooks.

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