Black Bean Soft Tacos

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 yellow onion, 1/4 diced and 3/4 sliced

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 serrano pepper, diced

• 1/2 teaspoon cumin

• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper

• 2 whole dried chilis

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained

• 1 bell pepper (red or orange) sliced into long thin pieces

• 1 large tomato, diced

• 8 - 12 corn tortillas (I recommend getting fresh tortillas from somewhere like La Palma)

• 1 cup of shredded cheese (I recommend Tillamook cheddar)

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1 avocado, chopped into medium sized pieces

• Hot sauce of your choice

Preparation

1. In a large pot sauté the 1/4 of a diced onion with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cook on medium until the edges of the pieces of onion become translucent. Add 2 cloves of minced garlic, 1/4 of a diced serrano pepper, 1/4 teaspoon cumin, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper, 2 whole dried chilis, and 1 bay leaf. Stir together and let cook until the garlic starts to brown. Stir in the can of black beans and let simmer stirring occasionally for 20 minutes. The beans should thicken considerably and be very flavorful.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium pan sauté the 3/4 of a yellow onion with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cook on medium until the edges of the pieces of onion become translucent. Then, add the sliced bell pepper, 1/2 a diced serrano pepper, 1/4 teaspoon cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper. Sauté stirring infrequently, on medium-high heat for 15 minutes or until the peppers and onions start to char and take on a deep golden color. Once they are the desired color, remove them from the heat.

3. Add your diced tomato to a small bowl with the juice of 1 lime and the remaining 1/4 of a diced serrano pepper. Let it macerate while you grill your tortillas.

4. Add tortillas to peoples plate and let them assemble their own tacos with beans, charred peppers and onions, tomatoes, shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, and the hot sauce of your choice.

Notes

• Servings: ~ 4 people