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Community Corner

Simple Summer Recipe: Avocado Salsa and Tacos in 20 Minutes

How do you make summer tacos? Red meat, poultry or veggie are all excellent options for this dish. Make it your own with these simple steps.

Tacos vary all over the world. Some warm, bake, stir or fry away for the perfect taco taste and texture. This recipe is a great start to any family taco night with an easy, healthy menu and quick directions. Make tacos your way and share along—this is an interactive recipe.

We’ll start with the “meat” of the taco, which can be any protein of your choice: ground red meat or chicken, tofu, even sauteed veggies. Then we’ll review the perfect tortilla warm-up trick. Topping your tacos will be as easy as one-two-three with a slice-and-serve avocado salad. Avocado salsa is a recipe from my cousin that goes well at any fiesta or family taco night. Let’s get started!

Gather:

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4 ripe avocados, chopped into 1-inch cubes

Green onions, diced

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1 red onion, diced

4 limes, squeezed

1 cup of black beans (or beans of choice), cooked and prepared

4 ears of corn, fresh or cooked and sliced off cob

1 bunch of cilantro, diced

Any extra vegetables of your choice if veggie tacos are in your meal plan. Examples: All types of squash, tomatoes, beans, roots, radishes, beats, cauliflower and broccoli would be good options.

Olive oil

Cheese of your choice, shredded

Ingredients from the Cabinet or Local Grocery Store:

A dash of cumin

Salt/pepper

A packaged (natural) taco seasoning, OR

A mix of cumin, chili powder, oregano, garlic and onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper, and/or crushed red pepper. Use any mix of at least three spices—cumin is the ultimate necessity. It’s the key to Hispanic foods. (Note: Check your cupboards! You might have some of these spices hiding in the back or front.)

A package of tortillas

Crema Fresca (found in the dairy section, it’s similar to sour cream)

1 pound of ground or diced protein of your choice: red meat, chicken or tofu

Directions:

Minutes 1 to 5: Line your saute pan with olive oil and drop in your protein. If it’s a meat, it’ll need to cook for 20 minutes. Tofu and veggies can saute for about 5 to 10 minutes, until seasoned and tender but not overcooked. Make sure to add flavor to the protein with salt, pepper and taco seasoning.

Minutes 5 to 10: Dice avocados and fresh onions, adding to a mixing bowl. Toss in beans (cooked) and corn (cooked or fresh). Squeeze fresh lime juice over the top and toss again. Add fresh cilantro, salt and pepper, a dash of cumin and toss for a third time. This avocado mixture should be thick like a chunky salsa.

Minutes 10 to 15: On a heated burner, use a pair of tongs to toss fresh tortillas over the open flame. Lay flat on one side for seconds, then turn, and heat on second side. Careful not to burn. Keep tortilla in tongs the entire time. Also, keep free hand on flame switch to turn off, just in case. Layer tortillas inside a clean kitchen towel to keep warm.

Minutes 15 to 20: Line up tortillas, avocado salsa, crema fresca, cheese and any extras you desire. As soon as 20 minutes is up and your protein is fully cooked, serve straight from the pan for less dish clean up and easy access.

Minutes 20 to whenever: Eat and enjoy.

Life can be a little easier with a fun and healthy recipe that gets you out of the kitchen and back into the conversation of the night. Ole!

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