These easy vegetarian pumpkin spice tacos are ready in only 30 minutes. The Mexican cotija cheese, lime crema, and chipotle balance the sweetness of the fresh pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice to make them savory and delicious!
⅛ - ¼teaspoonground chipotle chili powder, to taste
1cupcanned tomato sauce
1cupcanned black beans, drained
Optional: Finely sliced scallions, diced avocado, cojita cheese, chopped cilantro, or toasted pumpkin seeds, to serve
The Crema
2tablespoonssour cream or plain Greek yogurt
2tablespoonsmayonnaise
1teaspoonlime zest
1tablespoonlime juice
Instructions
Remove the top and bottom of the pumpkin with a sharp knife and peel it with a vegetable peeler. Cut it in half and remove seeds with a measuring spoon. Cut it into ½-inch thick slices and then into ½ -inch dice. Wrap the tortillas in foil and place them in the oven set at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat through for about 12 to 15 minutes.
1 small pie pumpkin, 8 small corn tortillas
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, pumpkin, garlic, and ¾ teaspoon of salt and stir to coat with the oil. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender, 6 to 8 minutes. If the mixture is browning too much before the pumpkin is tender, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water and reduce heat to medium to prevent it from burning.
4 teaspoons avocado oil, 1 small onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon salt
Remove the lid and sprinkle on the pumpkin pie spice and chipotle and stir to coat. Cook, stirring often until the spices are fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomato sauce and black beans and stir to combine. Bring it to a simmer, then remove it from the heat.
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice, ⅛ - ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle chili powder, 1 cup canned tomato sauce, 1 cup canned black beans
While the squash is cooking, make the crema. Whisk the sour cream, mayonnaise, lime zest, lime juice, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt in a small bowl.
2 tablespoons sour cream or plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon lime zest, 1 tablespoon lime juice
Assemble the tacos by dividing the squash mixture among the warm tortillas. Top with any or all of the topping toppings then drizzle on the crema and serve immediately.
Yes! The filling reheats beautifully in the microwave. Cook it on high power, stirring once or twice until it is steaming hot. Assemble tacos just before serving.
Variations To Try
To Make them VEGAN: You can skip the cotija, and use Kite Hill plant-based Greek yogurt and vegan mayo to make the crema.
Alternatives To Fresh Pumpkin: Squash works really well. We think butternut is the best substitute because it is so easy to dice. You can also use peeled and diced white sweet potato.