all things food
When warmer weather arrives, we’re suckers for the classic combination of chips and salsa. This vibrant, roasted salsa verde is the perfect companion to crispy tortilla chips, tacos, enchiladas, salads, and beyond!
We trialed a raw version (hoping the…
When warmer weather arrives, we’re suckers for the classic combination of chips and salsa. This vibrant, roasted salsa verde is the perfect companion to crispy tortilla chips, tacos, enchiladas, salads, and beyond!
We trialed a raw version (hoping the raw would work for an easy, heat-free option), but it didn’t quite compare to the smoky depth of flavor we achieved with the roasted version. It’s well worth the little bit of extra effort!
I am all about vegetarian tacos, they are my favorite. I love creating fun and delicious veggie tacos like my Roasted Cauliflower Chickpea Tacos and my Sweet Potato Tacos, but these Easy Vegetarian Tacos are my GO TO! I make them almost every week. I l…
I am all about vegetarian tacos, they are my favorite. I love creating fun and delicious veggie tacos like my Roasted Cauliflower Chickpea Tacos and my Sweet Potato Tacos, but these Easy Vegetarian Tacos are my GO TO! I make them almost every week. I love that they have a variety of vegetables and they…
The post Easy Vegetarian Tacos appeared first on Two Peas & Their Pod.
This easy one-pot chipotle lime chicken and rice is tangy, smoky, spicy, and incredibly delicious. Makes a great main dish or meal prep!
The post Chipotle Lime Chicken and Rice appeared first on Budget Bytes.
I’m all about cooking as much flavor into rice as possible and this Chipotle Lime Chicken and Rice is FLA-VOR-FUL! You’ve got a hefty dose of spices, tangy lime juice, and a bunch of flavor from the chicken that cooks right in the same pot. It turns out smoky, spicy, tangy, and oh so delicious! And don’t worry, I’ve got some suggested sides to round out your meal listed below.
Chipotle peppers are smoked jalapeño peppers. They give a beautifully spicy, smoky flavor to everything. You can buy chipotle peppers dried, canned with adobo sauce, or ground into a powder. This recipe uses the powdered form, which can be found along with other herbs and spices in the spice aisle.
The quick cooking method used in this recipe is not suitable for bone-in chicken breasts, as they require a much longer cooking time. It may work with smaller bone-in chicken thighs, but you’ll want to use a meat thermometer to make sure they reach 165ºF on the inside. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work just as well as the boneless, skinless chicken breast for this recipe.
You have a few options for the diced tomatoes in this recipe. I used a can of plain diced tomatoes because that is what was available the day I made this, but I also tried it with fire-roasted diced tomatoes while in the recipe testing phase and they were fantastic. You could also do a petite diced tomatoes if you don’t like such large tomato pieces, or even a diced tomato with green chiles if you want it extra-EXTRA spicy.
Because this dish is so spicy you’ll probably want to pair it with something that has a cooling effect, so something that is creamy or can be served cold to balance the heat. A little dollop of sour cream on top would be good, or maybe a slice or two of avocado, if you have it. And I highly suggest something green to round out the colors on your plate. Here are some great side dish options:
Combine 1.5 tsp chipotle powder, 1 tsp ground cumin, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, and ½ tsp salt in a bowl. Squeeze about 2 Tbsp juice from a lime into a separate bowl (that should be about ½ the lime, so you can save the other half to make wedges for garnish).
Use a rolling pin or a mallet to gently pound 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts out to an even thickness (about ¾-inch thick). Use half of the spice blend to season both sides of the chicken. Save the other half of the spices for later.
Heat 1 Tbsp cooking oil in a large deep skillet. Once hot, add the seasoned chicken and cook for a few minutes on both sides, or just until browned. It doesn’t have to be cooked through here because it will cook more with the rice.
While the chicken is cooking, dice one yellow onion. Remove the browned chicken to a clean plate, then add the diced onion in its place. Sauté the onion for a few minutes, or until softened, then add the remaining spices and sauté for one minute more.
Add one 15oz. can diced tomatoes, 1 cup long grain white rice, 1 cup chicken broth, and 2 Tbps lime juice to the skillet. Stir briefly to combine and dissolve any browned bits off the bottom of the skillet.
Add the browned chicken back to the skillet. Place a lid on top, turn the heat up to medium-high, and allow the liquid to come up to a boil.
Once boiling, turn the heat down to low and let the pot simmer on low for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, turn the heat off and let it rest, with the lid in place, for another 5 minutes.
Finally, remove the lid. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Fluff the rice with a fork to stir the tomatoes and onion back into the rice. Slice the chicken, then place it back on top of the rice.
Sprinkle sliced green onions on top, a little Cotija cheese, and add any remaining lime wedges.
Serve and enjoy! A little sour cream on top wouldn’t be so bad, either. ;)
The post Chipotle Lime Chicken and Rice appeared first on Budget Bytes.
The summer produce is so good right now, I can’t get enough. I have been making lots and lots of salads: cucumber salad, tomato salad, easy orzo salad, watermelon salad…just to name a few! At the market, I picked up blueberries and sweet co…
The summer produce is so good right now, I can’t get enough. I have been making lots and lots of salads: cucumber salad, tomato salad, easy orzo salad, watermelon salad…just to name a few! At the market, I picked up blueberries and sweet corn because they looked so good. I made one of my favorite…
The post Blueberry Corn Salad appeared first on Two Peas & Their Pod.
Fresh and juicy summer sweet corn makes the best corn salsa for topping tacos, salads, bowl meals, or dipping with your favorite chips.
The post Sweet Corn Salsa appeared first on Budget Bytes.
If you’ve never raw fresh sweet corn, let this recipe be a sign that you totally need to try it. Fresh sweet corn is one of the best parts of summer and when it’s raw it is deliciously sweet, crunchy, and *juicy*. And this Fresh Sweet Corn Salsa is the perfect way for you to dip your toes into the waters and experience the awesomeness that is raw sweet corn.
I like to keep things simple in life, so I made my corn salsa super simple, kind of like a pico de gallo with corn. It has fresh sweet corn, tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. That’s it! It hits all my favorite flavor elements: sweet, salty, acidic, and spicy!
You don’t have to use fresh corn for this salsa, but it’s definitely going to make the salsa top-notch. If you want to make this salsa in the off-season or just don’t have good fresh corn available, the next best choice would be frozen corn. I don’t suggest canned corn for this recipe because it will definitely throw the flavor off since it is canned in liquid that usually contains both sugar and salt.
If you want to use fresh corn but just don’t want to use raw corn, grilling the corn first will give this salsa a nice smokey flavor. You can also just do your usual boil, steam, or oven roasting.
If you need help knowing how to pick the best fresh corn, check out this short tutorial from Taste of Home about How to Pick the Best Corn.
If you do want to fancy it up some, here are some other great flavors that would be awesome in corn salsa:
Corn salsa is that great all-purpose summer condiment or side. You can serve it on things or just as a sort of side salad to your meal. I served mine this week on top of my Fish Tacos, but it would also be great with Beef Taco Skillet, Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas, Easy Cilantro Chicken, Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas, or Black Bean and Avocado Enchiladas.
Remove the husk and silk from three ears of fresh sweet corn. Slice the stem off the bottom to create a flat surface on which to stand the ear of corn. Stand the ear up on its end, then use a sharp knife to slice downward to remove the kernels. I like to do this on a rimmed baking sheet to catch the kernels as they fall.
Dice three Roma tomatoes. Try to make it a small dice, similar in size to the corn kernels.
Remove the seeds from one jalapeño, then finely dice. Finely dice about ¼ cup red onion and roughly chop about ¼ cup fresh cilantro.
Add the corn, tomatoes, jalapeño, red onion, and cilantro to a bowl. Squeeze the juice from one lime, then add about 2 Tbsp of the juice to the bowl. Sprinkle ½ tsp salt over top.
Stir until everything is combined and coated in juice and salt.
Serve immediately or refrigerate for later. If refrigerating, make sure to give it a good stir before serving to redistribute the juices.
The post Sweet Corn Salsa appeared first on Budget Bytes.
Earlier this week I made a big batch of sunny and fresh Cumin Lime Coleslaw, but I didn’t intend to just eat coleslaw all week. So, I used the coleslaw as a topping for these super simple fish tacos. I love making tacos for dinner because they’re so easy, fresh, and not too heavy, which […]
The post Fish Tacos with Cumin Lime Slaw appeared first on Budget Bytes.
Earlier this week I made a big batch of sunny and fresh Cumin Lime Coleslaw, but I didn’t intend to just eat coleslaw all week. So, I used the coleslaw as a topping for these super simple fish tacos. I love making tacos for dinner because they’re so easy, fresh, and not too heavy, which is great when it’s 100 degrees outside. I like to keep my tacos pretty simple (in this case just fish, slaw, jalapeño, and avocado), but I’ve got some suggestions for extra toppings below if you want them! ;)
Originally posted 3-27-2015, updated 7-15-2021.
For these fish tacos, I seasoned some white fish filets with a simple mix of chili powder, cumin, garlic, and salt, then cooked them up quickly in a skillet. I topped them with tangy Cumin Lime Coleslaw, a slice of creamy avocado, and a couple super thin slices of jalapeño. It’s the perfect mix of earthy, spicy, creamy, and tangy.
I used cod fillets for my fish tacos because they have a mild flavor that can be easily paired with any seasoning or toppings. You could also use something like tilapia, halibut, mahi mahi, snapper, or grouper. I usually get the best prices on frozen fillets, and they usually come individually wrapped, so you can thaw as many as you need and keep the rest in the freezer for later.
Tacos are fun because you can get creative with the toppings. If you want to swap out some of the toppings I used for something else, or just want to add to what is listed in the recipe below, here are some ideas:
Corn tortillas are the traditional option for tacos, but go ahead and use whatever you like best. Cooking is about doing what works for you. So if you like flour tortillas or crunchy taco shells better or happen to have those on hand, use them. :) If you’re using corn tortillas, make sure to toast them before making your tacos so they get that deliciously toasty corn flavor (otherwise they kind of taste like nothing). And keep in mind that if you use larger tortillas you’ll get fewer tacos out of the ingredients listed below.
Two tacos does not a meal make, so here are some ideas for sides:
If you’re using corn tortillas you’ll want to toast them before making your tacos. This gives them more flavor and helps make them a bit more sturdy. I do this in a dry skillet over fairly high heat, but if you have a gas range you can do it right over an open flame (just a second or two on each side). You can keep them warm on a plate covered with foil.
Next, prepare the cumin lime coleslaw so it’s ready to go when the fish finishes cooking. To make the dressing, stir together 1 Tbsp lime juice, ¼ cup mayonnaise, ½ tsp cumin, ¼ tsp slat, ⅛ tsp cayenne, and ½ tsp sugar. Place ½ of a bag of coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots) in a bowl with 2 sliced green onions. Pour the dressing over top. You can also wait to pour the dressing over until just before serving, if preferred.
Stir to coat the vegetables in dressing, then refrigerate until ready to build your tacos.
Next, make the seasoning mix for the fish. Combine 2 tsp chili powder (this is a mild blend of chiles and other spices), ½ tsp ground cumin, ¼ tsp garlic powder, and ⅛ tsp salt. Cut 1 lb. fish into taco-sized pieces (in this case I had four fillets, so I cut each in half for one piece per taco). Season the fish on both sides with the prepared spice mix.
Heat ½ Tbsp cooking oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add half of the fish and cook for a few minutes on each side, or until cooked through (the fish will be opaque and easily flake when cooked). Repeat with a little more oil and the second batch of fish.
To build the tacos, place one piece of fish in each tortilla, add one slice of avocado, a small scoop of cumin lime coleslaw, and a couple slices of jalapeño.
If you have leftover lime from making the slaw, slice it into wedges to serve with the tacos.
Enjoy that summery goodness!
The post Fish Tacos with Cumin Lime Slaw appeared first on Budget Bytes.
You know when you’re eating something so delicious you just can’t stop saying, “Mmmmmm, so good!” That’s exactly what happened with these vegan BBQ bean tacos! They’re not to be missed.
Here’s the deets: Ready in 25 minutes with 10 basic ingredients. P…
You know when you’re eating something so delicious you just can’t stop saying, “Mmmmmm, so good!” That’s exactly what happened with these vegan BBQ bean tacos! They’re not to be missed.
Here’s the deets: Ready in 25 minutes with 10 basic ingredients. Plant-based and gluten-free. Packed with smoky, spicy BBQ flavor. Hearty and satisfying. Mega satisfying. And topped with optional (and highly recommended) Jicama Slaw and Guacamole!
Are you ready for the best healthy sandwich recipe? This Smashed Chickpea & Avocado Salad Sandwich is my all-time favorite. Two of my favorite ingredients, chickpeas and avocado, come together to create the most amazing salad sandwich. It is kind o…
Are you ready for the best healthy sandwich recipe? This Smashed Chickpea & Avocado Salad Sandwich is my all-time favorite. Two of my favorite ingredients, chickpeas and avocado, come together to create the most amazing salad sandwich. It is kind of a twist on egg salad, but there are no eggs involved. The creaminess comes…
The post Smashed Chickpea & Avocado Salad Sandwich appeared first on Two Peas & Their Pod.
Try this 3 ingredient watermelon sorbet recipe, a refreshingly icy summer dessert! Each bite is an explosion of pure juicy…
Try this 3 ingredient watermelon sorbet recipe, a refreshingly icy summer dessert! Each bite is an explosion of pure juicy fruit flavor.
Are you a sorbet fan? Then you absolutely must try summer’s best dessert: Watermelon Sorbet! I’ll admit, we’re chocoholics over here. But this sorbet is definitely up there when it comes to summer treats! Each bite is an explosion of pure juicy fruit flavor, with a smooth, frosty texture. When we made it for our 4 year old, he said, “I could eat this every day.” Even better: it’s incredibly simple to blend up!
Skip the store-bought stuff, because watermelon sorbet is so simple to make at home! All you need are 3 ingredients. In fact, it seems impossibly simple. Here are the ingredients you’ll need to assemble:
Why is the sugar needed? Well, when you freeze anything, it dulls the flavors. You’ll want to add just enough sugar so that the flavor pops when it’s frosty. We found this recipe sweetened it just enough to complement the fruit, but not so much that it’s intensely sweet.
An ice cream maker is the best tool for the job with sorbet! While you can make no churn sorbets, the absolute best texture is with an actual ice cream maker. (Trust us!) It’s a great investment, as you’ll be able to make sorbets and ice creams all season long.
Here’s the 2 quart ice cream maker we use. It’s a great gift idea, too! Use it as a housewarming present or a fun surprise for ice cream lovers. We’ve had ours for years and it holds up well!
Once you blend up your watermelon, lime, and sugar, you’re ready to churn! It takes about 20 to 25 minutes for the watermelon sorbet mixture to freeze. Here are a few notes about the process:
Here’s the golden rule when it comes to watermelon sorbet: homemade sorbet is best the day it is made. Why? Freezing homemade sorbet overnight freezes it into a solid block. So it’s best to eat when it’s freshest! You can eat leftovers the next day if you like: we’ve found a few tricks!
When it’s summer, we’re watermelon obsessed! There are so many great ways to serve this tasty melon outside of a summer dessert. Here are some favorites:
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Print
Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 0 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes 
Yield: Makes 1 quart (4 cups) Try this 3 ingredient watermelon sorbet recipe, a refreshingly icy summer dessert! Each bite is an explosion of pure juicy fruit flavor.
Category: Dessert
Method: Frozen
Cuisine: SorbetKeywords: Watermelon sorbet
A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.
We have big plans for summer, friends. Plans that include tacos (which are coming very soon and are totally swoon-worthy). And a taco isn’t a taco without delicious toppings, so we dreamt up a slaw using an often-underutilized vegetable that deserves s…
We have big plans for summer, friends. Plans that include tacos (which are coming very soon and are totally swoon-worthy). And a taco isn’t a taco without delicious toppings, so we dreamt up a slaw using an often-underutilized vegetable that deserves some more love: jicama!
This slaw caught us off guard with how delicious, fresh, and versatile it is! It includes a unique pairing of lime and balsamic vinegar for an equal balance of brightness, acidity, and subtle sweetness (trust us — sounds weird, but it totally works).
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe