Fit for a Fiesta

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by Hannah (BitterSweet)
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Funny how holidays tend to sneak up on a person, even when the date is baked into the name itself. Cinco de Mayo is largely an excuse for day drinking here in the states, but it would truly be a shame to let it pass without indulging in a bit of edible hedonism as well. Someone who was more prepared, or at least aware of the rapidly advancing calendar, might have shared something suitable with enough time to plan, prepare, and lock down a party game plan before the actual date.

I am not that person.

However, I don’t need to be, and neither do you! Not only are these spicy appetizers compulsively munchable, they’re effortless to throw together at the drop of a sombrero. Modeled after meatballs but inspired by tacos, each bite-sized morsel turns the classically meaty, spicy, typically messy dish into dainty finger food. No more crumbly taco shells dumping their contents all over your white pants; crushing tortillas into a crunchy coating allows them to remain perfectly crisp, yet intact and firmly adhered from plate to palate.

Clear your schedule, call up all your friends, and start crushing ice for a boatload of frozen margaritas; there’s a party brewing as soon as you preheat the oven.

Yield: Makes About 20 Bites

Taco Bites

Taco Bites

Modeled after meatballs but inspired by tacos, each bite-sized morsel turns the classically meaty, spicy, typically messy dish into easy finger food.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 12-Ounce Package Vegan Beef Crumbles or Crumbled Tempeh
  • 1/2 Cup Black Beans, Roughly Mashed or Refried Pinto Beans
  • 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
  • 1 Clove Garlic, Finely Minced
  • 1/4 Cup Yellow Cornmeal
  • 1 1/2 Teaspoons Chili Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
  • 1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1/2 Cup Aquafaba
  • 1/3 Cup Fresh Cilantro, Minced
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 Cup Finely Crushed Tortilla Chips
  • Salsa, to Serve

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  2. Place your meatless crumbles of choice in the food processor, along with the beans, tomato paste, garlic, cornmeal, chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Pulse briefly to combine, but be careful not to over-blend. You want to break down the crumbles a bit but still leave a lot of texture here. Introduce the aquafaba, cilantro, and salt next, pulsing once more to incorporate. Blend just until you achieve a cohesive, meaty dough.
  3. Scoop out balls the size of walnuts and roll them in the crushed tortilla chips, completely coating the exteriors. Place each ball on your prepared baking sheet and repeat the process until you’ve used up all of the central mixture.
  4. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes, until the balls are firm and evenly browned. Serve hot, alongside your favorite salsa and an icy cold beverage.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

20

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 59Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 209mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 2gSugar: 0gProtein: 6g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimates.

© Hannah Kaminsky
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Starters and Snacks

13 thoughts on “Fit for a Fiesta”

  3. […] Funny how holidays tend to sneak up on a person, even when the date is baked into the name itself. Cinco de Mayo is largely an excuse for day drinking here in the states, but it would truly be a shame […]

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