Mexican Veggies Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the corn, jalapenos, red onions and bell peppers.
• In a separate bowl, combine the chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and crushed red pepper. Mix together with a fork.
• Heat half the oil in a very large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the veggies and sprinkle with half the seasoning. Cook until blackened bits start to appear, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the skillet; repeat with the other half of the oil, veggies and seasoning. Return the first half of the veggies to the skillet and add the black beans and green chiles. Stir and continue cooking for 3 minutes. Use immediately or allow to cool, then package in smaller freezer bags or containers and freeze.
• To reheat, add 2 teaspoons or more of olive oil (depending on the quantity of vegetables) to a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add the desired amount of frozen vegetables. Cook, stirring frequently, until heated through, 5 to 7 minutes. The veggies can be used in a number of ways. Here are some serving suggestions.
• For soft tacos: Lay a warmed fajita-size flour tortilla on a board. Pile on 1/4 cup cooked taco chicken, top with 2 tablespoons shredded iceberg, 1 tablespoon grated Cheddar and a big spoonful of the Tex-Mex veggies.
• For veggie taco salad: Slice 1/2 head each of iceberg and romaine. Mix and spread the lettuce out on a platter to make a bed for the salad. Arrange 1 cup of the Tex-Mex veggies all over the lettuce. Sprinkle over 1/4 cup cotija cheese, dot on 1/4 cup salsa, top with 2 tablespoons sour cream and sprinkle over 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves.
• For quick quesadillas: Melt 2 tablespoons salted butter in a cast-iron skillet; add 1 burrito-size sun-dried tomato flour tortilla. Top with 1/4 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 cup of the Tex-Mex veggies, then a second tortilla. Cook for a minute, then flip and cook on the other side until the cheese is melted. Remove to a cutting board, cut into quarters and serve with 2 tablespoons pico de gallo, 2 tablespoons guacamole and a sprig of fresh cilantro.

Steps:

• Place 1 in. of water in a small saucepan; add zucchini and corn. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 3-4 minutes or until zucchini is almost tender. Drain. Stir in salsa; heat through.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine all of the ingredients.
• Beat till smooth and creamy.
• Cover and refrigerate several hours, till flavors are blended.
• Serve with assorted raw veggies or tortilla chips.

Steps:

• Pack onion, fresno and carrots into a 1-qt. heatproof jar or a nonreactive container. Toast peppercorn and allspice berries in a dry large saucepan over medium heat, tossing constantly, until just fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add vinegar, sugar, salt and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar and salt. Remove from heat and stir in bay leaf, oregano, lemon zest, lemon juice, and garlic. Let cool slightly, then pour brine over onion, fresno and carrots to submerge. Seal jar and chill at least 3 hours before serving. The flavor will mellow as it sits.
• Do Ahead: Vegetables can be pickled 3 weeks ahead. Keep chilled.

Steps:

• Chop whole onion.
• Heat nonstick skillet until it is very hot; reduce heat to medium-high, and add oil. Saute onion until it begins to soften.
• Wash, trim and slice zucchini into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Add to onion after onion has softened, and continue to stir-fry.
• Wash, trim and seed green pepper and jalapeno; chop green pepper and mince jalapeno, and add to vegetables as they cook.
• Wash, trim and coarsely cube tomatoes. When vegetables have softened, stir in the tomatoes and season. Simmer a few minutes longer, and serve over polenta (see below). If there is not enough liquid, add a few tablespoons of water.