Good Food Reads: A Taste of the Southwest

My recent vacation to Arizona was filled with great food, and I’ll readily admit that I’m hooked on the flavors of the Southwest.  What better time to do a recipe round up featuring the amazing Taste of the Southwest?  These talented bloggers have allowed me to share their amazing Southwestern recipes with you!  From dips to tacos to casseroles to enchiladas, this edition of Good Food Reads: A Taste of the Southwest has it all!

Chipotle, cumin, cilantro, cheese, black beans, corn, cinnamon-these all combine to compose the Taste of the Southwest.  Follow along and we’ll give you some great recipes to make in your own kitchens, even if you live nowhere near the Southwest!  Warning: you may want some chips and salsa with you while you are reading this post, as it is going to make you really hungry!

 

Appetizers and Dips:

Vegan Queso Blanco Mexican White Cheese Dip from Veggies Don’t Bite.  We start the Taste of the Southwest with a vegan dip that has all of the flavors of the Southwest.  Cashews and potatoes combine to form the perfect texture (sounds crazy, but it’s true!). Plant based eating is all the rage, and probably much healthier for you, so try this one out!

 

Not interested in a vegan queso?  How about this Cowboy Queso from The Cozy Cook? Melted cheese, tomatoes, beans and cilantro combine to create a queso that is great with chips.  Or a spoon, we’re not picky here!

 

Fresh veggies, three kinds of beans, and fresh corn combine to create this vegetarian Smoky Cilantro Lime Mexican Bean Dip by Veggie Inspired. Although technically a dip, this one is good enough to eat as a salad or a side dish!  Perfect for your next backyard barbecue or neighborhood potluck.

 

I had to include something just a little different.  Like these Southwestern Potstickers with Lime Cilantro Sour Cream by Platings and Pairings.  I love potstickers and I love the taste of the Southwest, so this is the perfect fusion cuisine for me. Plus lime cilantro sour cream?  Yes Please.

 

TACOS, TAQUITOS, AND TOSTADAS:

Tacos for the vegetarian in your life?  Look no further than these Instant Pot Black Bean Tacos with Avocado Crema from our own blog.  Full of protein and vitamins from the butternut squash, these easy tacos are also full of flavor! The black bean taco filling is also easy to make ahead, so these are perfect for your busy weeknights. (Bonus: these are easily made vegan as well)

 

Again from our own blog, these Fish Tacos with Chipotle Crema are easy and flavorful. Not sure about fish tacos?  These tacos with a mild whitefish and an easy chipotle crema are a great place to start. I’m pretty sure you’ll be a fan!

 

I don’t know about you, but I love taquitos.  Especially dipped in Avocado Crema or sour cream! These Easy Oven Baked Taquitos by the Nerdy Mamma may be my new go to.  I know my kids will thank me!

 

Again from our very own blog, these Pulled Pork Sopes are absolutely delicious. I make them up at my cabin where everyone can heap their favorite toppings onto the delicious fried corn “boats”.  Don’t forget the Cilantro Lime Sauce, it is MAGIC!

 

For a light, fresh, summer treat, try these Sweet Corn, Zucchini, and Chicken Tostadas from With Two Spoons.  The perfect use of summer veggies on a crispy torn tortilla. Qué Excelente!

 

SOUPS:

Maybe it’s because we live in Minneapolis, maybe it is because Mother Nature is playing cruel, cruel tricks on us, but it feels like this has been the NEVER ENDING WINTER.  Crock Pot Southwestern Corn Chowder with Chicken and Chicken and Green Chiles would be the perfect lunch or dinner for this cozy weather.

 

Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken Soup is one of our favorite soups.  Easy and quick to make, nutritious and full of flavor, this one is sure to please.  Don’t have an Instant Pot yet?  Let us entice you with some of our other Instant Pot recipes, we love our Instant Pots!

 

SEASONING:

Store bought taco seasonings are full of preservatives and fillers.  Making your own using only pure spices is easy and so much better.  This Taco Seasoning from Wholesome Yum is the perfect recipe to build your own jar of taco seasoning.  Use it on beef, fish, chicken, beans, pretty much anything!  Yum is right!

 

ENCHILADAS:

I love ancho chiles.  And I love gorgeous photos.  And this post has BOTH!!  Homemade Ancho Chile Enchilada Sauce for Beef and Bean Enchiladas delivers. I love homemade enchilada sauce and even better if it’s made with ancho chiles.  I think we should all make this one this weekend. Who’s in?

 

I am not a vegetarian, but I certainly appreciate plant based eating, and I am trying to incorporate more of it into my life.  I’ve been hearing a ton about jackfruit lately, and even saw it in my grocery store last week.  Enter these Jackfruit Enchiladas by White Coat Pink Apron.  A new way to do plant based eating.

 

Mexican Street Corn is one of my favorite foods of all times.  We even have a recipe for Mexican Street Corn on our blog. But these Mexican Street Corn Enchiladas by Three Olives Branch are truly next level.  I would do just about anything to have some of these right now.  Just about anything.

 

Clearly I really wanted to talk about enchiladas. Lots and lots of recipes for enchiladas! These Beef Enchiladas by Longbourne Farm also look amazing. Cheesy, beefy, and the best part?  Black olives on top!  Delish!

 

SANDWICHES:

OMG.  This photo.  Swoon. This burger, which doesn’t contain a speck of meat, looks AMAZING.  The Southwestern Sweet Potato Quinoa Burger by Killing Thyme has my name written all over it. If this is plant based eating, count me in!

 

Mmmm….fried chicken.  What would a blog post about the Taste of the Southwest be without some fried chicken?  Like this Southwest Fried Chicken Sandwich by Salt and Lavender.  Complete with fried jalapeños and a lime cilantro sauce.  Yes please.

 

QUICK AND EASY:

I’m a big fan of avocado toast ever since Holly made me a simple version with avocado and sea salt a few years ago.  This avocado toast is a more complex version with cherry tomatoes, corn and beans. A whole meal on a piece of toast!  Southwestern Avocado Toast by Healthier Steps is a quick and easy way to eat all of your veggies!

 

Although not quite as easy as avocado toast, this Mexican Chicken Casserole by Taste and See is far easier than rolling up individual enchiladas-with all of the great flavor!  Plus look at how beautiful this is!

 

This looks like the easiest dinner idea!  Enchilada Style Baked Chicken by The Harvest Kitchen is chicken breasts with goodies literally dumped on top and covered with cheese.  Anyone can make this one!  So simple, yet so flavorful! And we LOVE simple recipes!

 

I’m a big fan of the bowl.  Quinoa bowls, rice bowls, poke bowls, bowls of ice cream, I love food in bowls.  These Quinoa Burrito Bowls with Fajita Veggies are no exception.  Plenty of fresh tastes and textures, finished off with a dollop of guacamole.  Perfect for your lunch today!

 

AND TO FINISH IT OFF:

I love my friend Elaina at The Rising Spoon.  She gets me.  Obviously.  Because she created these Blood Orange Margaritas and I can’t think of a better way to finish off a Southwestern style meal.  Plus blood oranges are just so, so beautiful.

 

Last but not least, we will finish strong with these Cinnamon Churro Cupcakes by With Two Spoons.  Perfect to bring to a picnic or barbecue.  Reminiscent of the cinnamon-y, crunch-y, fried churros found in Mexican restaurants-without the fried part.  Enjoy!

 

(A special thank you to the supremely talented bloggers who allowed me to use their delicious recipes and amazing photos in this Good Food Reads: Taste of the Southwest edition.  All photos in this post are courtesy of the blogger whose recipe we are discussing.)

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