Author Notes
I'm not sure about the rest of the country, but fried avocado tacos have taken Austin by storm. The delicious breading of crushed corn flakes, chile, and sesame seeds, was inspired by The Mighty Cone, a food truck on delightfully touristy South Congress. Get all the taco components together before you cut open your avocados- they fry up in a snap! I have included my favorite method of cooking pinto beans, but in a pinch you could certainly substitute canned.
Additionally, this recipe is gluten free provided that the corn flakes you buy are GF- the major brands aren't, so be careful! —arielleclementine
Test Kitchen Notes
WHO: arielleclementine is a mom, a home cook, and our very first Big Feast hostess.
WHAT: Tacos like you've never seen: creamy, crispy breaded avocado stands center stage, supported by a sesame cabbage slaw, cilantro-kissed crema, and salt pork-simmered pinto beans.
HOW: The different parts of the tacos stir together quickly and can be made ahead. Then it's just a matter of battering avocado wedges in corn flakes and frying away.
WHY WE LOVE IT: This is avocado like we've never seen: after a dip in hot oil, its simultaneously crunchy and soft textures had us in delicious disbelief. —The Editors
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Ingredients
- Fried Avocado Tacos
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1 cup
sour cream
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2 tablespoons
canola oil
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2
limes
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2
cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
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1
serrano pepper with seeds, chopped
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1
bunch cilantro leaves and tender stems (about 2 cups)
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1 teaspoon
kosher salt
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1/2
small green cabbage, cored and shredded
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2 teaspoons
toasted sesame oil
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3 tablespoons
sesame seeds, divided
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Pinch kosher salt
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Canola oil for frying
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2 cups
corn flakes
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1 teaspoon
aleppo chile flakes
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1 tablespoon
sugar
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1
egg, beaten
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2
ripe but firm-ish avocados
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Corn tortillas, warmed
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2 cups
cooked pinto beans, recipe follows or substitute canned
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1/2 cup
crumbled cotija cheese, for serving
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Lime wedges, for serving
- Creamy Pinto Beans
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1 pound
dried pinto beans, soaked overnight
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2
dried bay leaves
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3
garlic cloves, peeled
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1
piece of salt pork, about 3 ounces
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Kosher salt
Directions
- Fried Avocado Tacos
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Make the creamy cilantro sauce by combining the sour cream, canola oil, the juice of one of the limes, garlic, serrano, cilantro, and a teaspoon of kosher salt in a food processor. Process for 1-2 minutes, until the sauce is smooth and thin and a lovely shade of spring green.
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Make the cabbage slaw by combining the shredded cabbage with the juice of the second lime, the sesame oil, one tablespoon of sesame seeds, and a hefty pinch of kosher salt.
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Prepare the fried avocados. Pour enough canola oil into a cast iron skillet to come about an inch up the sides of the pan and heat over medium until the oil reaches around 375 degrees. Put the corn flakes in a zippered bag and crush with a rolling pin- you're looking for your largest flakes to be no bigger than panko bread crumbs. Combine the corn flakes with the chile flakes, the remaining two tablespoons of sesame seeds, sugar, and salt on a plate. Put the beaten egg in a shallow bowl. When your oil is hot, cut the avocados in half and remove the pits. Cut the halves in half again and pull the skin off the avocado quarters. One at a time, toss the avocado quarters in beaten egg and then in the corn flake mixture, and then drop gently into the hot oil. Fry, flipping once, until both sides of the avocados are golden brown and crispy, about 1-2 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
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Assemble the tacos. Top each corn tortilla with a handful of the cabbage slaw, a few spoon fulls of warm pinto beans, 1-2 pieces of fried avocado, the creamy cilantro sauce, and some crumbled cotija. Serve with extra lime wedges on the side.
- Creamy Pinto Beans
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Put the soaked beans in a large dutch oven and cover with two inches of cold water. Add the bay leaves, garlic, and salt pork, and then season the water with plenty of kosher salt (as much salt as you would use for pasta water- several tablespoons). Bring the pot to a boil over high heat and then lower the heat to low, cover, and simmer until the beans are done, 1-2 hours. Test your beans at the one hour mark by eating a few- they should be soft and creamy. When the beans are done, transfer two big ladles of beans and an extra ladle of broth to a blender and blend until smooth. Drain the rest of the liquid off the beans that are still in the pot, and then stir in the blended beans. This will make a creamy sauce for your beans.
I have always loved food. My favorite books as a kid always featured food (eg. The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies- so much candy!) and I loved cooking shows like Yan Can Cook and The Frugal Gourmet. I started cooking the Thanksgiving dinner for my family when I was 13 years old. I have food52 to thank for inspiring me to come up with my own recipes, as well as for introducing me to a community of fantastic cooks and their amazing recipes. I try my best to cook locally and seasonally, and I tend to prefer straightforward, simple recipes where the ingredients get to shine. I live in wonderful Austin, Texas with my husband, Andy (a video game programmer) and my son, Henry (an 8-month-old who loves to eat).
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