Prepare the pumpkin: peel it (if using butternut) and cut it into cubes about 1.5 cm. Preheat the oven to 200°C (top and bottom heat). In a bowl, mix the pumpkin with half of the rapeseed oil (15 g), 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika (2 g), a pinch of salt (1 g), and a little pepper. Spread it in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Description
Autumnal, plant-based tacos with black beans, roasted pumpkin, and velvety green avocado salsa — perfect for a Halloween table. The dish combines the creamy texture of avocado, the sweetness of caramelized pumpkin, and the depth of spices (cumin, smoked paprika). Serve with toasted corn tortillas, lime, and fresh cilantro. The dish is hearty, visually contrasting (orange of the pumpkin, black accent of the beans, green salsa) and works great as a main dish for a Halloween party — it can easily be served buffet-style, where everyone assembles their own tacos.
Ingredients Used
Ingredients (15)
- Corn tortilla 10.7 pcs (~320 g)
- Black beans 400 g
- Pumpkin 300 g
- Onion 1 pcs (~150 g)
- Red bell pepper 0.8 pcs (~150 g)
- Garlic 2 clove (~10 g)
- Rapeseed oil 30 g
- Cumin 2 g
- Avocado 2 pcs (~400 g)
- Lime 1.5 pcs (~75 g)
- 🌿 Spices
- Smoked paprika 1 tsp (~2 g)
- Salt 2 g
- Black pepper 4 pinch (~2 g)
- Dill 1.5 bunch (~30 g)
- ✨ Optional
- Sour cream 100 g
💡 Click an ingredient to mark it as used
Preparation steps
Filling
Place the pumpkin in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the edges are slightly caramelized and soft (check with a fork — it should go in with slight resistance, without completely mashing the pumpkin). During baking, halfway through the time, flip the pieces with a spatula to ensure they brown evenly.
While the pumpkin is baking, chop the onion into small cubes and the pepper into strips. Heat a pan (preferably 26 cm in diameter) over medium heat, add a tablespoon of oil (15 g). When the oil starts to shimmer slightly (about 30 seconds), add the onion and sauté for 4-6 minutes until it becomes translucent and slightly golden.
Add the bell pepper and sauté with the onion for 3-4 minutes until it softens. Add the minced garlic (10 g) and sauté for 30-45 seconds until the garlic aroma appears — do not let it brown.
Add the drained black beans (400 g) to the pan with the vegetables. Season with cumin (2 g), the remaining smoked paprika (if any), salt (1 g), and pepper. Sauté for 5-7 minutes over medium heat, stirring to ensure the beans are well combined with the spices. If the filling is dry, add 1-2 tablespoons of water.
Avocado salsa
Prepare the salsa: cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, and scoop the flesh into a bowl with a spoon. Mash with a fork to a smooth but slightly chunky consistency. Add the juice of the whole lime (75 g), finely chopped half a bunch of cilantro (15 g), 1 g of salt, and freshly ground pepper to taste. Gently mix.
Taste the salsa and season with an additional 0.5-1 g of salt or a splash of lime juice if needed. If you want a creamier effect, you can add 1 tablespoon of sour cream (optional).
Assembling and Serving
Heat the tortillas: heat a dry skillet (without oil) over medium heat and warm each tortilla for 20-30 seconds on each side, until brown spots appear and the tortilla is flexible. You can cover the tortillas with a cloth to keep them soft.
On the center of a heated tortilla, place 2-3 tablespoons of the bean and vegetable filling, add a few cubes of roasted pumpkin (about 3-4 cubes), 1-2 tablespoons of avocado salsa, and sprinkle with fresh cilantro. Fold the tacos in half or serve them open. Serve with lime wedges.
Additional Halloween tips: you can lightly char the edges of the tortillas (over the flame of a kitchen burner or on a dry skillet) to achieve dark, slightly burnt accents that will give the dish a spooky appearance. Additionally, serve a bowl of sour cream as a dipping element (optional).
Fun Fact
Beans and corn are among the oldest food staples in both Americas; the addition of squash creates the so-called "three sisters," a traditional combination cultivated by Indigenous peoples of North America.
Best for
Tips
Serve the tacos immediately after assembling so that the tortillas remain flexible. Provide extra lime wedges, a bowl of cilantro, and optionally sour cream. For a Halloween effect, decorate the platter with roasted pumpkin seeds and small black olive decorations as 'eyes'.
Store the filling and salsa separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. It's best to reheat the tortillas in a dry skillet. Use the avocado salsa within 24 hours (avocado darkens) — to delay browning, drizzle the surface with extra lime juice.
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