Crispy Black Bean Skillet Tacos

If you stuff your tacos with a bit more than 1/4 cup of the filling, that's fine. You'll simply end up with five tacos instead of six.

Yield: 6 tacos

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups cooked black beans (may substitute Bob’s Red Mills cooked orca beans or a 15-ounce can of black beans, rinsed and drained)
3 tablespoons minced onion
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin (level, not rounded)
3/4 teaspoon chili powder*
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup shredded cheese, divided use (pepper jack, sharp cheddar or a Mexican blend are good options)
6 teaspoons olive oil, divided use for cooking (avocado oil works well, too)
6 (6-inch) corn tortillas (may substitute a 6-inch flour tortilla if preferred, although it will not be gluten-free)
Optional toppings: chopped avocado, salsa, hot sauce, chopped cilantro, Stonyfield plain Greek yogurt or sour cream

In a small bowl, combine the beans, onion, cumin, chili powder, and salt. Mash the ingredients together with a fork. (If you are a fan of cilantro, you can mix in 2 tablespoons, chopped.) Set aside along with the cheese.
Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a small (7-inch diameter works well), nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tortilla and allow it to cook for about 30 seconds to start the crisping process. Remove from the heat long enough to spread 1/4 cup of the bean mixture over one half of the tortilla. Then sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the cheese evenly over the beans, and return to the heat.
Using a spatula, carefully fold the unfilled half of the tortilla over the bean-filled half to form a taco-like shell. Press down lightly on the tortilla, and don’t worry if some of the filling oozes out. Just let it sear in the pan and eat alongside your taco or tuck it back in later. Let the taco cook until it is nicely browned and crispy, approximately 3 minutes per side. (As a precaution, peek underneath before 3 minutes is up to avoid burning.) Remove to a plate and serve with toppings of choice.
The cooked tacos may be placed on a baking sheet in a 200 degree F oven or toaster oven to keep warm while preparing the remaining tacos. The filling may also be stored in the refrigerator and used, one or two tacos at a time.

Beyond the crunchy exterior, the key to a delicious pan taco is a well-seasoned filling. Taste the bean mixture before cooking and add more salt or spice to taste.
The bean filling can be prepared in advance and refrigerated for use all at once or to provide several easy meals over 4 to 5 days. The mixture may also be frozen.
I have also made these tacos without the chili powder, using a combination of 1/2 teaspoon each smoked paprika and cumin instead. The next time I might use this combination plus 1/4-1/2 teaspoon chili powder. Feel free to play around with the combination…there are endless ways to enjoy.