Tacos
Vegetarian Taco
Warm corn tortillas filled with smoky mashed black beans, roasted sweet potato and sweet corn. Queso fresco and quick-pickled red onions add a bright finish.
- Prep time
- 15 minutes
- Cook time
- 35 minutes
- Makes
- 8 large or 16 small tacos
Estimated total time: 50 minutes.

Let’s make it.
Quick-pickle the onions.
Put the sliced onion in a heatproof bowl or jar. Bring the vinegar, ¼ cup water, sugar and ½ teaspoon salt to a gentle simmer, stirring to dissolve. Pour over the onions and press them into the liquid. Let stand for about 30 minutes while you prepare the rest of the meal.
Roast the sweet potato.
Heat the oven to 425°F. Toss the sweet potato cubes with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a little salt and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for about 25–35 minutes, turning halfway through, until tender in the center and golden at the edges.
Make the smoky beans.
Combine the beans, ¼ cup water, chopped chipotle, adobo sauce and cumin in a saucepan. Warm over medium-low heat for about 5–7 minutes, stirring and roughly mashing with a spoon until thick and spreadable. Season to taste and keep warm, adding a splash of water if they become too dry.
Warm the corn and tortillas.
Heat the remaining tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the corn and cook for 3–5 minutes, until heated through, then transfer to a bowl. Warm the tortillas on a separate dry skillet for about 30–60 seconds per side, until hot and flexible.
Build the tacos.
Spread each tortilla with some of the mashed black beans. Add roasted sweet potato and corn, then finish with queso fresco and drained pickled onions. Divide the same filling among sixteen 4-inch tortillas for smaller tacos and serve immediately.
From the kitchen
- Original and Turmeric corn tortillas both work. Keep the sweet potato cubes small for easy filling and folding.
- You can use about ½ cup ready-made pickled red onions instead of making the quick pickle; omit its vinegar, water, sugar and salt.
- Start with half the chipotle if you prefer a milder bean filling.
The basics
Get to know your tortillas.
Explore three heating methods, freezing and thawing advice, and tips for cooking with corn tortillas.
Cooking with tortillas