One Recipe, Two Ways: Spicy Thai Tacos
Hi guys,
First of all, I want to offer you all a huge thank you for your entries into the spiralizer contest!!! I am blown away by your interest!!!! Keep the entries coming (and bloggers, don’t forget to link to the contest on your site and email me the link!).
It’s no exaggeration to say that the past few weeks of blogging have changed my life. I have been so touched by the kind feedback I’ve gotten from readers, the friendship that’s been extended to me within the blogging community, and, most of all, the excitement with which you all are talking about raw foods! It delights me to know that enthusiasm for raw is growing all across the country, and regardless of peoples’ varying culinary backgrounds. I really hope that I’m making a small contribution to the rising tide of raw excitement. To all of you who have told me that you’re experimenting with raw foods, please, keep it up! I am so proud of you.
On to the food. You’ll no doubt have noticed by now that I’m a simple gal at dinnertime: I like food that’s minimally prepared and comes together in a flash. I also love foods or recipes that lend themselves to a variety of preparation methods, and the spicy avocado dressing I featured on Thursday night is one of them. I had about half a cup of this dressing left over, along with some spiralized veggies I had put in the accompanying salad (I wasn’t home last night, which is why they haven’t been eaten sooner). Tonight I decided to put them all to good use in romaine lettuce tacos. The “tacos” consisted of:
½ sliced avocado
Meat of ½ a young coconut
Leftover sliced veggies
3 large romaine leaves as “shells”
I drizzled the dressing over the tacos and served them alongside a romaine, cucumber, and pepper salad, tossed with avocado chunks. The whole meal was simple, light, and summery! Here it is:
A close up of the “taco”:
Romaine tacos, by the way, are just as versatile as collard wraps. They make for great portable lunches and easy dinners. Best of all , you needn’t make them 100% raw to enjoy: try stuffing them with a sunshine or other veggie burger, some refried beans, hummus, corn and sweet potatoes (a personal favorite) or any other filling you love!
A few things of note in the blog world:
1) Gina, the Fitnessista, is giving away a copy of the very fabulous Ani Phyo’s new dessert book! Check it out!
2) Heather (of Hangry Pants) wrote a terrific post on what constitutes healthy eating here, while another lovely Heather (of Heather Eats Almond Butter) wrote a great post on how there’s no such thing as a “perfect diet.” Thanks, Heathers, for your smart and reasonable thoughts on healthy eating habits.
3) My good friend and fellow blogger VeggieGirl made a courageous and intelligent video post about a recent rash of mean-spiritedness in the blog world. I applaud her for calling attention to bullying in what should be an open-minded community of readers and writers. Thanks, VeggieGirl, for speaking up.
I’m very excited for my lunch date with April of Raw Food Passion tomorrow, who’s on her way to NYC from Hotlanta. Have a wonderful night, everyone! xo
27 Responses to “One Recipe, Two Ways: Spicy Thai Tacos”
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Not only does she have great advice when I am struggling, but her realistic approach helped me make major changes despite having no time and limited funds. Her recipes and ideas are for real people with lives beyond their diets, and they are great. Gena is down to earth and non-judgmental. She strikes a great balance between encouraging me to go a little father but to keep things in perspective and have fun with the process.
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Some of you have asked me whether it’s wiser to buy a juicer or a Vitamix.
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Those look SO good. I love spicy avocado in Japanese food, and the combination with coconut sounds like heaven.
Hey Katie! I am lovin’ your blog
I am pretty much a whore for anything involving avocados. And coconuts. As you can see!
Love love love raw tacos!! Romaine lettuce is my favorite wrap!
Thanks for all the links, I am checking out that contest right now!
How fun meeting blogger friends, you will probably be the first I meet! I am a blogger friend virgin! Haha!
Haha. I’ll be honored to, um, be your first!
I made romaine tacos for lunch one day last week, and they were so good! I am loving all of your raw food ideas!
Yay! That is awesome Laura! I’m so happy you like my tips
this is real great !
ilike to add abit of soy sauce or fresh ginger ( just abit)
The fresh ginger is totally great: I love ginger in anything!
Great post!
Thanks Shel!
The whole meal was simple, light, and summery!
LOL, because as soon as I saw the top photo you posted, the same thought went through my head. Hand to God! I could eat a simple meal like this every night in the summertime. So refreshing on a hot, sticky day.
Okay, I’m a wee bit jealous that you’re meeting and lunching with April today. You gals have FUN and, please, give her a BIG hug from me.
oooh those tacos look incredible! i want to make some as soon as i get some coconuts. i’m sure they would be great without them, but a little thai coconut makes everything better
thanks for the lovely shout out <3
have a wonderful day!
These tacos look amaznig Gena!!!
Thanks so much, J!
I did not think I would ever come across another avocado freak as dedicated to them as I am
Looks wonderful. I love romaine wraps.
I will definitely be entering the contest as soon as I get a new post up on my blog!
Yay! thanks.
Hi Gena. I’ve been reading your blog, and I love it probably as much as you do writing it! About a month ago, I started dabbling in having a greater raw food diet due some digestive and malabsorption problems. I’ve invested in a quality juicer (which I LOVE!) and dehydrator to help me have some more variety in venturing toward a raw diet. I’m hoping to go more and more raw, but I don’t think that 100% isn’t the right thing for me to do at this point. Your site has given me some great ideas and lots of information. I look forward to reading more information and recipes you have to offer! Thanks! – Nancy
Hi Nancy!
This email means so much to me! I’m really thrilled that you’ve been experimenting with raw foods, and, most importantly, that you went ahead and invested in a juicer! That is a huge, amazing step! Good for you.
As I hope I make really clear, it’s not about being 100% raw. It’s about being as raw as you can be, in a way that enriches your life. Enjoy, and please keep me posted!
Gena
Gena,
Gosh I wish I lived in NYC so that I could come over for dinner. Those tacos look perfect to me. I tried the raw collard greens, but they were just too bitter. Should I keep trying? Maybe, I’ll just stick to Romaine.
Thanks for the shout out my friend. So loving your blog!!!!!
Hey Heather!
I would steam the collard if they aren’t doin’ it for you! It’s an acquired taste. Lacinato kale leaves are also great, and milder tasting, but don’t be ashamed to go with romaine if that’s what works for you!!
I am so glad they look tasty!
Thye tacos look like the perfect kind of thing for a transitioning raw foodist!
Thanks for linking to my post. I wish I could write a post about it every day!!!
That looks just heavenly
Cheers,
Kristen
Thanks, sweetie
Oh my gosh! I can’t wait to try raw zucchini spaghetti! I am going to link to you on my blog!
Hey Katrina!
Thanks for the awesome response! I’m linking you, too
Gena
Hi Gena! This is such a great idea ~ I might just switch in coconut meat next time I find myself fancying a fish taco. I come away wonderfully inspired everytime I visit you. Thank you
Emily.