Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a great week. Mine had an unexpected, but wonderful start–my roommate and I decided to foster a kitten! He’s been battling a virus for a few weeks and wasn’t able to fight it at the shelter. We’re hoping that he’ll get better soon now that he’s in a home and away from other cats. Though we’ve only had the little guy one week, I have a feeling I’m going to want to keep him. :)
On to the tacos–I know, quinoa again, right? I’d already made the ground turkey and quinoa, and had a large bag of kale, so I decided to combine the ingredients and make tacos. And believe it or not, it worked!
Recipe (makes 12-15 tacos):
1 lb. ground turkey
1 tsp. cumin, plus more or less to taste
1/2 tsp. cayenne, plus more or less to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup Trader Joe’s Organic Tricolor Quinoa
7 oz. (1 container) Fage plain Greek yogurt
Juice of 1 lime
1 tsp. honey
Salt, to taste
5 oz. (1/2 bag) Trader Joe’s pre-packaged kale
Olive oil spray
Salt and pepper
Mild or spicy salsa
Corn tortillas
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add ground turkey and cook about 10 minutes, or until done. Add cumin, cayenne and salt and pepper. Strain turkey.
While turkey is cooking, bring a large pot of water and 1 cup quinoa to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook quinoa 10-12 minutes, or until fluffy and all water absorbs. Remove from heat.
Spread kale out evenly on baking sheet. Lightly spray kale with olive oil (too much oil will make them soggy), then season with salt and pepper. Cook kale in oven for about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned and crispy. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes.
Warm corn tortillas on stove top, or microwave for 10-12 seconds.
To prepare tacos: Lay warm corn tortillas flat, then top with ground turkey, quinoa, Greek yogurt sauce, salsa and kale chips. Repeat steps for all tacos. Serve hot.
(Side note: Do not make kale chips ahead, as they do not store well and get soggy).
I could not foster kittens. I would never let them leave and I’d become a serious cat lady.
What an unusual combination, I’m bookmarking this to try…and you HAVE to keep that kitten :)
The flavors actually worked well together…I decided to add the salsa because the tacos were a bit bland without the kick of spice. and I’m pretty positive I’m keeping him. :)
Yum, love quinoa in just about anything!
Sometimes our best dishes are made with what we have…I’m sure your tacos were good and we know that they are healthy.
aw, look at that kitty!!!! SO CUTE! hehe. And these tacos look so good. What a great idea to add quinoa to it! Such a good combo :)
What a cute kitty!
We had throw together tacos last night too. We do that a lot. These look fantastic.
This is just awesome!!! Yummy :) :)
I have a blog too on wordpress! It’s not about food, but fashion :) If you want to have a look at it, it would be so great!! :)
http://mystylerecipe.com
I love the combo and more quinoa recipes, please!
Your kitty looks so cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute!
Great tacos! Cute kitten. You should keep him!!
Grat taco recipe, Caroline. Adding the crispy kale is a fantastic idea, so much better than chopped iceberg lettuce. We all know that kitten is yours. There’s no way you — or anyone — could give him up.
Welcome home, Li’l Buddy!
Thanks, John! haha yeah, I pretty much knew I was going to keep him after day one. He’s just way too sweet to let go!
Wow is is a nice and healthy taco recipe
Certainly works for me..
Tacos + cute kitty = my undying love for you!
Your new charge is gorgeous, Caroline.
Good luck!
hey I can throw things together- no problem- especially if the outcome looks like yours!
Looks delicious. Your photos are beautiful. Coming over from your FB page! Would love for you to join us this week on our Foodie Friends Friday linky party on my blog! Come share your beautiful food with us!
Healthy and delicious I’m sure. Will make it for the wife. :-)
Gorgeous pics Caroline! Simply beautiful! :) I have never thought about making quinoa tacos. You are a culinary genius. Yay to adopting a new cat. You are so sweet and that little cutie looks like he/she needs some tender love and care.
Sounds like a wonderful lunch or light dinner. I love all your yummy ingredients!
Hi, love your blog!
Your kitty looks like he may have some herpesvirus conjunctivitis. I would take him to your local vet and get the eye looked at. Just make sure he is still eating and drinking well.
Love the tacos by the way :)
– Your faithful veterinarian follower :)
Hi Ashley, thank you!! This picture was taken the day I picked him up from the shelter, and he’s been to the vet twice now–slowly but surely figuring out what’s wrong with him! The vet did a blood panel this past weekend and said it’s some sort of bacterial infection, so hopefully kitty will be better very soon!! He’s definitely an eater, that’s for sure. :)
the tacos look DEEElish, but I want the kitten. OMGosh. I LOVE. X meoww
This is such a great idea, Caroline – I bet that kale adds such a great crunch!
The food looks amazing, but, more importantly, the kitten is ADORABLE!