Nina Knows Food

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Fiesta Tempeh Wraps (The Runner Up!)

Remember that Instagram poll from last weekend? No? That's OK. I was having some serious takeout cravings but decided to take to the kitchen instead! The beef lettuce wraps won (see the previous post for those delightfully colorful morsels) but I want to help out my non-meat-eaters too!

Here's what you'll need to make my fiesta tempeh wraps [makes enough for a single meal & lots of leftovers!]:

Fillings:

  • 2 TBS olive oil (split; for the pan)
  • 1/2 red onion, chopped
  • 2 small zucchini squash, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, diced finely
  • 1 tsp cumin, split
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika, split
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 8-ounce package unseasoned tempeh, sliced into 1/2-inch thick pieces (see picture for reference)
  • Refried black beans (I bought a 15-ounce can refried black beans and what I didn't use, I put into tupperware for meals during the week)

Toppings:

  • Sliced radish
  • Sliced avocado
  • Chopped cilantro
  • Sliced lime

Wraps:

  • Any kind you want! I used 2 Siete almond flour wraps per meal—you can find these at Whole Foods or small health food stores

Method:

In a large skillet or sauté pan over low-medium heat, heat 1 TBS olive oil. Add red onion, zucchini, garlic, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp paprika, and salt. Cook until the onion and zucchini are soft, about 5-7 minutes, depending on the strength of your burner. When the onion and zucchini mixture is cooked (soft and almost caramelized), transfer into a bowl and set aside. This makes about 1 1/2 cups cooked zucchini.

With the pan still over low-medium heat, add the remaining 1 TBS olive oil to the pan. Place tempeh slices in the pan, close to each other but not touching. If it doesn't all fit, no worries, you can repeat the cooking process with remaining tempeh.

Cook on one side for 3-4 minutes until browned, then with a pair of tongs, flip each slice over and cook on the other side for 3-4 minutes until browned. Add remaining 1/2 tsp each of cumin and smoked paprika, and salt to taste. When tempeh is browned on both sides, transfer to a plate and set aside. 

Now it's time to prepare the wraps! Place two wraps on a plate. Spread 1 TBS refried black beans on each wrap, leaving room around the edges. Add as much or as little zucchini mixture on to the wraps as you want, or you can have it on the side. Add 2-3 slices of tempeh to each wrap, and top with sliced radish, avocado, and cilantro. Squeeze wedge of lime over wraps to finish them off!

What's awesome about these wraps is having all of these different components that you can use to make different meals... try breakfast-for-dinner wraps with refried black beans, scrambled eggs, and zucchini; or a deconstructed taco salad with sliced tempeh, refried black beans, avocado, and radishes served over greens. The possibilities really are endless!