How the filling stays fresh and substantial
These tacos combine quickly sautéed vegetables with black beans, corn, creamy avocado and fresh lime. Cooking the filling until most of its moisture evaporates keeps the tortillas intact and gives the vegetables better flavor.
Corn tortillas, beans and avocado
Small corn tortillas give a clear toasted-corn flavor and are easiest to handle when warmed. Rinse and drain the black beans and sweetcorn thoroughly so the filling fries rather than steams. Choose an avocado that yields slightly near the stem but is not soft all over.
Cooking vegetables before adding beans
Drain the beans and corn thoroughly, and have every topping ready before warming the tortillas. Avocado browns after cutting, so slice it last and coat it with a little lime juice.
Preventing wet filling and split tortillas
Let vegetable moisture evaporate before adding the beans and corn. Warm tortillas one by one and keep them wrapped in a clean towel; cold corn tortillas crack when folded. Do not overfill them. A modest spoonful leaves room for avocado, lime and coriander without everything falling out.
Toppings and spice variations
Add mushrooms, sweet potato or leftover roasted vegetables. Crumbled feta, grated cheese, salsa or pickled onion are useful extras. Kidney beans can replace black beans.
Warming and filling tortillas
Set the filling, tortillas and toppings on the table separately so everyone can assemble their own. Rice or a cabbage slaw stretches the meal for four people.
Storing filling separately
Refrigerate the cooked filling for up to 3 days. Store tortillas and toppings separately. Reheat the filling in a frying pan and cut fresh avocado just before eating.