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Roasted, spiced, cauliflowerโฆpan fried Halloumiโฆtogether in a taco topped with spicy avocado basil salsa. <โyes, simply the best veggie taco ever!
Seriously you guys, I am in love with these tacos. Theyโre my new favorite veggie loaded taco.
I am obsessedโฆ
I know, I know โ surprise, surprise, I am obsessed with yet another recipe. But itโs true! I feel like these tacos are so me. Loaded with every possible flavor, a mix of both Mexican and Mediterranean cuisine, healthy, but yet cheese is still involved, and a title so long that only I could put it out to the world to view. Yup. This is a Tieghan recipe for sure.
When we were deciding on the cover of the HBH cookbook. Everyone involved wasย about 98% sold on a giant bowl of pasta for the cover. My thought was how the heck could you go wrong with pasta, itโs always a winner. But when everyone sat down for one last look, my editor expressed that she didnโt feel as though the photo represented everything that I was aboutโฆfun, flavorful, and colorfulย recipes. And that right there is when I realized she totally got me. Iโm not one for a colorless recipe and I like my recipes to be loaded.
Soo ahhh, where am I going with this? I donโt really know, but the point is that this here taco recipe is totally ME, and that is why I am so obsessed with it.
OK. So now that I did my mass amount of totally off topic rambles for the day, let me actually tell you about these tacos!
Iโm not sure where the idea came from originally, but I know I had the title of the recipe before I actually knew exactly what was going to be involved in the recipe. A lot of times, a recipe title will come to mind and then I build the recipe out from there. I love when this happens because these recipes seem to be some of my favorites!
Iโve made cauliflower tacos before, but todayโs taco is different. The cauliflower gets spiced up, roasted, and then tossed with some black beans for an extra protein factor. The key players here though are the โfriedโ Halloumi cheese and the salsa/guacamole/pestoโฆIโm not sure which name fits better, but I went with salsa because guacamole was too long and pesto didnโt seem quite right for a taco, so salsa it is!
Anyway, Iโm going to go out and say that the cheese is what makes these tacos. I mean, ummmm itโs pan fried cheese. What could not be awesome about thatโฆand in a taco?! Just so many yesssesssssss to that!
You really need the salsa though too, it adds so much.ย Halloumi cheese is a salty, dry cheese, so the avocado really helps with balancing the two. The combo is really just freaking delicious.
And then as if that was not enough, I thew in a little toasted sesame oil (ahh, because itโs my ingredient obsession at the momentโฆI think I need to find a new wordโฆhmmm), jalapeรฑo for heat and tons of fresh basil since I was going for a Mexi meets Mediterranean taco kind of vibe. Kind of a lot happening, but promise itโs all so good when combined in theseย tacos. <โtrust me.
Also, I know that these probably should have been posted on a Taco Tuesday, but for some reason I never seem to pull that off. However, Iโm feeling like tacos are pretty darn good just about any day of the week, so today, weโre going for Taco Thursday. ORโฆmaybe we do like a Friday Night Taco Party, complete with strawberry Palomaย cocktailsย and Mexican Samoa Cookiesย for dessert?
Oh my gosh, YES, letโs do that. Maybe we will even make these tacos tomorrow on Facebook Live? Any thoughts? Itโs either tacos or yesterdayโs pizza, so let me know what you guys are feeling. ๐
ps. now I am really excited for the weekend and Cinco de Mayo. ๐
Roasted Cauliflower Fried Halloumi Tacos with Spicy Avocado Basil Guacamole
Ingredients
- 1 large, or 2 small, heads cauliflower, cut into florets
- 2 tablespoons sesame or olive oil
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt and pepper
- 1 (14 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 8 ounces halloumi cheese, sliced
- 1 cucumber or zucchini, shredded
Spicy Avocado Basil Guacamole
- 1 avocado, halved
- 1 cup fresh basil
- 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
- 1 jalapeno
- juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- kosher salt and pepper
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 2. On a baking sheet, toss together the cauliflower, oil, paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Transfer to the oven and roast for 20-30 minutes, tossing halfway through cooking. Remove from the oven and stir in the black beans. 3. Meanwhile, make the avocado guacamole. Add half the avocado, basil, pine nuts, jalapeรฑo (remove seeds for less heat), lemon juice and oil to a food processor and pulse until chunky smooth. Dice the remaining avocado half and stir into the pesto. Taste and season with salt and pepper. 4. Heat a small skillet over medium heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. Once hot, add the Halloumi slices and cook for 1-2 minutes per side or until lightly golden. Remove and drain onto paper towels.5. To assemble, layer the cucumber, zucchini, and cauliflower in the tortillas. Top with fried cheese and guacamole. Enjoy!!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Officially my spring taco of choice.ย ?
What a treat! A delicious weeknight meal enjoyed by our family, ranging in age from 18 months to 70 years old. One thing to consider for these generational dinners is making something simple and flavorful that everyone will find pleasing.
Hey Kym,
Amazing! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it. Have the best week!
Let me start by saying we love HBH. We have made so many great recipes from this blog and the cookbook, this is just not one of them.
Do yourself a favor and DO NOT add the sesame oil to the avocado pesto/salsa. It completely overpowers the dish and honestly turned it inedible. I didn’t even add the full 2 tablespoons, I maybe added 2 teaspoons, and then added extra avocado, basil, and lemon to try to even out the flavor of the oil. It was a total fail. We could not eat the salsa. I think this dish could’ve been great had we just left that out of the recipe.
Hey Mikaela,
Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear it was not enjoyed! Let me know if you give this another try without the sesame oil! xx
Looking at your comment I’m curious if you used toasted sesame oil or regular? Big difference!
Totally agree about the sesame oil. And this is my 2nd time making it. Making a note to use neutral oil next time. Otherwise great!
Soo good and super easy. Used salsa verde that I had in the pantry as a topper and added homemade pickled red onions.
Truly delicious.
Hi Jocelyn,
Amazing!! Thanks a lot for trying this dish and sharing your feedback, I love to hear that it was tasty for you! xT
I made this and had to review. It is amazingly delicious. WOW! I have to thank you for these recipes. You are a Rockstar and my family and I have loved every recipe I have made from your blog and cookbooks.
Hey Sienna,
Happy Friday!! Thanks a bunch for trying this recipe and sharing your review. I love that it was enjoyed!! Happy 4th of July weekend!??
Hi Tieghan,
I am so looking forward to making this for a dinner party. How many tacos did you consider to be 1 serving in this recipe?
Thanks!
Hey Joleen,
I would say about 2 tacos. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This is an interesting recipe to mix it up on Taco Tuesday.
The ingredients list doesn’t mention the type of tortilla. I used flour tortilla because soft tacos are my preference.
I warmed the black beans in the microwave before adding them to the cauliflower.
Halloumi browns better in a dry frying pan (no oil).
Hey Sharon,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try! I used corn tortillas in this recipe:) xTieghan
Absolutely amazing. Oh my God, that guac. All the flavors came together beautifully. Perfect for meatless Monday. Thanks!
Hey Erin,
Thanks for making this recipe! I am so glad it was a hit! xTieghan
Lovely, Tieghan! Never thought all these ingredients could mix so well together. Did a few substitutes as I didn’t have all ingredients on hand (red pepper flakes–bought fresh and dried in the summer sun… so much better than store-bought–instead of the jalapeรฑo, and pumpkin seeds instead of pine nuts). It was great! Love the mix of different cuisines (Mexican, Lebanese). Yum!
Hey Dina,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad you enjoyed! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I would really like to try these, but we have an avocado allergy in the house. Do you think replacing the avocado with hummus would work? He is not allergic to other tree nuts, just avocados which make vegetarian meals a challenge sometimes.
Hi Erin,
Sure that would be a great substitute! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I did not like this and I like most anything. Maybe itโs the cheese but I have had halloumi and enjoyed it before. Also, I didnโt like the avocado guacamole dip. I guess itโs the basil I didnโt like on it and I love basil! Cauliflower was the best part! My hubby enjoyed but heโs not as picky as me about taste. ๐
Hi Stevie! I am really sorry to hear that! Please let me know if you have any questions on this recipe! xTieghan
So I’m pretty disappointed to find this on here because this preparation (spicing up and roasting the cauliflower in the oven) is how I thought this should go! I have her “simple” recipes cookbook, and it has sautรฉing the cauliflower in soy sauce. To me, it turned out just weird, and not fitting for a taco. I should have closely read the book recipe, and done this one instead.
Hi Helen,
So sorry to hear this, those are two different recipes. Please let me know how I can help! xTieghan
Tieghan,
Iโm supposed to bring a salad this Friday ( meatless Lent) to compliment fish tacos with corn, beans and tomatoes. I saw this recipe and wondered if I could adapt it to a salad. Any tips?
Cindi (love your recipes and make at least 2-3 a week).
Hey Cindi! I would actually recommend the below salad instead. I think it will be great!! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/roasted-cauliflower-salad/
I really loved this! Didn’t have black beans, zucchini or basil but subbed in corn, roasted cauliflower leaves and sriracha mayo and it was absolutely delicious.
Yes! So happy to hear that! Thank you for trying this Gwen! xTieghan
LOVE this recipe! I wanted to make a halloumi recipe (for the first time) and searched your site knowing you’d have a good vegetarian one! Love the cauli and black bean combo for extra protein. Adding this to my favorite meals rotation! ๐ thanks for the delicious recipe, you’re the source of some of my favorite veg meals!
Thank you so much ELiza! xTieghan
Tieghan, I have made this recipe SO MANY times and my family never gets sick of it. It’s still a “special” dinner. I am teaching my kids to cook components, like one of them seasons and cooks the cauliflower, another makes the halloumi, and another makes a salad. So so good. Thank you!
That is so awesome! I am so glad you and your family loved this recipe, Lori! Thank you!
Tiegham, not sure if I already commented. This is my daughters’ favorite meal! I mean,as in the best meal ever! Congrats on getting them to agree on something! Thank you, you are my favorite resource for delicious meals.
Thank you Lori! This is so sweet, I hope you and your daughter continue to love my recipes!