Easy Avocado And Black Bean Taquitos

This post is sponsored by Thrive Algae Oil  Thank you for supporting the growth of Food Heaven.

Who needs tacos when can you have taquitos?

I’m KIDDING (sorry, that was a really bad joke). We all need tacos, always. BUT these avocado black bean taquitos are the perfect addition to your cooking rotation any day of the week.

This recipe is super simple and includes 5 main ingredients (black beans, corn tortillas, avocado, lemon & Thrive Algae Oil ), a few spices, and a couple of optional extras (guac + salsa) if you’re in the mood.

For those of you who are like: Algae oil? Isn’t that going to make my food taste like fish oil pills? — believe me, I thought the same thing –you’re wrong. I was hesitant to try culinary algae oil at first, too, and was shocked after I discovered that it’s 100% neutral in flavor! Turns out there are thousands of types of algae in the world, and the kind used to make Thrive wasn’t sourced from water, but from the sap of a chestnut tree – who knew?

The thing I like most about algae oil is that it contains the highest level of healthy monounsaturated fat — about 90% — and the lowest level of saturated fats of all cooking oils. According to the American Heart Association, monounsaturated fats can help reduce LDL cholesterol levels in your blood which can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. I also chose this oil for frying my taquitos because of its high smoke point (up to 485°F degrees – thanks to those heat-stable monounsaturated fats!), which means it doesn’t burn at high temperatures. This makes it great for all kinds of cooking like stir-frying, searing, roasting, and sautéing, and even baking and making salad dressings.

This recipe also highlights black beans. As a dietitian, I love beans because they are one of the world’s best sources of fiber. A half-cup serving of black beans, in particular, is packed with almost 10 grams of fiber, which is more than 30% of our daily needs (note: at a minimum, women should try to eat 28 grams of fiber per day while men should aim for 35 grams). Fiber is great at supporting the body’s natural detoxification process, helping to strengthen the colon and keeping you regular in the process.

If you want a quick dinner that will be delicious, easy, full of healthy fats AND fiber, then this is for you.

Interested in trying the Algae oil? It’s available nationwide on Amazon and at major retailers including Target and Whole Foods. Find a store near you using their store locator.

Before getting started, make sure to preheat your oven to 425 degrees F to get things warmed up. We’ll start by mashing black beans and avocado in two separate bowls. Mix the cumin and chili powder into black bean mash. Next, spread tortillas out on a baking sheet. Bake until hot for two minutes, then transfer to a plate and cover. This makes them softer and easier to roll into the taquito shape without breaking (alternatively, you can heat the tortillas in the microwave for 1 minute).

Now here comes the fun part. Add an inch-wide line of avocado and black beans across the diameter of each tortilla, then roll up into a tightly wrapped cigar shape. Repeat for the remaining tortillas. Once you’re done, heat ¼ cup of Thrive Algae oil on high heat, and then place taquitos in the frying pan, folded side down. Fry for about 45 seconds and then flip over with tongs and fry for an additional 45 seconds. Remove the taquitos from the frying pan and place them on a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.

To make the optional salsa, simply add all ingredients (tomato, shallot, lime juice, garlic, cilantro) into a food processor and pulse a few times until chopped but chunky. If you don’t have a food processor handy, no worries, you can chop manually and mix.

Enjoy taquitos with salsa and/or guacamole!