Mexican Feast Flexitarian Style

Picture this......your having a dinner party.......you want to go meat free but you know that would not go down well with some of your guests.  So what do you do?  Cook them a nice meal and you a salad?

No......why not try this Flexitarian Mexican Feast!  This is the best of both worlds.  It involves making two vegetarian Mexican meals that are tasty as they are, and then cooking the meat seperately.  This means your guest have the choice of going meat free, or getting their meat fill.  They can choose which meat they want with which base - its a lovely mix and match situation!

So here is what I cooked:

Veggie Mains

• Sweet Potato and Mixed Bean Chilli (recipe below)
•  Fajita Vegetables (recipe below)

Meat Additions (which can each be served with either veggie main - mix'n'match):

• Honey Chilli Shredded Chicken
• Fajita Spiced Beef

Sides:

• Sweet Potato Wedges
• Black Beans with Tomatoes, Lime and Corriander
• Homemade Salsa
• Homemade Guacamole
• Jalepenos
• Tortillas
• Tacos
• Shredded Lettuce

Recipes

Sweet Potato and Bean Chilli

• 2 x Sweet Potatoes
• 1 x Onion
• 1 x Passata
• 1 x tin Butter Beans
• 1 x tin Kidney Beans
• 1 x tin Chickpeas
• 1 x tin Mixed Beans in Chilli Sauce
• 1 x tbs Cumin
• 1 x tbs Chilli Powder
• 1 x tbs Tumeric
• salt and pepper

Fry the chopped onion until it begins to soften.  Add the sweet potato which has been chopped into bitesized pieces.  Fry for 5-7 minutes.  Add all the tinned goods and the passata.  Add spices and seasoning and mix through.  Reduce heat and allow to cook through until potatoes soft.  Taste - add any additional spices or seasoning according to preference.

Fajita Vegetables

• 3 x Peppers
• 2 x Red Onions
• 8 x Mushrooms
• Pack of fajita spicing / make your own

Slice all ingredients thinly.  Fry gentle in some olive oil for a couple of minutes.  Add spicing and mixed through coating all veg.  Add a splash of water to moisten and to start to create a sauce.  Turn heat down, cook until vegetables are cooked through but still have a good crunch.  You will need to stir frequently to stop any sticking.  Add another splash of water if required.

Black Beans with Tomato, Lime and Corriander

• 1 x tin of Black Beans
• Cherry Tomatoes (cut in half)
• 1 x Lime
• Large Bunch of Corriander

Drain the black beans and add to a saucepan on a medium heat.  Heat through and stir as required.  Add the tomatoes, continuing to stir for another couple of minutes.  Add in the juice of the lime and the chopped corriander.  Season with salt and pepper.

So with all that done.......it's time to FIESTA FIESTA!!!!

Enjoy, remember to let us know what you think and send us any pictures of the dishes you do!