Tacos de Calabacitas a la Mexicana (Mexican-Style Zucchini Tacos)

Rick Bayless - Frontera Grill/Xoco/Topolobampo

Seasonal
Entree
Summer

Servings: Makes about 6 cups, filling about 24 tacos, serving 6 as a casual meal

Ingredients:

1 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil

1 medium white onion, chopped

1 pound (6 to 8 plum or 2 medium-large round) ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped

OR 2/3 of a 28-ounce can good-quality whole tomatoes in juice, drained

2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped

2 large fresh poblano chiles

The kernels cut from 1 large ear of corn (about 1 cup)

4 medium (about 1 ½ pounds) zucchini-or use the Mexican round or teardrop-shape, light-green calabacitas, cut into ½-inch cubes (about 5 cups of cubes)

The leaves from 1 sprig fresh epazote, roughly chopped

OR 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

2/3 cup homemade crema, crème fraîche or heavy (whipping) cream

Salt

½ cup (about 2 ounces) Mexican queso fresco or other crumbly fresh cheese like salted pressed farmer's cheese or feta

24 fresh, warm corn tortillas


Method:

1. Preparing the flavoring base. Measure the oil into a large (12-inch) skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until richly browned, about 8 minutes. While the onion is cooking, coarsely puree the tomatoes in a food processor or blender. Add the garlic to the browned onion, cook 1 minute, stirring, then add the tomatoes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
2. Roasting the chiles. Roast the poblanos directly over a gas flame or on a baking sheet 4 inches below a very hot broiler, turning regularly until the skin has blistered and blackened on all sides, about 5 minutes for open flame, about 10 minutes for broiler. Cover with a kitchen towel and let stand 5 minutes. Rub off the blackened skin, then pull out the stem and seed pod. Rinse briefly to remove stray seeds and bits of skin. Slice into ¼-inch strips.
3. Finishing the dish. Uncover the skillet and raise the heat to medium-high. Stir in the poblanos, corn, zucchini, epazote (or cilantro) and the crema (or one of its stand-ins). Cook, stirring frequently, until the zucchini is crisp-tender and the liquid has thickened enough to coat the vegetables nicely, about 8 minutes. Taste and season with salt, usually about 1 teaspooon. Serve in a decorative bowl, sprinkled with the crumbled cheese and pass the hot tortillas separately for do-it-yourself tacos.
4. Working Ahead: If you should find it helpful, the dish can be prepared a day ahead through Step 2; cover and refrigerate the mixture. Return the mixture to the skillet and finish Steps 3 and 4 just before serving.