Cooking for someone on a date is often a gamble. On one hand, you can demonstrate to your new love interest that you possess useful life skills. Or, you can convince them that you’re unfit to own a toaster.
So when you cook for your next date, remember to KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid. It all begins with one versatile staple – corn tortillas. Here are three easy ways to turn them into a dish that proves you know what you’re doing in the kitchen.
1. Black Bean and Roasted Corn Soft Tacos
If your date comes with dietary restrictions, this vegan and gluten-free recipe with corn tortillas is a great pick for you. Canned corn becomes palatable when roasted, while the wide range of toppings you can provide means your date can build their ideal taco.
Making the base filling is easy. All you need is:
- A can of black beans, rinsed and well drained
- A few cloves of garlic, diced
- ½ cup of salsa
- Cumin to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
Stir these ingredients together over medium heat until it begins to bubble. After a few minutes, turn down the heat so the mixture can thicken. Remember to stir intermittently as you prepare the roasted corn.
The key with our roasted corn is to pat it completely dry. Once you do that, simply dry fry it over medium heat with a little diced jalapeno. Toss it a bit as you fry it, ensuring it gets a little charred, but not totally burnt.
Now it’s time to build tacos with warm tortillas. Offer your date cilantro, lime, diced tomatoes, lettuce,or any other toppings you want to include.
2. Enchiladas
Enchiladas can sound like a complicated, involved process, but this recipe with corn tortillas only takes a half an hour. The trick is to either pre-make or buy pre-cooked shredded chicken, pork, or ground beef. In addition, you need:
- 16 corn tortillas
- 1 can enchilada sauce
- 2 cups grated cheese
- A little oil
- Cotija cheese (crumbly cheese for topping)
First, warm your tortillas in a pan with the oil. This helps keep them from cracking when we roll them up. Now, cover the bottom of a casserole dish in enchilada sauce. Use the rest of the sauce to coat each tortilla. Arrange your cheese and meat down the center of the saucy tortilla, and carefully roll it up. Lay it seam side down in the dish, and repeat.
If you have any sauce left, pour it on top. Top with the Cotija, and bake in a 400-degree oven for 30 minutes.
3. Nachos
For Netflix and chill, there’s really nothing better than a plate of nachos. Make your nachos healthier (and a little more special) by making the chips yourself from corn tortillas. Use a pizza cutter to cut your tortillas into triangles, and coat them in olive oil, salt, and any other seasonings you like.
Keep an eye on them as you bake in a 350-degree oven. It should take 15-25 minutes. Offer up pico de gallo, guacamole, salsa, or queso. It’s a simple, delicious way to seem kitchen-savvy.