Pumpkin Tacos
Photo: Shelly Strazis; Styling: Valerie Aikman-Smith
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Make slaw: Mix cabbage, cilantro, and onions in a bowl.
Step 2
2
Toast chiles: In a small frying pan over medium heat, cook sliced chiles in oil, stirring often, until some turn reddish brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer chiles to paper towels, using a slotted spoon; reserve oil.
Step 3
3
Make spread: In a medium saucepan, cook butter over medium heat, swirling often, until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Add ground chiles and allspice all at once and stir until foamy, about 10 seconds. Reduce heat to low and stir in pumpkin, cream cheese, and salt; cook, stirring, until cheese melts, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in juice; scrape into a bowl. Just before serving, drizzle with reserved chile oil.
Step 4
4
Warm tortillas: Divide into 2 stacks, wrap in a cloth napkin, and microwave until hot, turning over once, 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 5
5
Set tortillas, spread, slaw, pumpkin seeds, toasted chiles, and orange wedges on a tray and let diners make their own tacos, adding a squeeze of orange and more salt to taste.
Step 6
6
*Buy at a Latino market. Or substitute regular-size tortillas.
Step 7
7
Make ahead: For spread and slaw, 1 day, chilled. Toast chiles the day of serving. Microwave spread until hot, 3 to 4 minutes.
Step 8
8
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
Ingredients
SLAW AND CHILES:
2 cups very thinly sliced green cabbage
1/2 cup coarsely chopped cilantro
2 green onions, thinly sliced
3 large dried ancho chiles, stemmed, seeded, and thinly sliced crosswise
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
PUMPKIN SPREAD:
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon ground ancho chiles
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin purée
3 ounces cream cheese, cut in chunks
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup orange juice
TORTILLAS AND ASSEMBLY:
36 small (4 in.) corn tortillas*
1/2 cup salted toasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
1 orange, cut into small wedges
Kosher salt
Directions
Step 1
1
Make slaw: Mix cabbage, cilantro, and onions in a bowl.
Step 2
2
Toast chiles: In a small frying pan over medium heat, cook sliced chiles in oil, stirring often, until some turn reddish brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer chiles to paper towels, using a slotted spoon; reserve oil.
Step 3
3
Make spread: In a medium saucepan, cook butter over medium heat, swirling often, until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Add ground chiles and allspice all at once and stir until foamy, about 10 seconds. Reduce heat to low and stir in pumpkin, cream cheese, and salt; cook, stirring, until cheese melts, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in juice; scrape into a bowl. Just before serving, drizzle with reserved chile oil.
Step 4
4
Warm tortillas: Divide into 2 stacks, wrap in a cloth napkin, and microwave until hot, turning over once, 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 5
5
Set tortillas, spread, slaw, pumpkin seeds, toasted chiles, and orange wedges on a tray and let diners make their own tacos, adding a squeeze of orange and more salt to taste.
Step 6
6
*Buy at a Latino market. Or substitute regular-size tortillas.
Step 7
7
Make ahead: For spread and slaw, 1 day, chilled. Toast chiles the day of serving. Microwave spread until hot, 3 to 4 minutes.
Step 8
8
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
Search All of Sunset's Recipes
The Latest
Two Comets Are on Their Way to Our Skies in October—Here’s How to See Them
