Spicy Black Bean & Caramelized Onion Tacos with Marinated Zucchini

1 Prepare the ingredients & season the crema: Preheat the oven to 450°F. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Peel and thinly slice the onion. Drain and rinse the beans. Halve the zucchini crosswise; cut into 1/4-inch-thick sticks. Cut off and discard the ends of the radishes; halve lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise. Place in a bowl; drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grate the Monterey Jack cheese on the large side of a box grater. Quarter and deseed the lemon. In a bowl, combine the crema and the juice of 1 lemon wedge. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

2 Make the filling: In a small pot, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced onion and sugar; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes, or until lightly browned and softened. Add the beans, 1/2 cup of water, and as much of the chile paste as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally and mashing the beans with the back of a spoon, 7 to 9 minutes, or until thickened and the beans have slightly broken down. Turn off the heat; season with salt and pepper to taste.

3 Marinate the zucchini: While the filling cooks, in a medium bowl, combine the sliced zucchini, the juice of the remaining lemon wedges, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside to marinate, stirring occasionally, at least 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

4 Make the cheesy tortillas: Once the filling has cooked about 10 minutes, line a sheet pan with aluminum foil. Place the tortillas on the foil. Evenly top with the grated Monterey Jack cheese; season with salt and pepper. Bake 4 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Transfer to a work surface.

5 Finish & serve your dish: Assemble the tacos using the cheesy tortillas, filling, seasoned radishes, and seasoned crema. Serve the tacos with the marinated zucchini on the side. Garnish with the Cotija cheese. Enjoy!