At first glance, your eye is drawn to the vibrant green of charred broccoli florets nestled in a warm, soft corn tortilla. The broccoli is contrasted by a deep-orange, smoky chipotle sauce, dotted with toasted garlic chips. Melting queso fresco adorns the top, adding a creamy white accent. All of this is scattered on a rustic, earthen-toned plate.

Orange-Chipotle Broccoli Tacos with Queso Fresco

Name: Orange-Chipotle Broccoli Tacos with Queso Fresco
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: Broccoli, 2 heads cut into florets; Corn tortillas, 4 pieces; Queso fresco, 1/2 cup crumbled; Orange, 1 juice and zest; Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 2 finely chopped; Garlic, 3 cloves minced, reserve 1 for garnishing; Cilantro, a handful roughly chopped; Olive oil, 1 tablespoon; Salt, to taste

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 30 minutes

Style Mexican

Technique Griddling

Diet Friendly Vegetarian

Daily Recipe: July 20, 2025

This unique and delightful dish inspired by Mexican cuisine has a surprising star ingredient: Broccoli. The Broccoli adds a nourishing crunch and vibrancy which wonderfully complements the rich, smoky flavors of the dish. The tinge of slight spiciness and tang from the orange-chipotle sauce wakes up your taste buds, while the creamy queso fresco mellows everything down.

Ingredients (for 2)

Broccoli - 2 heads - cut into florets
Corn tortillas - 4 pieces
Queso fresco - 1/2 cup - crumbled
Orange - 1 - juice and zest
Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce - 2 - finely chopped
Garlic - 3 cloves - minced, reserve 1 for garnishing
Cilantro - a handful - roughly chopped
Olive oil - 1 tablespoon
Salt - to taste

Preparation

Step 1 - 🥦🔥🍳

Preheat a griddle over high heat and char the broccoli florets till they develop a nice crunch.
Step 2 - 🍊🌶️🧄🥣

In a small saucepan, combine the orange juice, zest, chopped chipotle peppers, garlic, and salt. Simmer this over low heat until it thickens into a sauce.
Step 3 - 🧄🍳⏰

Meanwhile, toast the garlic slices in a teaspoon of oil and set aside for garnishing.
Step 4 - 🌽🍞🔥

Warm up the corn tortillas on the griddle, and set them aside.
Step 5 - 🌮🥦🧀🥣🌱

To assemble the tacos, fill each tortilla with a generous serving of charred broccoli, top with a drizzle of the orange-chipotle sauce and a scattering of queso fresco. Finish with the toasted garlic chips and a sprinkle of cilantro. Serve immediately.

Additional

This dish is packed with nutrients from fresh ingredients, serves as a comfortable entry point to Mexican cuisine for the uninitiated, and is great for a casual home dinner or a fancy gathering. Feel free to sub the queso fresco with a vegan cheese for a dairy-free version.