Weeknight Dinner: Slow Cooker Potato Tacos

Slow Cooker Potato Tacos with Avocado Mango Salsa

An easy creamy potato taco recipe with a fruity salsa that comes together within 30 minutes – great  for weeknights on the go.

Active time: 30 minutes         Cook time: 6 hours        Servings: 6-8 tacos

Ingredients:

1 pound Idaho® purple fingerling or russet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes

2 garlic cloves, sliced

1-1/4 cup milk, divided use

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash’s lemon pepper

1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes

1/2 cup Labne yogurt cheese or sour cream

1 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Yellow or white corn tortillas

Additional toppings: sliced avocado, shredded lettuce, toasted sunflower seeds or pepitas

For the Mango Avocado salsa:

1 barely ripe avocado, peeled and chopped

1 ripe mango, chopped*

1/2 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped

1 tablespoon shallots, finely chopped

1 small jalapeño, seeded and diced (optional)

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro (optional)

juice from the mango

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, preferably Meyer lemon

1/2 teaspoon Mrs. Dash’s Lime Zest

For the Tomato Avocado salsa:

1 ripe tomato

1 barely ripe avocado

1 Tablespoon chopped shallots or red onion

1 tablespoon fresh lemon (or lime) juice

1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash’s Table Blend

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

*Note: if using purple potatoes, select larger potatoes for ease of peeling.

Directions:

1. Peel the potatoes, chop into cubes. Add the potatoes and garlic to the slow cooker. Combine the butter, olive oil, lemon pepper, chile flakes and 1 cup milk and pour over the potatoes to cover. The potatoes should be covered or the exposed portions will become dry. Cook on Low for 6 hours.

2. Mash the potatoes in the slow cooker with a potato masher and then a fork for a smoother mixture. Add another 1/4 cup milk if necessary, the yogurt cheese, cumin, and the sea salt.

3. Prepare the salsa by slicing avocado in half lengthwise, remove the pit, starting at the seed end – peel off the skin, cut into slices and then chop. For the mango: hold firmly and cut 1/3 off each side of the pit, remove from the skin, then cut the remaining flesh from around the skin. This video is helpful. With your clean hands, squeeze the mango seed  with remaining pulp over the bowl to catch the juices. Add the mango, red pepper, shallot, cilantro, lime juice and spices. Gently mix in the avocado. Follow the same  procedure for the tomato avocado salsa, or use your favorite prepared salsa.

4. Heat the tortillas 2-3 at a time in a skillet sprayed with cooking spray or, if you have a gas stove, directly over a low flame until lightly scorched and a little crisp. To fry the taco: heat a tablespoon of oil (I use sunflower or avocado) in a skillet,  wrap 2-3 tortillas in a paper towel, heat in the microwave for 15 seconds, put a spoonful of the potato filling in the middle, fold in half for a taco shape, and fry for a few minutes on each side until they puff up a little and are golden brown.

Variations: add chopped chiles to the mashed potatoes: Hatch chiles or Anaheim’s for a mild chile flavor, Poblano for a smoky flavor, or Serrano or Jalapeño for spicy.