These hearty Blackened Steak Tacos with Pumpkin, Sweet Corn & Red Bean Salsa have recently become one of our favorite ways to break into pumpkin season.
I’m using the term “salsa” loosely here as I’m not sure it’s technically a salsa (salsa experts, I’d love your opinion here!). But we’re serving it as a salsa, so that’s how we’re going to refer to it.
The salsa is actually cooked in a cast iron skillet, one ingredient at a time. That way the finished salsa is nice and “clean” with all the bright colors in tact.
I like to cook the pumpkin so it’s fairly tender, and the same goes for the onions. For the corn, I usually l it brown just a bit. The tomatoes are only cooked for a minute or so because you want them to stay firm.
You can use whatever cut of beef you like – even stew meat works well. Just make sure to cut it against the grain when you cut it into small bite-sized chunks. That way, you won’t have to chew through a large piece in your tacos.
Petite “pie pumpkins” are perfect to make the salsa with. They’re easy to handle and have lots of fresh pumpkin flavor. The salsa recipe makes quite a bit – about seven cups. It’s perfect for feeding a crowd and it’s delicious the next day, too, if you happen to have any left over.
Enjoy!
Blackened Steak Tacos with Pumpkin, Sweet Corn & Red Bean Salsa #PumpkinWeek
Ingredients
- 1 pound beef steak cut into bite-sized chunks
- Homemade Blackening Seasoning recipe here
- 4 cups fresh pumpkin* – peeled seeded and chopped
- 1 cup red onion chopped
- 1½ cups yellow corn kernels thawed if frozen
- 1½ cups Roma tomatoes chopped
- 1 16 ounce can red beans drained
- 6 - 8 tablespoons olive oil – divided plus more if needed
- Salt and pepper to taste optional*
- 12, 4- inch soft white corn or flour tortillas
- 1 – 2 limes sliced for serving
- A handful of cilantro or flat leaf parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
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Chop your beef steak into small bite-sized chunks. Season the chunks well with blackening seasoning, and set aside.
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Peel and de-seed the pumpkin, and chop into small pieces. In a large skillet, add 3 tablespoons of oil and the chopped pumpkin. Cook over medium heat, stirring often. When fork tender, transfer cooked pumpkin to a heat resistant bowl and set aside.
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Next, add the chopped onion and a tablespoon of oil to the pan, and cook until tender. Transfer cooked onion to the bowl of cooked pumpkin and set aside. Repeat this cooking process with the corn kernels. Repeat also with the chopped tomatoes, but only cook the tomatoes for a minute or so they’re still firm (not mushy).
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Finally, add the red beans to the pan and cook just until any liquid has reduced completely.
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Rinse the pan, add the final tablespoon or so of oil, and heat to medium-high. Add the beef chunks to the pan being careful not to crowd them. Seer the first side, and then turn each piece over to seer the opposite side until the beef is cooked to desired doneness.
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Stir all of the cooked salsa ingredients together. Assemble tacos by layering beef and salsa into tortillas, and serve with plenty of fresh lime wedges and chopped cilantro or flat leaf parsley.
Recipe Notes
*I use a 2 pound pie pumpkin for this recipe with equals about 1¼ pounds after peeling and de-seeding.
*Because the blackening seasoning has salt and pepper in it, I don’t usually find the need to add salt or pepper to the pumpkin salsa. Taste each and add if needed.
*Cilantro Lime Yogurt Sauce goes really well with this steak tacos recipe!
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Corn Sauté with Fresh Ginger, Garlic and Cilantro
Rice and Beans with Corn and Chimichurri recipe
Sweet Spicy Curry Chicken Salad with Cranberries and Red Onions
Ridiculously Good Fudgy Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Cake #PumpkinWeek
Spiced Pumpkin Mini Cakes with Mulled Cranberries & Brandy Brown Butter Glaze #PumpkinWeek
Sweet Potato, Apple and Corn Coconut-Curry Chowder
Shredded Chicken Sandwiches with Sweet Red Onions
Easy Sweet Potato Gratin
Mango, Cucumber and 3-Pepper Salsa
Perfect for our next Taco Tuesday. Thanks
Awesome! You bet, Wendy!
If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were a local (Texan). This looks outstanding!
That’s a huge compliment from someone who cooks as incredibly as you do, Adam! Thank you, kindly! 🙂
Pumpkin!! Girl, you done outdone yerrrrsefff!! xoxo
Yes, ma’am!! 😉 Thanks so much, Ally girl!
Looks awesome!
Thanks, Christine!
I love tacos, but I would never have thought of pumpkin! Way to go girl!
Thanks, Lynn! The pumpkin “salsa” is surprisingly good — even on it’s own as a side dish! We just love it! 🙂
Everything about this dish is a winner, including the cilantro sauce!!
Thanks so much, Robin!! xo
Girfriend, I’m gonna need your address so I can park myself in your kitchen. Everything you make looks amazing, but this one is really calling my name.
Thanks so much, Shea! I always think the same thing when I see your recipes! And you’re welcome in my kitchen anytime, my dear!
This is one hell of a recipe, Michele! I would definitely prepare these tacos for the next party I throw with my friends!
Thanks so much, Agness!! This is one of my favorite new fall recipes, and it’s definintely been a hit with our friends. Hope you have a chance to try it soon! 🙂