© 2026. The Trustees of Indiana University
Copyright Complaints
1229 East Seventh Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
News, Arts and Culture from WFIU Public Radio and WTIU Public Television
Give Now
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Earth Eats

Earth Eats Celebrates An All-Vegan Cinco de Mayo

By Earth Eats Staff
Published October 29, 2019 at 2:17 PM EDT

Today on Earth Eats we help you plan your Cinco de Mayo party. We've got a vegan quesadilla and two toppings... a salsa verde using tomatillos and roasted veggies, and a fresh take on guacamole using sweet peas and tofu.

And no Cinco de Mayo party would be complete without a tequila-based spirit. Hop behind the bar for a little mixology lesson.

Cinco De Mayo Cocktail: Basilica

Martinis are fun because you can use lots of different flavors, ingredients, and sweeteners, such as simple syrup, sugar, agave nectar. You can also use soda or ginger ale.

Ingredients:

  • 3 ounces Don Julio Blanco Tequila

  • 2 lime wedges

  • ¼ ounce agave nectar

  • 2-3 large basil leaves

    • Directions:

    1. Muddle lime wedges, agave nectar, and basil leaves.

    2. Shake with ice & strain into cocktail glass.

    3. Garnish with a lime and a basil bud.

      4. Sweet Pea Guacamole

      Guacamole doesn't always have to include avocado. Instead, add some sweet peas and tofu, and you've got yourself a great accompaniment to any Mexican or southwestern dish!

      Sweet peas are great to use because they're really low in fat, but still have a nice sweet flavor and the tofu is a nice source of protein. You're going to love this guac.  It's very lean but packed with flavor. Best of all, it's simple... all you need is a good blender!

      (Makes 3 cups)

      Ingredients:

      • 1 pound sweet green peas - cooked until skins are tender and shocked in cold water.

      • chili pepper - your favorite, to taste

      • ½ pound silken tofu

      • ½ cup fresh mint

      • olive oil to desired consistency

      • 1 clove garlic - minced

      • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger

      • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

      • 1 teaspoon salt

      • ½ teaspoon black pepper

      • hot sauce to taste

        • Method:

        1. Puree ingredients together in a blender until smooth.

        2. Season to taste with salt, cracked pepper, and favorite hot sauce.

          3. Now you've got a tasty vegan guacamole that even the most adamant tofu haters will enjoy.

          If you're interested in growing sweet peas, plant them in your garden now as they don't like it especially warm. You'll have a batch ready to share with friends in 2 to 2 and a half months.

          Connect with fellow gardeners and swap tips on our Facebook page.

          Tomatillo Salsa Verde

          Now that we've got the guac, it's time for the salsa verde. The great thing about this salsa is that you can make it just as spicy as you'd like, by adding more chili peppers.

          Ingredients:

          • 15-20 tomatillos

          • 1 white onion, chopped

          • 1 chili pepper, chopped (keep the seeds for extra heat!)

          • bit of lemon zest

          • 4-5 cloves of garlic

          • 2 tablespoons olive oil

          • 1 cup basil

          • salt and pepper to taste

            • Directions:

            1. Mix the chopped vegetables with lemon zest and olive oil.

            2. Roast the vegetables in an over-proof pan under a broiler. The vegetables will cook down and become caramelized.

            3. After broiling the vegetables, add the basil and an additional clove of garlic (chopped). Pulse the mixture in a food processor.

            4. Add raw vegetables after processing as you like, such as red onions or additional tomatillos. Feel free to add whatever flavors you especially enjoy.

            5. Choose a Chile pepper that will provide the heat and flavor you're looking for (serrano, jalapeño, habanero, etc). Add remaining ingredients and pulse in food processor until desired consistency is reached. Add salt and pepper to taste.

              6. Ingredients:

              • 2 cups baby spinach

              • 1 pound firm tofu, diced

              • 1 cup tomatoes, diced (approximately 2)

              • ¼ cup basil pesto

              • ¼ cup black olives, chopped

              • ¼ cup pinenuts, toasted

              • salt, pepper and your favorite hot sauce to taste

              • 6 spinach flour tortillas (or your favorite flavor)

              • olive oil

              • salsa (try the recipe for tomatillo salsa above or make your own tomato salsa)

              • tofu sour cream (see recipe)

              • basil or cilantro to garnish

                • Method:

                1. Pre-heat oven to 450-degrees with baking stone or cookie sheet inside.

                2. In a large bowl, combine the spinach, tofu, tomatoes, pesto, olives, and pinenuts; season to taste with salt, pepper, and hot sauce.

                3. Place equal amounts on half of each tortilla and fold over. Brush olive oil on both sides or spray with non-stick spray.

                4. 10 minutes before serving, place the quesadillas on baking sheet or stone and cook until crisp on bottom, approximately 3-4 minutes. Serve with salsa and tofu sour cream.

                5. Garnish with herbs such as cilantro or parsley.

                  6. News Stories On The Podcast

                  • Anticipating The 2012 Farm Bill

                  • Teat Tweet Dairy Diary: Follow The Lactose (On Twitter)

                  • Earth Eats Book Club: Michael Pollan's "The Botany of Desire"

                    • Earth Eats
                    Stay Connected