Fajita veggies are a great addition to fajitas. They add a texture to the dish making it mouthwatering. Here is the recipe for yummy fajita veggies that is easy to make as well as flavorful.
What are fajitas?
Fajitas are a Mexican dish that traditionally includes grilled meat, onions, and peppers served in tortillas. If you are vegetarian or vegan, you may consider adding plant-based protein substituting animal meat. Check out my vegan fajitas recipe here for
What are fajita veggies?
Fajita veggies are a popular component of fajitas. They bring a crunchy texture to the dish. Fajita veggies typically consist of a colorful assortment of sliced or diced vegetables that are cooked until tender and infused with flavorful seasonings.
What veggies to add to fajita?
The specific vegetables used in fajita veggies can vary depending on personal preferences.
However, common vegetables used in fajita recipes include -
- bell peppers
- onions
- mushrooms and especially portobello for a meaty texture.
There are no restrictions to any veggies. You can add any of your favorite veggies to the fajitas, like zucchini, squash, broccoli, tomatoes, etc. The veggies are cut into stripes for this recipe.
It's a quick and easy dish. Veggies add their natural taste along with nicely absorbing the flavor from the seasonings we add to them. They also make the dish interesting with their vibrant colors.
Bell peppers add colors as well as crunch or bite and a hint of natural sweetness. Similarly, yellow and white onions add a savory flavor where as red onion adds a mildly sweet flavor to the fajitas. Tomatoes, zucchini, and squash add juiciness and freshness. Each of the veggies adds their distinct flavor and texture to the veggies.
Seasonings for Fajita Veggies
These sauteed veggies have a dominating flavor of Mexican spices. You can use readymade fajita seasoning from the market or simply make them at home. Homemade seasoning has the added advantage of customization. You can take these spices instead to make your veggies.
- ground cumin
- chili powder
- smoked paprika - adds a nice smoky flavor
- cayenne pepper (optional if you want a hint of heat in it)
- garlic powder (optional if adding fresh minced garlic to the recipe)
- onion powder (optional since adding sliced onions)
- salt & pepper
How to prepare fajita veggies?
It's one of the easiest recipes. The only time you will need is for slicing or prepping veggies. Then just add seasonings and cook until they are tender but still retain a slight crunch. Avoid overcooking since it will make veggies soggy and with no crunch.
There are many ways you can cook fajita veggies. e.g. you can simply saute them with spices in a pan or skillet on the stovetop. You may also love to roast the veggies in the oven or in an air fryer.
In this recipe, I will pan-fry the veggies to desired texture for the best veggies to add to the fajita.
Ingredients -
Bell peppers - sweet peppers are the main veggies for this dish. Take whatever is available to you. I always add red peppers, green peppers, and yellow peppers. You may skip any of them not available to you. But these colorful vibrant peppers add crunch and balances the spices with their mild hint of sweetness.
Onions - Red/ white/ yellow onions
Fajita Seasonings - alternatively you can add them individually, such as chili powder, cumin powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
Olive oil - substitute canola oil or any vegetable oil
Optional veggies - Mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini. These will add a substance with moisture to the veggies.
Instructions -
Clean and wash the veggies first and then wipe them with a clean towel. Slice the veggies into thin stripes. If using cherry tomatoes, cut them into halves.
Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat and add a small amount of olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the sliced vegetables to the pan and sauté them until they become tender and slightly charred around the edges.
Season the fajita veggies with fajita seasoning. In case you don't have store-bought seasonings you can add these spices such as cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, sweet paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.
Mix and saute for a few more minutes on medium-low heat until they look done and a little charred equally.
When adding mushrooms, saute on a high flame while stirring in between since mushrooms will release a lot of water into the pan. Don't cover the pan while cooking.
In the end, add a squeeze of lime juice and sprinkle some fresh cilantro leaves.
How to make them into fajitas?
To make fajitas, follow the below steps.
Saute veggies - recipe below
Saute protein - meat (if not vegan or vegetarian). I use beans and sweet corn mostly. You can also add refried beans or canned beans or make them at home in the instant pot. Check out my instant pot kidney beans, instant pot pinto beans, and instant pot black beans recipe. Or other plant proteins are great options to add to the fajitas.
Assemble - Arrange fajita veggies on a warm tortilla and top it with pico de Gallo or salsa and/ or other toppings or sauces of choice. Sprinkle some fresh cilantro leaves.
Check out my vegan fajitas and tofu fajitas recipe for detailed instructions. Also, check my vegan Mexican recipes on the blog.
This Fajita veggies recipe is
easy to make
quick side dish
vegetarian, vegan, plant-based
gluten-free
versatile ways to serve
Fajita Veggies
Equipment
- 1 saute pan/ skillet
- 1 Spatula
- 1 Knife
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 1 red bell pepper wiped clean and sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper wiped clean and sliced
- 2 green pepper wiped clean and sliced
- 1 large onion sliced
- 8 - 10 button mushrooms or portobello mushrooms
- 10 cherry tomatoes halved
- 3 garlic cloves
Seasoning
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground paprika
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp garlic powder optional since adding fresh garlic
- 1 tsp salt or as taste
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
Oil
- 1 - 2 tbsp olive oil to saute veggies
Instructions
- Clean and wash the veggies first and then wipe them with a clean towel.
- Slice the veggies into thin stripes. If using cherry tomatoes, cut them into halves.
- Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat and add olive oil to the pan.
- Once the oil is hot, add the sliced vegetables to the pan and sauté them until they become tender and slightly charred around the edges.
- Season the fajita veggies with the spices mentioned above in the ingredients list.
- Mix and saute for a few more minutes on medium-low heat until they look done and a little charred equally.
- In the end, add a squeeze of lime juice and sprinkle some fresh cilantro leaves.
Notes
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