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Home Recipes Walnut Taco Meat Recipe
GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy Free V Vegan VG Vegetarian 30 Whole30

Walnut Taco Meat Recipe

Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
Posted:4/30/20
Updated:3/22/22

Are you ready for your new favorite plant based way to enjoy tacos?! Enter: Cauliflower Walnut Taco Meat! Loaded with taco spices, chipotle adobo sauce and baked for crispiness. You will love this!

taco sald bowl with walnut taco meat

WALNUT TACO MEAT.

It’s kind of pretty awesome. And some of you might need some convincing but I promise, plant based taco “meat” is delicious and you must give it a try.

Ever since I made this recipe, where the cauliflower and walnuts served as the meat replacement in the bolognese sauce, I’ve been meaning to make a Mexican-inspired dish.

It’s taken me way too long to do so but we’re here now and that’s what counts.

How to Make Walnut Taco “Meat”

Vegan Walnut Taco Meat Salad with limes tomatoes jalapeños in a white bowl

I’ve been enjoying more and more plant based dishes lately – not only creating them for you but adding them into our regular rotation as well.

It’s been fun getting creative with ways to incorporate more plants into our weekly menu. And using walnut taco meat is just the start of something amazing.

Think vegan taco salad bowls, vegan tacos, with tortilla chips for nachos heck – even vegetarian walnut quesadillas!

But let’s get back to basics here with what you need to make walnut taco meat.

Just 6 Simple Ingredients

  • walnuts – the walnuts provide a great source of healthy omegas-3 fats.
  • cauliflower – using about half a head of medium-large cauliflower. Wondering what to do with the other half? Make this sweet and sour cauliflower for another night.
  • garlic – freshly minced garlic is the way to go here. But if you’re in a pinch, garlic powder works too.
  • adobo sauce / chipotle peppers – I used this sauce but you can also use 1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (typically canned, like these).
  • spices – use a mix of chili powder (I used ancho), cumin, paprika, and a touch of oregano.
  • salt – for flavor! I used a full teaspoon but you may want more or less. You can also taste-test after baking and add more.
cauliflower walnuts spices garlic

Walnut Taco Meat in 30 Minutes

everything in the food processor

Place chopped cauliflower, walnuts, chipotle adobo sauce, spices, salt and pepper in bowl of food processor.

walnuts, cauliflower and spices in food processor bowl

Process into small bits

Pulse until cauliflower and walnuts have broken down into small pieces.

Ingredients for Walnut Taco Meat in food processor cauliflower walnuts spice

Bake for 30 minutes

Transfer to baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes, giving the mixture a stir halfway through baking time.

Walnut Taco Meat roasting on a cookie sheet

And just like that you’ve got yourself delicious cauliflower walnut taco meat!

Who would have thought cauliflower and walnuts could create such magic?

Ways to Enjoy Walnut Taco Meat

  • Go for a Meatless Monday vegan taco salad recipe
  • Make a vegan taco power bowl with quinoa, black beans, corn, avocado and tomatoes (shown here)
  • Change things up with cauliflower walnut tacos
  • Cauliflower walnut nachos
  • Vegetarian quesadillas

Really the possibilities are endless! Anywhere you’d use traditional taco meat, is fair game for this awesome plant based version!

up close image of walnut taco meat in a burrito bowl

Let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a comment and rating below! It helps others learn more about the recipe too! Xx Ashley

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How to Make Walnut Taco Meat

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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

This Cauliflower Walnut Taco Meat is ready in 30 minutes and the perfect plant based meat alternative for any loved Mexican dish. For taco salads, power bowls, traditional tacos and more. A vegan, gluten free and paleo friendly recipe.

  • Author: Ashley
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Method: oven
  • Cuisine: Vegan Tex-Mex
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 medium-large head cauliflower, chopped (about 3 cups)
  • 2 cups walnuts
  • 1 ½ TBSP chipotle pepper adodo sauce (see notes)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 TBSP ancho chili powder
  • 2 tsp Cumin
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp oregano

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375ºF and grease large baking sheet or line with parchment paper; set aside.
  2. Place chopped cauliflower, walnuts, chipotle adobo sauce, spices, salt and pepper in bowl of food processor; pulse until cauliflower and walnuts have broken down into small pieces. Transfer to baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes, giving the mixture a stir halfway through baking time. Remove from oven once finished and let cool on sheet.
  3. Enjoy as tacos, taco salad bowls and more. Store leftovers in covered container in fridge; best used in 3-4 days. 

Notes

You can use 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (like the canned peppers here) OR I used this brand and used 1 1/2 tablespoons sauce.

recipe adapted from my Cauliflower Walnut Bolognese and Pinch of Yum

Keywords: walnut taco meat, how to make walnut tacos, cauliflower walnut meat

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @fitmittenkitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #fitmittenkitchen

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How to Make Walnut Taco Meat pinterest

About Ashley

"Ashley Walterhouse is the founder of Fit Mitten Kitchen, based in the Greater Lansing Area of Michigan, AKA “the Mitten.” Ashley grew up as a picky eater but later discovered that eating healthy was actually easy and fun. She started FMK in 2015 as a way to share her newfound love of developing healthier recipes for all to enjoy."

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Reader Interactions

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  1. Leslie says

    5/5/2020 at 10:09 am

    Would this freeze well after cooking? ( I’m thinking why not double the batch!).

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      5/19/2020 at 6:32 pm

      I haven’t tested that yet, but I don’t see why not! Probably best to reheat in skillet.

      Reply
  2. Chelsey says

    9/13/2020 at 1:43 pm

    Loved this- as did my parents! Excellent texture. I accidentally made it quite spicy, but the flavor was on point.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. Dana says

    2/18/2021 at 7:57 am

    Looks delicious.. any thoughts on having this raw for a raw diet?

    Reply

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