Vegan Walnut Taco Meat

This tasty walnut taco meat is packed with nutrients. It works great in a variety of dishes, ranging from tacos and burritos to salads and nachos. I know... I know...Vegan walnut taco meat?! If there is a nasty vegan meat option out there, then I've probably tried it. But if you've tasted this homemade recipe, you would celebrate with me. It's a winner.

Vegan walnut tacos are for everyone

Avocados? Check!

Pico de gallo? Check!

Now we're gonna finish it up with plant-based meat and cashew cream to make a wholesome + flavorful meal. No joke, every time Ryan and I make this meal, I always say "Gosh, I wish we made more! It's sooooooo good!"

Use this vegan walnut taco meat recipe in as a vegan swap in a traditional Mexican meal with ground beef, or go a more plant-based route. It doesn't matter because it'll still be tasty.

How to make walnut taco meat

If you buy vegan taco meat at a store, then it's got about 22 ingredients that you can't identify. Yet if you make it at home, it doesn't get more simple and tasty than this walnut taco meat recipe because I stripped it down to the core of what is needed (and skip any additives). All you need is 6 ingredients:

• walnuts
• cumin
• chili pepper
• lemon juice
• tamari
• paprika

First, place the walnuts in a bowl and add 2 teaspoon of lemon juice. Then fill the rest of the way with water until the walnuts are completely covered. Let soak at least 8 hours. I think of this step as the 'slow cooker' step. It makes a huge difference in texture, so don't skip!

Once the walnuts are thoroughly soaked, drain and rinse. Then place the walnuts, tamari, and spices in a food processor, and process until it resembles minced meat. Make sure to taste after processing, so that you know you've got the right flavor. Sometimes I add in a bit of heat with some red pepper flakes, or a little garlic for some more flavor. And that's it! Your walnut taco meat is ready to serve as well as savor.

3 Ways to go Vegan with Tacos

If you're trying to eat cleaner and more plant-based, here's a few tips for doing that when it comes to tacos.

• Swap a flour tortilla (which may contain lard) for a corn tortilla (or a cabbage leaf)
• Swap sour cream with cashew cream
• Skip the shredded cheese and instead, opt for more salsa or roasted shredded carrots on top of the vegan taco meat. You can even sprinkle on a little nutritional yeast, because it's flavor is similar to cheese.

More ways to use walnut taco meat

This vegan walnut taco meat is a versatile addition to many dishes. Serve it up with my sweet potato nachos from Simple Green Meals, in a delicious vegan taco salad, a lettuce-based taco salad, or in some tacos de papas. It works great as a swap in these chickpea tacos, and also with the BBQ flavors found in my jackfruit tacos.

Look... I told you that I'm obsessed with tacos, right?

Though this plant based meat does take a small amount of prep work, you'll find yourself dreaming up all the ways you can use it after you take your first bite.

Vegan VS Plant-based

You've most likely heard both of these words flying around a bit lately. They are quite similar in many ways, but also different. Plant-based eating is the basic principle of embracing fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains, while trying to "limit" the amount of meat, dairy, eggs and processed foods. Now, that doesn't mean you have to completely avoid eggs, dairy, meat— yet they will not benefit you as greatly as plants will.

Whereas, according to The Vegan Society, "veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose."

At Simple Green Smoothies, we welcome everyone to enjoy our recipes. My team creates recipes and lives a lifestyle around the plant-based mindset— or what we like to call "plant-power!" We eat mostly plants, yet aren't gonna say no to homemade ice cream or a slice of pizza when visiting the city.

21-Day Plant-Based Diet

This walnut taco meat recipe is from Fresh Start: A 21-Day Cleanse. For three weeks, I avoid all dairy, gluten, meat and processed food and just use plants to nourish my body. A seasonal cleanse is a fantastic way to reset your cravings and kickstart your weight lost, as well as feel amazing.

No matter where you're at right now, you can try to embrace a more plant-based, vegan or plant-powered lifestyle with this 21-Day Plant-Based Cleanse. It will help you experience the amazing flavors (and incredible results!) in just 3 weeks. You won't be starving, you'll get to enjoy tacos with vegan taco meat, nourishing veggie soups, homemade granola bars and daily smoothies.