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    Home / Recipes / Vegan Entrees

    Walnut Meat Tacos

    Published: Jul 23, 2020 · Modified: Sep 9, 2022 by Kathy Carmichael · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Mexican Cole Slaw on Walnut Tacos

    I love tacos, but I crave creative tacos. Who wants the same tacos over and over again? Not this girl. So, I like to come up with creative taco recipes with interesting toppings. This Taco Tuesday, for instance, I made an oldie but a goodie, walnut meat tacos. Yes! Believe it or not, walnuts make fabulous vegan taco meat with just a few ingredients. And, walnut meat tacos can be eaten raw or cooked!

    Despite the nut debate, I eat nuts in small amounts to promote a healthy lifestyle. Although many people argue about the benefits of eating nuts versus the fat content, I personally enjoy nuts from time to time. For example, if you follow my blog, many of my dressings and recipes include small portions of nuts. 

    For those of you who have nut allergies, I make various other taco recipes without any nuts, so you may want to check out the Mexican coleslaw recipe to use as a topping for different tacos.

    WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF WALNUTS?

    According to Healthline, to say that walnuts are nutritious food and are a bit of an understatement.

    Walnuts provide healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals — and that’s just the beginning of how they may support your health.

    Here are 13 science-based health benefits of walnuts:

    • Rich in antioxidants
    • Plant source of omega-3s
    • May decrease inflammation
    • Promotes a healthy gut
    • Reduces the risk of some cancers
    • Supports weight control
    • Lowers risk of type 2 Diabetes
    • May lower blood pressure
    • Supports healthy aging
    • Good brain function
    • Positive male reproductive health benefits
    • Improves blood fats
    • Easy to include in meals and recipes

    WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS IN WALNUT MEAT TACOS?

    walnut meat taco ingredients

    First, walnut meat tacos are easy to make and only require a few basic ingredients. 

    • Organic raw walnuts
    • Sun-dried tomatoes (dehydrated NOT IN OIL)
    • Tomato paste
    • Diced chipotle chili  peppers
    • Vegan Taco Seasoning

    And for this walnut meat taco recipe, I chose to top off my tacos with my Mexican coleslaw recipe instead of traditional toppings.

    HOW TO MAKE WALNUT MEAT TACOS RAW OR COOKED

    One kitchen appliance that makes walnut taco meat a little easier to prep is a food processor. Of course, you don't need a food processor; it's just a time saver. An alternative is to hand chop the walnuts and sun-dried tomatoes instead. 

    soaked sun-dried tomatoes

    Since I use oil-free, dehydrated sun-dried tomatoes, they first need to be rehydrated. To bring them to life quickly and soften them up, I boil 2 cups of water and soak the sun-dried tomatoes for 10 minutes until they are soft. Then, drain the water and place them in the food processor base with the large blade, and process on high until they are chopped into little pieces. 

    food process sundried tomatoes

    If you do not have a food processor, follow the same steps, and dice the sun-dried tomatoes by hand, as well as the walnuts.  

    Next, add the raw walnuts and the remaining ingredients. At this point, you must PULSE the ingredients rather than the process on high. As a result, the walnut meat should look a similar consistency to taco meat. You don't, however, want it to be too mushy by over-processing. 

    process walnut taco meat

    Once processed, transfer the walnut meat to a bowl, and at this point, it can be served as raw walnut meat tacos, or you can heat it in a pan for crunchier hot taco meat.

    walnut taco meat close up

    HOW TO COOK THE WALNUT MEAT TACOS

    Because I prefer my food hot, I chose to cook the walnut meat tacos. I use a large non-stick skillet to heat the walnut meat and cook over medium-low temperature until the taco meat is heated through (about 10 minutes).

    walnut taco meat cooking

    Next, heat your chosen taco shells, or you can use the walnut taco meat for a variety of other purposes:

    • Vegan Taco Salad
    • The Best Ultimate Vegan Lentil Black Bean Burrito Ever
    • Skinny Inside Out Burrito

    For an added WOW level, add my Mexican coleslaw recipe, which can go on the top, on the side, or in a bowl as a salad. 

    Mexican Cole Slaw Recipe

    OTHER POSSIBLE TOPPING FOR WALNUT MEAT TACOS

    • Skinny Girl Vegan Sour Cream
    • Fruit Salsa Recipe
    • Tomatillo Salsa
    • Skinny Watermelon Salsa
    • Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce

    IF YOU ARE A TACO TUESDAY FAN, CHECK OUT THESE VEGAN TACOS

    • Tofu Tacos
    • Vegan Lentil Tacos
    • Tempeh Tacos
    • Vegan Breakfast Tacos
    • Sweet Potato Tacos
    • Mushroom Chorizo Tacos
    • Vegan Potato Tacos
    • Skinny Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Avocado-Cilantro Cream
    • Roasted Vegetable Tacos
    Mexican Cole Slaw on Walnut Tacos

    Walnut Meat Tacos

    Kathy Carmichael
    Walnut meat tacos can be served raw or heated for a healthy meaty alternative to lentils or vegetables. With only a few ingredients, transform walnuts into delicious taco meat in a matter of minutes.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Entrees
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 450 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups raw organic walnuts
    • 1 cup julienned sun-dried tomatoes in a bag not packed in oil
    • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
    • 1 Tablespoon chopped chipotle chili peppers with sauce
    • 1 package vegan taco seasoning
    • Corn or flour tortillas

    Mexican Coleslaw

    • 1 recipe Mexican coleslaw

    Instructions
     

    • Boil 2 cups of water and soak 1 cup of sun-dried tomatoes for 10 minutes until they are soft.
    • Then, drain the water and place them in the base of the food processor with the large blade and process on high until they are chopped into little pieces.
    • Next, add the raw walnuts and the remaining ingredients.
    • At this point, it is extremely important that you PULSE the ingredients rather than process or high.
    • As a result, the walnut meat should look a similar consistency to taco meat.
    • You don't, however, want it to be too mushy by over-processing. 
    • Once processed, transfer the walnut meat to a bowl, and at this point, it can be served as raw walnut meat tacos, or, you can heat it in a pan for crunchier hot taco meat
    • In order to heat the walnut meat, use a large non-stick skillet and cook over medium-low temperature until the taco meat is heated through (about 10 minutes)
    • Heat the corn or flour tortilla in a skillet, in the microwave or in the oven.
    • If serving with Mexican coleslaw, serve on the side or on top of each taco.



    Notes

    OTHER POSSIBLE TOPPINGS:

    Vegan sour cream
    Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce

    Nutrition

    Calories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 12gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 28gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 567mgPotassium: 961mgFiber: 8gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 937IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 84mgIron: 4mg
    Tried our recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Kathy Carmichael

    Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂

    www.kathysvegankitchen.com/about-me/

    More Vegan Entrees

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    1. Kim

      July 23, 2020 at 5:31 am

      Wow these look really good. Do you have a recommendation on the brand of sun dried tomatoes? I have seen some in the store like that but they always have some weird added chemicals in them.

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        July 23, 2020 at 9:06 am

        Hi Kim, I use the Sunny Fruit brand. They are organic and free of any sulfites or preservatives. I buy mine on Amazon; here is a link if you are interested https://amzn.to/39mRl3Q Thanks for reaching out. Let me know if you like the tacos 🙂

        Reply
        • Donna Flaherty

          October 26, 2020 at 9:13 am

          For now, this brand is no longer available.

          Reply
          • Kathy Carmichael

            October 26, 2020 at 11:20 am

            Hi Donna, what brand are you referring to?

            Reply
    2. Anonymous

      July 23, 2020 at 11:45 am

      5 stars

      Reply

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    110 shares