This quick and easy vegan walnut meat tacos has 5 simple ingredients and can be eaten raw or cooked. You will love this vegan walnut meat taco recipe.
I love tacos, but I crave creative tacos. Who wants the same tacos over and over again? Not this girl. This Taco Tuesday, I made a walnut meat tacos recipe, an oldie but a goodie. Yes! Believe it or not, walnuts make fabulous vegan walnut meat tacos with simple ingredients. And walnut meat tacos can be eaten raw or cooked!
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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 enjoy nuts occasionally.
For those of you who have nut allergies, I make various other taco recipes without any nuts, so you may want to them out!
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
Walnut Taco Meat Ingredients
First, walnut meat tacos are easy to make and only require a few basic ingredients.
- Organic Raw Walnuts: Organic raw walnuts have not been roasted or salted. They are raw and uncooked.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: I buy the Sun-dried tomatoes (dehydrated NOT IN OIL) in a package found in the produce section by the nuts.
- Tomato Paste:
- Chipotle Peppers in Sauce: Diced chipotle chili peppers in small cans are available in the Mexican section of the grocery store. A little goes a long way.
- Vegan Taco Seasoning: Whole Foods and Sprouts brand Vegan Taco Seasoning is oil-free, or you can use a homemade blend.
How to Make Walnut Meat Tacos
- 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.
- Since I use oil-free, dehydrated sun-dried tomatoes, they must first be rehydrated.
- To bring them to life quickly and soften them, 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 the sun-dried tomatoes in the food processor base with the large blade, processing on high until they are chopped into small pieces.
- 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 process them on high.
- As a result, the walnut meat should have a similar consistency to taco meat.
- However, you don't want it to be too mushy by over-processing.
- Once processed, transfer the walnut meat to a bowl.
- It can be served as raw walnut meat tacos, or you can heat it in a pan for crunchier hot taco meat.
How to Cook Walnut Tacos
- Because I prefer hot food, I cooked walnut meat tacos.
- I used a large non-stick skillet to heat the walnut meat, cooking it over medium-low heat until it was heated through (about 10 minutes).
- 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
- Healthy Burrito Bowl
For an added WOW level, put the walnut taco meat and other toppings on one side of the tortilla, fold it over, and cook it in the pan, making a hot, crunchy exterior taco shell.
Walnut Taco Topping Ideas
- Vegan Sour Cream
- Fruit Salsa Recipe
- Tomatillo Salsa
- Mango Salsa
- Pineapple Salsa
- Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
Recipe FAQs
Walnuts are a great source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid important for reducing inflammation. It is the only nut significantly high in these omega-3 fatty acids. Their anti-inflammatory compounds may reduce the risk of heart disease.
Walnuts were among the foods that made the strongest contribution to a healthy die.
Since walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, more so than any other nut, eating them regularly can also help you maintain your heart health and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. The omega-3 fat from plants is known as Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA), essential to a healthy heart.
Tips
- It is essential to rehydrate the sun-dried tomatoes and drain them well before adding them to the food processor or chopping them by hand. It helps to get the right texture and softness to the walnut taco meat.
- Do not use salted walnuts. The taco meat will be far too salty and inedible. You have to use raw walnuts.
- Again, if you don't have a food processor, chop the raw walnuts.
- I suggest using organic walnuts. Organic walnuts may be healthier than non-organic walnuts because they are grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals.
- When the walnuts are added, could you be sure to use the pulse option? You want the final product to be something other than gummy or over-processed.
- This walnut meat will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer and makes a fantastic meal prep or make-ahead meal!
- You can freeze walnut taco meat for up to 3 months. To thaw, place in the refrigerator overnight.
- This vegan taco meat can be eaten raw or cooked.
Give this vegan walnut taco meat recipe for a new way to enjoy vegan tacos!
More Delicious Vegan Recipes to Try!
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📖 Recipe
Vegan Walnut Meat Tacos
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
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, you must 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, microwave, or oven.
- For an added WOW level, put the walnut taco meat and other toppings on one side of the tortilla, fold it over, and cook it in the pan, making a hot, crunchy exterior taco shell.
Video
Notes
- It is essential to rehydrate the sun-dried tomatoes and drain them well before adding them to the food processor or chopping them by hand. It helps to get the right texture and softness to the walnut taco meat.
- Do not use salted walnuts. The taco meat will be far too salty and inedible. You have to use raw walnuts.
- Again, chop the raw walnuts if you don't have a food processor.
- I suggest using organic walnuts. Organic walnuts may be healthier than non-organic walnuts because they are grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals.
- When the walnuts are added, could you be sure to use the pulse option? You want the final product to be something other than gummy or over-processed.
- This walnut meat will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer and makes a fantastic meal prep or make-ahead meal!
- You can freeze walnut taco meat for up to 3 months. To thaw, place in the refrigerator overnight.
- This vegan taco meat can be eaten raw or cooked.
Nutrition
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! 🙂
Kim
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.
Kathy Carmichael
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 🙂
Donna Flaherty
For now, this brand is no longer available.
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Donna, what brand are you referring to?