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Vegan Taco Meat Recipe with Cauliflower & Walnuts

Cauliflower mushroom walnut vegan taco meat in shell on metal tray.
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5 from 43 reviews

Hearty vegan taco meat made with walnuts, mushrooms, cauliflower, and savory spices. A healthy vegan meat substitute from whole food ingredients. It has great texture, so much flavor, and is easy to make. There’s also a nut-free option included!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 12–ounce bag of riced cauliflower or one small head of cauliflower
  • 4–5 chopped mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup walnuts (optional)
  • 3 Tbs low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
  • 2 tsp. chipotle chili powder
  • 2 Tbsp. chili powder
  • 1 Tbsp paprika
  • 2 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 Tablespoon of tomato paste
  • 1 Tablespoon of adobo sauce (optional)
  • 1 tsp liquid smoke
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper for a little heat (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. 
  2. Combine all of the ingredients, except for the tomato paste and adobo sauce, in a food processor and process until it has a ground beef-like consistency. Transfer the mixture to the skillet, add the rest of the ingredients, stir, and cook for 10 minutes.
  3. Reduce the heat to low and continue cooking for another 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust the seasonings accordingly. (NOTE: If the pan looks too dry or the vegan taco meat sticks, add a splash of water and stir.)
  4. Remove from the heat and enjoy!

Equipment

Notes

  • Don’t over-process: You want some texture for bulk and crumbles. Blending too much will create more of a paste than a ground beef consistency.
  • Bake it: If you want “crispier” vegan taco meat, you can bake it after cooking it on the stove. Spread the mixture evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake for 15 minutes at 350˚F. 
  • Use raw walnuts: Do not use walnuts that have been salted and roasted. They are usually coated in oil, and it will affect the final outcome in both texture and taste.
  • Veggie taco meat is a great make-ahead recipe. It remains fresh for up to 5 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. 
  • Walnut meat is ideal for batch cooking and meal preparation since you can effortlessly prepare large quantities at once, and any extras freeze perfectly. Place the vegan taco meat in a freezer-safe container and store frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://shaneandsimple.com/vegan-taco-meat/