Walnut Meat Tacos Recipe (2024)

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These walnut meat vegan tacos made in one pan are everything you can expect from the most delicious, savory and filling tacos + also good for you. Be extra with a drizzle of our delicious cashew queso, a homemade salsa and a fresh squeeze of lime.

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Walnut Meat

This savory vegan taco meat is made from good for you walnuts and an aromatic base of onion, capers and sun dried tomatoes finely chopped to get lost in texture but shine through in flavor. It’s easy to make with or without a food processor, beyond delicious wrapped in your favorite tortillas but also super versatile.

About the Walnuts

I like to start with raw walnuts that I roughly chop before soaking in boiling hot water to get them as soft as possible. Usually a 45 minute soak will suffice, however if you remember to soak ahead overnight or the entire day it’s probably going to yield an even more tender texture. Pecans could be used in lieu of walnuts if desired.

Walnut Meat Seasonings

If you have a favorite taco seasoning mix you most certainly can use it here. I keep a well stocked drawer of spices and just mix my own during cooking. I prefer to go light on the cumin as to not overpower the other flavors, feel free to adjust to your taste buds desire.

Ingredient Notes + Tips

  • Onion – Classic aromatic base, I take my time here to actually achieve a little caramelization around the edges for the best depth of flavor.
  • Capers – Salty brined capers a major component of the flavor base here bringing a deep savory layer to the dish.
  • Sun Dried Tomatoes – Finely chopped and sautéed together with the onion for both sweetness and little salty bits throughout, this really elevates the flavor profile of every bite. I used the dried pieces I keep stored in an airtight jar in the pantry as I try to avoid the ones packed in oil. Those will work just fine in this recipe but must be avoided for WFPB + Plantricious guidelines.
  • Tomato Paste – Double concentrated for its thick saucy consistency and natural sweetness to balance the savory earthy spice mix.
  • Tamari – A couple of teaspoons of low sodium tamari is all that’s needed to bring the umami flavor profile together into a perfect meaty walnut filling.
  • Sumac – I love adding a good pinch of t his floral and citrusy spice to my taco seasonings. I also love using it as you would a finishing salt, a little sprinkle before serving so I can get a little taste of the lime flavor in every bite. It can certainly be omitted and subbed for a squeeze of fresh lime, I’m just really fond of this lovely spice.
  • No Food Processor? – No problem! Although it does make the job so much easier, you can also chop the walnuts by hand after soaking until a very small mince texture is achieved.

Recipe Variation

  • Add Mushrooms – About one cup of diced brown button mushrooms would work well here. Make sure to sautee them first until all moisture is evaporated and increase your seasonings to taste.
  • Instead of tacos you can use this nut meat in a salad, lettuce wraps, to make delicious nachos, chili, sloppy joes, burritos and the ultimate Crunchwrap!
  • Stuffed Peppers – Cut the peppers lengthwise, discard core, fill and bake in tomato sauce covered for 1 hour at 375″F.
  • Vegan Bolognese– Omit the cumin, mix in a batch of homemade tomato sauce and toss with spaghetti for a delicious good for you pasta dinner.

Storage + Reheating

A great recipe to make ahead, refrigerate up to a week or freeze for later in lidded containers. It can be reheated in a skillet on the stove top straight out of the freezer or spread on a baking sheet and placed under the broiler for a few minutes until golden around the edges. This step can also be done just after the initial cooking for a nuttier flavor for your tacos.

Toppings

  • Cashew Queso
  • Vegan Aioli or Sour Cream
  • Mango Avocado Sauce
  • Peach Salsa
  • Tomato Salsa
  • Easy Chimichurri Sauce
  • Chive Pesto
  • Avocado Mango Salsa
  • Coconut Spinach Rice.

how to make vegan walnut taco meat

Walnut Meat Tacos Recipe (8)

5 from 1 vote

Walnut Meat Tacos

These walnut meat vegan tacos made in one pan are everything you can expect from the most delicious, savory and filling tacos + also good for you. Be extra with a drizzle of our delicious cashew queso, a homemade salsa and a fresh squeeze of lime.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:15 minutes mins

soaking:45 minutes mins

Total Time:1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Roughly chop the walnut pieces and place them in a bowl. Cover with boiling water and allow them to soak for 45 minutes or overnight. Drain well and transfer to the food processor bowl. Using the pulse button (pressing and stopping), chop the walnuts until finely minced but with a nice ground texture. (Do not over-process, make sure to keep some texture and do not turn this into walnut butter 😉 ).

    2 cups raw walnut pieces

  • Preheat a large heavy bottom skillet over medium low heat. Add a light drizzle of olive oil (or water for WFPB) and sautee the onion until softened, translucent and starts to get some color. Give it a good 10 minutes or so.

    1 yellow onion

  • Finely chop the sun dried tomatoes and add them to the pan with the onions. Give it a good mix then add the capers. Sautee a few more minutes together then push the mixture to the sides to create some space in the center of the pan.

    4-5 sun dried tomatoes, 1 Tbsp capers

  • Drizzle a tiny drop of oil in the center and add the garlic. Cook about 20 seconds just until fragrant taking care not to burn it at all. Stir well.

    1 garlic clove

  • Add In the the spices: coriander, cumin, onion powder, paprika, oregano, chili flakes and sumac if using. Toss to coat well for a minute or so until you can smell the aroma of the spices blooming. Stir in the tomato paste until combined well.

    1.5 Tbsp tomato paste, 1 Tbsp onion powder, 2 tsp coriander, 2 tsp oregano, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp cumin + more to taste, 1 pinch red chili flakes, 2-3 tsp sumac

  • Add the walnut meat and toss to coat well with everything in the pan. If needed add a drop of water to help lift up any spices from the bottom of the pan and loosen tings up. Stir in the tamari and adjust seasonings. Remove from heat.

    2 cups raw walnut pieces, 2 tsp tamari

  • Serve the walnut meat in tacos topped with vegan queso, sour cream, tomato salsa, lime wedges and all your favorite toppings.

WFPB + Plantricious

  • Omit or replace any oil in the recipe with a splash of water or veggie stock. Use whole grain oil-free tortillas to make your. tacos.

    Walnut Meat Tacos Recipe (9)

Video

Notes

  • Storage + Reheating-A great recipe to make ahead, refrigerate up to a week or freeze for later in lidded containers. It can be reheated in a skillet on the stove top straight out of the freezer or spread on a baking sheet and placed under the broiler for a few minutes until golden around the edges. This step can also be done just after the initial cooking for a nuttier flavor for your tacos.
  • Add Mushrooms - About one cup of diced brown button mushrooms would work well here. Make sure to sautee them first until all moisture is evaporated and increase your seasonings to taste.
  • No Food Processor? - No problem! Although it does make the job so much easier, you can also chop the walnuts by hand after soaking until a very small mince texture is achieved.

Nutrition

Calories: 420kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 28g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 201mg | Potassium: 503mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 651IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 3mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Latin

Keyword: vegan tacos, walnut meat

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 420kcal

Author: Florentina

Walnut Meat Tacos Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long does walnut meat last in the fridge? ›

Storage Instructions

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!

What is walnut meat made of? ›

Walnut meat is where you essentially soften the walnuts in hot water before chopping them and adding them to a pan with different flavorings and seasonings to mimic certain proteins. Some walnut meat is made with beans as well, and then pulsed in a food processor.

Is walnut meat healthy? ›

Grinding walnuts into walnut meat is one unique way to upgrade the health factor of your recipes that call for ground meat. Walnuts have a low carbohydrate content, but when you factor in the incredible amount of fiber, up to 50%, as part of the carbohydrates, this value is truly impressive.

What can I add to taco meat to make it go further? ›

Potatoes!! The potato skin to be exact. I asked the waiter about this and he said that's what gives it its creaminess and that his mother used to add potatoes (and sometimes pinto beans) to their ground beef to make it go further. They had a lot of mouths to feed and potatoes were a lot cheaper than meat.

Does walnut meat go bad? ›

Walnuts go rancid when exposed to warm temperatures for long periods of time. Heat causes the fat in walnuts to change structure, which creates off odors and flavors. Fresh walnuts smell mildly nutty and taste sweet. If your walnuts smell like paint thinner, you know they're rancid.

How long before walnuts go rancid? ›

Nuts with higher fat content, like walnuts and pecans can also go rancid after a few months if stored at too warm a temperature. If you notice that your nuts have taken on a noticeably bitter, sour flavor, they may have entered this unfortunate phase.

Why are some walnut meats black? ›

One of the more common causes of the shriveled nut meats could be a fungus disease called anthracnose. This disease mostly affects the leaves of walnut and many other tree species, especially in years with wet springs. However, it can also cause the nutmeats to become dark and shriveled.

Can raw walnut be eaten? ›

What's more, walnuts are usually eaten raw. So they have greater antioxidant abilities than nuts that are usually eaten roasted. (Antioxidants help prevent or reduce the artery-damaging oxidation that contributes to heart disease).

Why are walnuts so cheap? ›

Despite the lower production, walnut prices have been depressed, leading a number of growers to remove orchards from production over the past year, the CWB said. Heavy supplies of uncharacteristically dark kernels and poor export demand were blamed for the challenging market conditions.

Is there a downside to eating walnuts? ›

Excess calories are an obesity risk. Allergy. Among the tree nuts, walnuts and cashews most frequently cause allergic reactions in America. Allergies to walnuts can appear as skin rashes, digestive problems, or respiratory symptoms like cough and wheezing.

Do walnuts lower blood pressure? ›

At the end of the trial, people who were eating walnuts daily showed the greatest benefit on lowering central blood pressure. Central blood pressure is a measure of the pressure exerted on internal organs like the heart and is considered an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Is walnut good or bad for weight loss? ›

Walnuts. Stimulate parts of the brain that control appetite, reducing overall hunger. Associated with the same amount of weight reduction as a low-fat diet despite being higher in fat and calories.

What makes tacos taste better? ›

Not enough people use cilantro. Iceberg lettuce can be refreshing in a burrito, but when it comes to tacos, cilantro, onion and lime are king. I know Tex-Mex enthusiasts love their dairy on a taco. Big pinches of cheddar cheese that lack flavor or the ability to melt.

What is the favorite meat for tacos? ›

Carna Asada

Carne Asada is the most common taco meat. Photo by Travis Yewell on Unsplash. Carne Asada is certainly the most popular meat for tacos, and it's plain to see why.

How to make super fine taco meat? ›

Boiling ground beef is the best way to cook it so that it comes out in small, fine crumbles. Trust me, this is the secret to all those amazing tacos and pasta sauces at your favorite restaurant! It's also a healthier option, because the boiling process helps separate the fat from the meat, and it comes out quite lean.

How long does nut meat last? ›

Usage Instructions. Once opened, refrigerate and use within 3 days.

How do you store black walnut meat? ›

Once the walnuts are cracked, store the nutmeat in an airtight container in the refrigerator for six months, or freezer for up to a year. You'll need to crack about two pounds of black walnuts in the shell to yield about one cup of walnut meat.

How long can plant-based meat be refrigerated? ›

The longevity of plant-based meat alternatives in the fridge can vary. Typically, in their unopened state, these products remain fresh for about a week to 10 days. However, this duration can differ based on the brand and specific product type.

Should walnut pieces be refrigerated? ›

Answer. Most shoppers are not aware that it is important to store walnuts in the refrigerator or freezer to maintain freshness, instead of the pantry. Proper storage is important to protect the essential plant-based omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in walnuts.

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