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    Home » Recipes » Vegan Main Dishes

    Vegan Walnut Taco Meat

    Published: Mar 24, 2023 · Updated: Apr 4, 2023 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    vegan taco meat recipe
    vegan taco meat recipe
    vegan taco meat recipe

    Take Taco Tuesday up a notch with this easy vegan walnut taco meat - made from a hearty combination of cremini mushrooms and walnuts, plus your favorite Tex-Mex seasonings! 

    close up of tacos made with vegan walnut taco meat
    Jump to:
    • How to Make Vegan Walnut Taco Meat 
    • Tools You'll Need
    • Tips for Success 
    • Variations to this Vegan Taco Meat
    • FAQs for this Vegan Walnut Taco Meat Recipe
    • More Tasty Vegan Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Tacos are one of my all time favorite easy weeknight dinners. They're just so simple and quick to throw together with whatever veggies and beans I have in the pantry.

    But for a really hearty vegan taco, you can't beat this walnut taco meat. Use the vegan taco meat for topping salads, filling tortillas, or even serving over top of a baked potato.

    This Vegan Walnut Taco Meat Is..

    • Meatless.
    • Plant Based.
    • Seasoned Perfectly with Mexican flavors. 
    • Versatile.
    • Great for a Family Friendly Vegan Dinner.

    How to Make Vegan Walnut Taco Meat 

    vegan taco meat being prepared

    Full steps on how to make this vegan walnut taco meat is in the printable recipe card. This is a quick walk through. 

    1. In a food processor, combine the nuts and mushrooms and pulse. 
    2. Then in a skillet, sauté the onion and garlic. 
    3. Toss in the nuts and mushrooms and cook for 4-5 minutes. 
    4. Add in the soy sauce and spices and cook until thickened.
    5. Serve as a taco filler!

    Tools You'll Need

    walnuts and mushrooms being processed in the food processor

    Food Processor 

    Make sure to use a food processor for this recipe. If you don't have a food processor a high speed blender will work also. Just pulse the ingredients to combine. Don't mix too much or you will end up with a paste!

    Heavy Skillet 

    Reach for a nice, large skillet for cooking up the taco meat. This is going to let you spread out the walnut-mushroom mixture in a single layer, and ensure an even cook on all the ingredients.

    Tips for Success 

    vegan walnut taco meat being served with tortillas and taco toppings

    Don't Overmix the Walnuts and Nuts

    It is important that your nuts and the mushrooms are chopped up finely in a food processor, but not overprocessed into a paste. You want a rough, crumbly texture - like traditional taco meat.

    Allow Mixture to Thicken

    It is important to cook the mushrooms and nuts down with the spices as directed. Let it all break down and thicken together with the liquids. You don't want walnut soup - you want a cohesive mixture.

    Variations to this Vegan Taco Meat

    serving the vegan walnut taco meat over tortillas

    Mix up the Seasonings 

    You can change up the spices in this recipe to suit your own taste. Or you can use your favorite store bought taco seasoning packet that you know and love.

    Mushroom Varieties

    I find that cremini mushrooms work best for this walnut-mushroom taco meat, but you can swap with your own favorite mushrooms as well. Shiitake mushrooms are also a good option!

    Coconut Aminos 

    Feel free to use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce in the recipe if you wish. It will give you a similar flavor, but is gluten free. 

    FAQs for this Vegan Walnut Taco Meat Recipe

    a spoonful of vegan taco meat

    What does walnut meat taste like?

    Walnut meat has a rich, nutty flavor and a firm, crunchy texture. Some people describe the taste of walnuts as earthy, while others find them slightly sweet.

    Raw walnuts may have a more mild and sweet flavor, while roasted or toasted walnuts can have a more pronounced nutty taste. Overall, walnuts are a versatile and delicious ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads and baked goods to savory sauces and spreads.

    What nuts taste like meat?

    Well, no nuts really taste like meat. (And I don't know why you would really want them to.) But walnuts are often used in meat replacements because they can give a similar texture and umami flavor in many recipes.

    Can I meal prep this walnut taco meat for dinners and lunches for the week? 

    Yes, you can definitely meal prep this vegan taco meat. Cook up the walnut taco meat and store it in an air tight container in the fridge. Add a splash of water when you reheat to prevent the mixture from drying out too much, then reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

    More Tasty Vegan Recipes

    If you love this vegan walnut taco meat, be sure to check out these other delicious plant based ideas:

    • 27 Vegan Taco Recipes for #TacoTuesday
    • Vegan Quinoa Tacos
    • Vegan Cauliflower Power Tacos
    • Best Vegan Portobello Mushroom Recipes

    Recipe

    vegan taco meat recipe

    Vegan Walnut Taco Meat

    This easy vegan walnut taco meat is made from a hearty combination of cremini mushrooms and walnuts, plus your favorite Tex-Mex seasonings! 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate Email
    Course: Healthy Snack, Lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: vegan taco meat, vegan taco meat walnuts, vegan taco meat walnuts and mushrooms, Vegan Tacos, walnut mushroom meat recipe, walnut taco meat, walnut tacos
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 453kcal
    Author: Veg Kitchen

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups walnuts
    • 8 oz cremini mushrooms
    • 1 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 medium onion diced
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoons chili powder
    • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • In a large food processor, add the walnuts and mushrooms and pulse until finely diced, set aside
      vegan taco meat recipe
    • In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and saute the onion and garlic until translucent, about 3-4 minutes
      vegan taco meat recipe
    • Add the walnuts and mushrooms and continue cooking until the mushrooms have softened, an additional 4-5 minutes
      vegan taco meat recipe
    • Add the soy sauce, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano and salt and cook, stirring frequently.
      vegan taco meat recipe
    • Continue to cook until most of the moisture evaporates and a thicker sauce is left
      vegan taco meat recipe
    • Serve with your favorite taco toppings
      vegan taco meat recipe

    Nutrition

    Calories: 453kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 28g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 583mg | Potassium: 634mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 665IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 3mg
    Vegan-ize any recipe!Grab our free vegan cheat sheet, packed with my favorite easy substitutions to make any recipe vegan.

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    Hi, I'm Nicole! I'm the creator behind VegKitchen, and the author of the popular cookbook, Weeknight One Pot Vegan Cooking. Learn more about me here.

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