You will never believe this vegan taco meat is plant based, dairy free and gluten free. It is so simple to make and will be a crowd pleaser for everyone. This can be made for tacos, nachos, quesadillas or everything else you enjoy taco meat with!
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Football and tailgate season is upon us! The weather is also getting much cooler and it seems like most people are hosting more than traveling. With that said, every party needs a good appetizer! Or even if you are having a few friends over, nachos and tacos are always a good move. This vegan taco meat is the perfect addition whether you are plant based, vegan, gluten free or a meat lover. Trust me – the texture is so similar to regular to taco meat and the spices give it a ton of flavor!
Most recipes for vegan taco meat I have seen use walnuts or some kind of nut. Personally, I have not thought they had the right taste and texture. Meat is not typically that tough or nutty so I set out to make a recipe completely not free but also with whole ingredients! Second to the “walnut meat” I see is the Beyond Meat or some kind of chemically processed fake ground meat. And I do not know about anyone else, but they also tend to make my stomach not feel the best.
SO… what will I need to make Vegan Taco Meat?
- Tofu
- Tomato Paste
- Olive Oil
- Coconut Aminos
- Spices!
- And of course, the taco meat vehicle of choice
The first step to making the vegan taco meat is arguably the most important in my opinion and completely not optional for a similar texture.
The first step is to press the tofu. To press the tofu, start by removing it from the container and draining it. Wrap the tofu between paper towels and place on top of a plate or cutting board. Then grab a sturdy and heavy object to place on top. I typically use a few plates! If you are a tofu pro, you may have a tofu press and I will agree that that is most likely the best option. But for most people, go on a kitchen hunt to find your best objects!
You will want to press the tofu for 15 minutes to make sure we get as much excess liquid out as possible. If you are interested in buying a tofu press, check this one out!
What do I use vegan taco meat for?
So many different options! For that classic Mexican dish, add it to tacos, nachos, taco salads or quesadillas. You can also add it with a baked potato or roasted veggies! Even better, you could always adjust the kinds of spices to make an Italian bolognese, Asian stir fry or add into a hearty soup for the chillier nights ahead of us.
Can I freeze it?
I would not recommend freezing this, as the texture will not be the same. You can keep this in the fridge in a container for up one week!
Can I make any substitutions or add more ingredients?
- Tofu: This is the main ingredient so I would not recommend any other plant based proteins, as they would require a different cooking process.
- Coconut aminos: Soy sauce, low sodium soy sauce or tamari can be substituted. This adds a specific salty-like flavor component to the dish so I would not recommend leaving out but you can adjust to 1/2 tablespoon
- Garlic and onion powder: Omit for Low FODMAP
- Dried oregano: You can absolutely use fresh oregano. Chop up well and adjust to 1 tsp fresh oregano
Need more plant based recipes? Check these out!
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Vegan Taco Meat
Equipment
- Baking Pan
Ingredients
- 1 block extra firm tofu pressed
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos sub low sodium soy sauce or tamari
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start by pressing your tofu between paper towels. Use something heavy to remove a good amount of excess liquid. Press for 15 minutes
- Preheat the oven to 400°F
- In a mixing bowl, combine the tomato paste, olive oil, coconut aminos, smoked paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt and pepper. This will form a paste like texture
- Once the tofu is done being pressed, crumble into the mixing bowl with the taco spice "paste". These should be crumbles similar in size to ground meat you would typically have
- Using a spoon or spatula, mix together the crumbled tofu and the taco spice "paste" until it is all evenly coated
- Place of a parchment paper lined baking sheet in an even layer (or a greased baking pan).
- Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes. Toss around and bake for another 5-7 minutes or until it is golden.
- Add to tacos, nachos or anything of choice!
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