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cilantro lime vegan walnut taco meat in a white bowl with chopped cilantro, garlic, onion and lime
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Cilantro Lime Vegan Walnut Taco Meat

An easy and flavorful cilantro lime vegan taco meat made with walnuts. The perfect plant-based addition to homemade tacos, quesadillas or salads!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time30 minutes

Equipment

  • cutting board + knife
  • measuring cup + spoons
  • food processor
  • cast iron pan (or large skillet)

Ingredients

  • 1 heaping cup raw walnuts, soaked for 20 min then rinsed
  • 1 small/medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 scant cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil*
  • 1 tablespoon liquid aminos (sub coconut aminos or tamari)
  • ½ teaspoon each of cumin, paprika, chipotle (or chili) powder
  • ¼ teaspoon iodized salt (sub with salt of choice)
  • ½ small lime
  • ¼-½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

  • Soak: first, soak walnuts in cool water.
  • Chop and sauté: While the walnuts soak, dice onions and mince garlic.
    Warm a skillet over medium-low heat. Once warm, add a tablespoon of avocado oil and the onions. Stir occasionally and continue to cook until the onions are translucent and start to turn golden (about 4 minutes). Add garlic when the onions are close to being done and turn the heat down to low.
  • Grind walnuts: rinse and drain walnuts and add to the food processor. Pulse into a coarse sand like texture (about 10-15 seconds). Add to the skillet.
  • Season: add the liquid aminos, cumin, paprika, chipotle powder, and salt. Turn the heat back up slightly and stir until the ingredients are well combined and the walnuts have darkened in color (it takes about a minute or so)
    *if the "meat" begins to stick to the pan, add another small drizzle of avocado oil or a tiny splash of water.
  • Garnish: Remove from heat and add fresh chopped cilantro and lime juice. Stir and enjoy!

Notes

Recipe yields 2-5 servings, depending on what the taco meat is used on. 
Serving ideas: enjoy this walnut taco meat on tacos, burritos, salads, dips, or grain bowls. Check out the blog post for all the details and more ideas! 
Store this cilantro lime vegan walnut taco meat in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to 5-7 days.
Reheat: for the tastiest leftovers, add desired amount to a warm skillet with a small splash of water and cover for 2-4 minutes or until warmed. It can also be microwaved for 20-30 seconds, be sure to also add just a tiny bit of water in the bowl to prevent the walnuts from being too dry. 
*If you live outside of the US, chili powder is much more intense so use ⅛-1/4 teaspoon to start and adjust as needed.