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Cauliflower Taco Meat. Easy 1 Pan Cauliflower Walnut Crumble. No Skillet needed .Use in tacos, wraps, burrito, nachos, salads! Vegan Glutenfree Soyfree Recipe. Can be nut-free. Jump to Recipe
Tacos need a filling that is flavorful, has texture, is easy and versatile. This Cauliflower Walnut filling fits perfectly! All the flavor, all the texture! Change up the spices and herbs for variation in flavor.
Pulse the walnuts and onion in a food processor, then pulse cauliflower, spices. Then spread the mixture and bake until preferred consistency. No stove top cooking needed. 1 Processor to 1 baking dish.
Change up the flavors to preference. I use my own chili powder blend. Change that up with different Mexican chilies for flavor variation. Add some bbq sauce for bbq crumble and clumpier. Use Cajun blend or Jamaican jerk blend. This taco “meat” is bean and lentil free. Add some spiced beans or refried beans to the tacos if you like.
Add this Taco meat to this Enchilada, or Spanish Rice Bowl, top these Nachos or add to this Lentil Tortilla Soup.
More Taco fillings, easy Carrot Walnut Taco Meat, Mango BBQ Soycurl/jackfruit Tacos. Berbere Spiced Jackfruit Tacos so much flavor!, Chipotle Shredded Butternut Tacos
Cauliflower Taco Meat - Cauliflower Walnut Taco Filling
Ingredients
Cauliflower Walnut "Taco" Meat:
- 1/2 cup raw walnuts
- 1/2 small onion, chopped
- 1/2 jalapeno, optional
- 1 small head of cauliflower, chopped into florets
- 1/2 medium tomato, , or 2 tbsp salsa, or oil packed sundried tomato
- 2 tbsp or more chili powder blend, (recipe that I use below)
- zest of a lime
- 1/2 tsp salt
Cilantro Avocado Cream:
- 1 avocado
- juice of 1 lime
- 1/4 tsp or more salt
- 1/4 cup cilantro
- a dash of black pepper and cayenne
Chili Blend:
- 1.5 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 2 tsp paprika, (1 tsp sweet and 1 tsp smoked or 1.5 sweet and 1/2 tsp smoked for less heat)
- 1/2 tsp each of garlic powder, onion powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp ancho chili powder
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder or flakes
- a good dash of ground cinnamon, , all spice/clove, black pepper, cayenne
Instructions
- Line a large baking dish with parchment. Preheat the oven to 375 deg F (190 C ).
- Process the walnuts, onion and jalapeno until coarse mixture in a food processor.
- Add cauliflower florets and tomato and pulse a few times to break some of the large cauliflower pieces.
- Add the spices, salt, zest, 1 tsp oil and process until the cauliflower is evenly shredded. If using store bought chili blend, add 1/4 tsp or more chipotle chili flakes/powder and dashes of ground cinnamon, clove and black pepper for additional flavor.
- Transfer the cauliflower walnut mixture to the parchment lined baking dish. Spread evenly.
- Bake at 375 degrees F for 35 to 45 minutes. Move the mixture around twice in between. The onion should start caramelizing and the mixture should be crumbly but not overly dry. (taste the mixture carefully when moving it around the second time and add salt, spices if needed **). Bake until desired consistency.
- Cilantro Avocado Cream: Blend all the ingredients with 1/3 cup or more water until smooth. Add more lime juice or salt to taste.
- Assemble the tacos in warm tortillas with warm taco meat, salsa, avocado dressing, cilantro, jalapeno/pickled jalapeno and serve. Or add the taco meat to burritos, Nachos, Enchiladas, Salads.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What does NaN mean. Thank you. Btw, I love your recipes x
Not sure what you mean do you mean naan the flatbread??
I omitted the tomato, lime and jalapeños due to food allergies and added some grated carrots instead along with red peppers. Delicious! I made stuffed twice baked potatoes with this as the stuffing to serve at a small dinner party tomorrow. I can’t wait to try it again with other seasonings. I really don’t like the processed vegan meats and am so happy to find your recipe. This will be my new ‘go to’ for ‘meat’. Thank you!
yay! so glad you enjoyed. don’t forget to rate!
Could you make this only using cauliflower?
I don’t see why not.
It’s become a staple. I make the meat and pico de gallo and skip the chile blend and avocado cream — It all comes together quickly and even my meat-eater friends request it.
Awesome
Delicious!! Added chipotle pepper(wet) instead of jalapeño + sun dried tomatoes. I have extras so later this week I’ll make enchiladas.
Thank you.
Awesome!!
Just made this for lunch and it’s absolutely delicious! A million times better than any store- bought crumble. Another winner 🙂
Yay!!
Can you freeze this recipe?
Thank you
yes, when you reheat a pan would be best
I adore this recipe!
I would love to try this recipe. Can I use cauliflower rice instead of florets or will it differentiate the consistency too much?
You can but it will just have a finer texture! 🙂
I put my cauliflower and nuts through my veggie bullet with the large grater attachment. It riced them perfectly so it is the consistency of cooked ground beef. This would work with any food processor that has a grater attachment I would think.