Vegan Taco Meat with Tofu and Walnuts

This Vegan Taco Meat is made with extra-firm tofu and walnuts and has amazing texture and flavor! Stuff it into a taco, enjoy it on a salad, or mix it with your pasta!

I didn’t mean to post so many tofu recipes in a row, but I really love them these days! Tofu is packed with protein, easy to cook, low in carbs, and can be used as a meat substitute in many different recipes. I hope you like it because this Vegan Taco Meat is so good!

I make a lot of tacos, like a lottttt of them. I usually make them with some type of bean, lots of seasonings, and pile on the toppings. I love bean tacos, but I wanted to do something a little different. The tofu gives this vegan taco meat great texture and the walnuts add a little bit of fat.

Why Your Body Will Love This Vegan Taco Meat Recipe

• Total Tofu – Tofu is a terrific meat-free protein source; half a cup of firm tofu contains nearly 22 grams. It’s also rich in calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, contributing to healthy bones. The isoflavones found in tofu may even prevent bone disease in women. They also reduce the not-so-great form of cholesterol, lowering the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
• Heart Health – Walnuts are an awesome source of omega-3 fatty acids, such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which reduces inflammation and lowers cholesterol levels. They’ve also been shown to improve blood pressure and lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases. 
• Brain Health – Walnuts also contain antioxidants and polyphenols that help brain cells avoid damage and improve cognitive function, focus, and memory.

What You’ll Need For This Meat-less Recipe

• Tofu – I pretty much always use the same kind of tofu in every recipe I make. I love the Super Firm, high-protein tofu you can get at Sprouts or Trader Joe’s. It’s pre-pressed, and as the name states, it’s super firm, which helps give this vegan taco meat a really great texture.
• Walnuts – If you’re allergic to nuts, you can omit the walnuts, but I love the bite they give this taco meat. They also help to add a nice fatty flavor. I use raw walnuts that I grind up in the food processor for a few seconds.
• Spices – This recipe calls for several spices you may already have in your cupboard. If you don’t, try to find a store with a bulk spice section to buy just what you need instead of an entire container.
• Tomato Paste – You just need a few teaspoons of tomato paste. I mix it with water at the end to ensure the vegan taco meat isn’t dry. You could just use water, but I like the slight tomato flavor that the tomato pasta adds.

How To Make Vegan Taco Meat

It’s super easy to make and only requires a few steps!

1. Crumble the tofu with your fingers and cook with some olive oil until brown.
2. Add the walnuts to a food processor and blend until they’re crumb-like.
3. Add the seasonings to a small bowl and mix until combined. Then, add the walnuts and seasoning to the tofu and mix.
4. Stir the tomato paste with a few tablespoons of water and add it to the taco meat. Cook until everything is heated through, and enjoy!  

How To Use This Vegan Taco Meat

There are so many ways to enjoy it!  Here are just a few ways that I use it:

• In tacos and burritos (I have a delicious Vegan Taco recipe coming on Thursday!
• Mix a taco salad with lettuce, veggies, and chips.
• Mix into spaghetti sauce and enjoy over pasta. If you do this, you can adjust the seasonings slightly, leaving out the cumin and adding extra dried Italian Seasoning.
• Sprinkle over nachos.

This Vegan Taco Meat is my go-to when I want a filling Mexican-style meal but don’t want to add too many extra carbs with all the beans. It’s super flavorful and so versatile! I hope you enjoy it, too. Don’t forget to leave a comment with how you used it!

Do you have a question about this recipe? Ask me in the comments, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

Looking For More Vegan Meat Recipes?

• Spicy Baked Pasta with Vegetarian Meatballs
• Vegetarian Meatball Subs with Vegetables
• Vegan Lentil Meatloaf Cups
• Vegetarian Pumpkin Sloppy Joes
• Vegetarian Meatball Sliders with White Beans

Vegan Taco Meat with Tofu and Walnuts

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5 from 3 reviews

• Author: She Likes Food
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

This Vegan Taco Meat is made with extra firm tofu and walnuts and is so flavorful with great texture!

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Ingredients

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• 2 teaspoons olive oil, or oil of choice
• `1 package extra firm tofu (14-16 oz)
• 1/2 cup raw walnuts
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons water

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Instructions

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil.  Use your fingers to crumble up the tofu into bite size pieces and place it in the pan.  Cook tofu until starting to brown, about 15 minutes.
2. Add walnuts to a food processor and blend until they have a crumb-like texture.  Add all spices to a small bowl and mix until combined.
3. Add the walnuts and spices to the tofu and stir.  In a small bowl, mix together the water and tomato paste.  Pour over the tofu mixture, stir and cook until all water has cooked out.  Add Vegan Taco Meat to your desired dish and enjoy!

Notes

This Vegan Taco Meat would be great to use a ground beef substitute on pasta.  I would just suggest omitting the cumin and smoked paprika and upping the dried oregano.

• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins
• Category: Vegan, Gluten Free
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Mexican