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Vegan Tex Mex cauliflower walnut meat in a bowl

Vegan Cauliflower Walnut Taco Meat (Oil-Free)

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  • Author: Melanie@Veggiejam
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 3-5 servings 1x

Description

This bold and smoky vegan cauliflower walnut taco meat is your new Tex Mex go-to! Made with wholesome ingredients — no processed products — it's incredibly versatile and comes together in just 45 minutes. Perfect for tacos, burrito bowls, nachos, and more.


Ingredients

Scale
  • ~3 cups (350 g) cauliflower florets
  • 1/2 cup (60 g) walnut halves
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari*
  • 1 tbsp chili powder**
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika or ½ tsp liquid smoke (optional)


Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F) fan.
  2. Process the cauliflower florets briefly in a food processor until you get a rice-like texture. Transfer to a large bowl.
  3. Add the walnuts to the food processor and pulse until you have a coarse crumble. Mix with the cauliflower.
  4. Stir together the tomato paste, soy sauce, and all spices to form a thick paste.
  5. Pour the spice paste over the cauliflower-walnut mixture and mix until everything is evenly coated.
  6. Spread the mixture in an even layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  7. Bake on the middle rack for 15 minutes, then give it a good stir and bake for another 15 minutes until lightly and evenly browned.
  8. Use immediately or let cool and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

* If you use low-sodium soy sauce, add an extra ¼ teaspoon of salt.

** I'm referring to the spice blend here