Vegan Tacos with Pickled Onion and Cashew Queso

|Updated Sep 28, 2021

@Twospoons.ca

Turn up your taco night with this homemade vegan recipe that features cashew queso, pickled onions, a variety of different spices, and fresh herbs – Here's how to make them.

Each taco is a colorful work of art topped with crunchy fresh vegetables and drizzled with creamy cashew queso. The 'meat' in this vegan recipe is your choice of a favorite plant-based meat alternative, lentils, or extra firm tofu. You'll surprise yourself and your guests by how similar the alternatives taste to the real thing, even lentils make for a hearty meat-like protein.

These tacos are the perfect recipe to serve at your fiesta or make for your carnivore friend who claims they can't give up meat-filled tacos because this recipe proves plant-based food to be just as, if not more delicious than the non-vegan version.

Recipe Developer: Hannah Sunderani, @twospoons.ca
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Vegan Tacos with Pickled Onion and Cashew Queso

Serves 4 people

Ingredients

Vegan Taco Meat:

2 tbsp coconut oil
12 oz plant-based ground or lentils (green or black), or extra-firm tofu (cut into small chunks)
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tbsp chili powder
1/4 tsp chili flakes
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp maple syrup
pinch sea salt

Toppings:

8 corn tortillas
1 cup Vegan Queso
1/2 cup pickled onions (see notes)
1/4 cup cilantro finely chopped
2 spring onions finely chopped
1 lime

Instructions

In a large skillet, combine coconut oil and plant-based ground. Cook on medium heat for 3-5 minutes, or until the plant-based ground starts to brown.
Then add spices: onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, chili flakes, nutritional yeast, tomato paste, soy sauce, maple syrup, and a pinch of sea salt. Mix together to combine until warmed and lightly browned. (5-10 mins)
Scoop vegan taco meat into corn tortillas and top with dollops of Vegan Queso.
Sprinkle with pickled onions, cilantro, green onions, and a squeeze of lime.

Nutritional

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