Vegan Tacos with Pickled Onion and Cashew Queso

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

1. 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.
2. 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)
3. Scoop vegan taco meat into corn tortillas and top with dollops of Vegan Queso.
4. Sprinkle with pickled onions, cilantro, green onions, and a squeeze of lime.

Nutritional 

Calories 345 | Total Fat 15.7g | Saturated Fat 6.2g | Sodium 952mg | Total Carbohydrates 32.8g | Dietary Fiber 5g | Total Sugars 4.2g | Protein 22.4g | Calcium 188mg | Iron 3mg | Potassium 335mg |