Home » Recipes » Lunch

Chickpea and Walnut Meat Tacos [Walnut Chorizo Tacos]

Name: Chickpea and Walnut Meat Tacos [Walnut Chorizo Tacos]
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 cups of walnuts; 15 ounces of garbanzo beans (drained); 2 ½ tablespoons of vegetable oil; ½ Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar; 3 ½ tablespoons of taco seasoning; 6 to 8 corn tortillas; Chopped lettuce (optional); Diced tomatoes (optional); Vegan cheese (optional); Dollop of vegan sour cream (optional)

Published: May 30, 2022 · Modified: Sep 10, 2022 by Toni

These delicious walnut 'meat' tacos use homemade chickpea and walnut taco 'meat' for a filling loaded with flavor and protein, perfect for tacos, burritos, salads, and more! Gluten-free, dairy-free, meat-free, and ready in just 10 minutes!

completed walnut chorizo tacos with chorizo and veggies in the background against a white surface

Flavorful Vegan Chickpea and Walnut Meat Tacos

There is never a wrong time for tacos. They're simple to prepare, versatile, a crowd-pleaser, and really easy to make vegan! For example, these walnut 'meat' tacos rely on a simple combination of walnuts, chickpeas, and taco seasoning for 10-minute vegan taco meat filling loaded with flavor, heart-healthy fats, and plant-based protein!

The combination of chickpeas and walnuts helps to create a texture that works very well for mimicking 'meaty' crumbles. Meanwhile, the taco seasoning packs it with the classic taco flavors and transforms it into delicious vegan taco 'meat'.

Even better, the walnut 'meat' recipe (aka walnut chorizo) requires just 5 simple ingredients. Prepare it immediately for walnut chorizo tacos in under 20 minutes or even meal-prep a large batch of the vegan walnut taco 'meat' in just 10 minutes, several days in advance. Then, use it for tacos, burritos, and more, over several days!

Once prepared, load the walnut taco 'meat' into your tortillas with your favorite taco toppings for a versatile, quick, delicious, and crowd-pleasing meal!

The Walnut Chickpea Tacos Ingredients

separate bowls of ingredients for chorizo tacos against a white background

The Walnut Chorizo Taco 'Meat':

Walnuts: Use unsalted raw walnuts.
Garbanzo beans: Chickpeas work very well for creating a high-protein, hearty vegan taco meat. However, a lentil walnut taco meat would also work. I recommend using brown lentils or green lentils for the best texture.
Vegetable oil: Or any neutral cooking oil like avocado oil, etc.
Apple cider vinegar: Alternatively, use lemon or lime juice.
Taco seasoning: Choose a taco seasoning according to your desired spice level or make your own with a combination of smoked paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, and chili powder (regular or ancho- added to taste).

Depending on what dish you plan to use the walnut 'meat' for, you can experiment with the various seasonings. I.e., use garam masala/curry powder for an Indian version, Italian seasoning or oregano and sun-dried tomatoes for Italian/ Mediterranean, etc.

Other Ingredients:

Corn tortillas: Use store-bought or homemade soft corn tortillas. Flour tortillas or hard taco shells would also work.
Vegetables: Chopped lettuce and tomatoes (or a fresh tomato-based salsa like Pico de Gallo) make for great 'fresh' toppings to combine with the walnut 'meat' tacos.
Vegan cheese: (optional) Shredded vegan cheese or a vegan feta.
Vegan sour cream: (optional) To drizzle over the walnut chickpea tacos. Alternatively, a cilantro avocado cream would work well.

Optional add-ins & Recipe Variations

The versatility of tacos means there is always a list of ways to adapt and boost the flavor to you and your families/guests' needs. Here are just a few options for these walnut chickpea tacos.

Aromatics: An easy way to infuse the walnut tacos with additional flavor is by adding aromatics such as garlic or onion, added when sauteing the walnut taco 'meat'.
Tamari: A little tamari (or coconut aminos. Soy sauce works if you aren’t gluten-free) adds saltiness and an 'umami meatiness' that is wonderful in the vegan taco 'meat'. However, this works best with low sodium taco seasoning. Otherwise, the walnut 'meat' can become overly salty.
Mushrooms: For a more tender texture, you could add finely chopped mushrooms to the vegan taco 'meat'. I recommend using cremini (baby bella) mushrooms, though any will work, and sauteing them until all excess liquid is removed. If you'd prefer, you can omit the chickpeas entirely and just use mushrooms.
Other vegetables: There are several veggies you could add to boost the nutrients in these walnut tacos, including:
- Zucchini
- Cauliflower
- Charred red pepper
- Charred onion
Red pepper flakes: For more of a spice kick. Chili or cayenne powder would also work. Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce also work wonderfully for a smoky, spicy flavor.
Low carb: Use lettuce instead of corn tortillas to make walnut chickpea lettuce wraps.
Other taco toppings: There are plenty of topping options for delicious vegan tacos. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Avocado slices or guacamole
- Coleslaw
- Grilled corn
- Pickled jalapeño/ red onion
- Refried beans
- Veg or fruit-based salsa
- Hot sauce
- Herbs—like cilantro, parsley, green onion
Lemon/Lime wedges: To serve alongside the walnut chorizo tacos.

A taco spread is a great way to go if you're serving a crowd. Place the various topping options in little dishes on your table and allow guests to pick what they like. It's a winner every time!

How to Make Walnut 'Meat' Tacos?

These walnut 'meat' tacos require three super-simple steps, with just two needed to prepare the vegan taco 'meat'.

1) First, prepare the walnut chorizo. To do so, combine the walnuts, garbanzo beans, oil, vinegar, and taco seasoning in a food processor. Pulse until the nuts are around the size of a grain of rice.

process shot for chorizo tacos of ingredients in a food processor

2) Then, transfer the walnut mixture to a pre-heated skillet over medium-low heat. Cook until it's warmed through.

process shot of pouring ingredients from food processor to pan

3) Finally, assemble the walnut 'meat' tacos. First, spoon in some of the walnut chorizo mixture. Then top it with lettuce, tomato, and optionally shredded vegan cheese and vegan sour cream or any of your favorite taco toppings.

FAQs

Can I make this recipe without a food processor?

While possible, it will take longer and may not be as evenly crushed. To crush the walnuts by hand, add them to a Ziplock/Stasher bag and use something heavy like a rolling pin to bash them down to size or a knife.

After that, the chickpeas will be easy to mash with a potato masher or even a fork.

Can I make this recipe nut-free?

You could try the recipe with sunflower seeds or pepitas instead of walnuts. Use them raw (or lightly toasted) and unsalted.

Do I need to cook the walnut taco 'meat'?

Technically, no, if you don't want to. All the walnut taco meat elements can be eaten without additional heating.

Top Recipe Tips and Notes

For More flavor: Lightly toast the walnuts until fragrant before using them in the recipe.
Don't over-process the walnut taco meat: Pulse rather than process the mixture so it resembles a ground texture and doesn't become paste-like.
When serving to a crowd: I recommend keeping your tortillas warm either in a tortilla warmer or wrap a stack in foil and keep them in the oven at 300F/150C until you're ready to serve.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Make ahead: You can prepare the walnut taco 'meat' mixture 2-3 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge until it's ready to cook and use.

Store: Allow the vegan taco 'meat' to cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days.

Freeze: It should also freeze fairly well for 2-3 months. Spread the mixture across a tray to freeze until solid before transferring it to a Ziplock/Stasher bag. Allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheat: Use the stovetop or a microwave to reheat the vegan walnut taco 'meat' until warm.

How Else To Use Walnut Taco Meat?

There are several ways to enjoy the walnut taco meat, including:

Tacos or a taco salad
Burritos or a burrito bowl
Vegan quesadillas
Vegan enchiladas
Stuffing baked potatoes
Stuffed bell peppers
Vegan tostadas
Vegan nachos
To top tortilla soup
Vegan taquitos
Add to pasta dishes

More Vegan Snacks and Mains

If you try this chickpea walnut 'meat' taco recipe (walnut chorizo tacos), I'd love to know what you think in the comments below. I'd also really appreciate a recipe card rating!

Photos by Alfonso Revilla