Tacos have always been a very versatile food! You can put all kinds of ingredients on them and make them truly your own.
Plus, they’re always delicious, and you can even make vegan ones.
Vegan tacos can use various ingredients, including vegetables, beans, avocado, salsa, vegan meat, and more. You’ll have plenty of topping options when it comes to building your favorite taco. Just because you’re not using animal products doesn’t mean they won’t be flavorful!
One of the best things about vegan tacos is that you can customize them any way you like.
You can even use classic taco recipes you might already know, but swap out some of the ingredients for vegan alternatives.
I made sure to put everything you need to know below.
What is a Vegan Taco?
Traditional tacos consist of a soft corn tortilla shell filled with meat and many other toppings.
While that’s the original taco recipe, you can swap out the animal products for other ingredients.
If you choose all vegan options, you’ll make a vegan taco.
A vegan taco is a tortilla shell topped with vegan-friendly ingredients. These can include black beans, corn, onions, avocado, lettuce, and plenty of other veggies. You also can use vegan sour cream, cheeses, and plant-based meats. Your final result should be a healthy and filling taco!
If you’re ready to enjoy some vegan tacos at home, you’ll also want to prepare some of the best Mexican side dishes to go with them.
Even though more people are vegan now than in the past, there have always been taco recipes that don’t have real meat and cheese.
Overall, if you love classic tacos, I’m sure you’ll also enjoy the vegan version!
The History of Vegan Tacos
Tacos have an extensive history. They arrived in the United States in 1905, as immigrants brought the recipe to Los Angeles.
Tacos started as a popular Mexican street food in the city, as they were easy to eat on the go.
Today, Los Angeles, CA, is one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the United States. Because of this, it’s no wonder that the area experiments a lot with vegan tacos!
You can discover many recipes and different takes on the dish in the city.
The vegan taco shot up drastically in popularity during recent years when there have been meat shortages.
More people became willing to try meatless options and vegan alternatives in their meals during this time.
Many street vendors also had to change their menus since the pandemic disrupted the supply chains.
These changes helped the vendors keep their businesses open during the pandemic while exposing their customers to delicious vegan alternatives- including the taco.
Another reason the vegan taco is now easier to find is because veganism is becoming more and more mainstream every day.
Veganism as a diet is more visible now than before, with more people seeking out meals free from animal products.
Tacos have always been a classic meal, so it makes sense that there are plenty of vegan and vegetarian recipes linked to them.
In short, tacos are part of a rich and exciting culture. With more people trying vegan-style diets, more recipes need to be adjusted for everyone to enjoy them still.
Classic Vegan Taco Recipe
If you want to make a classic vegan taco, you can replace the taco meat with a hefty serving of black beans.
These beans contain a lot of protein, don’t cost much, and taste great, making them the perfect alternative for taco meat.
Of course, you also can replace traditional taco meat with plant-based meat.
For those who want to create their own vegan taco meat, you can use this recipe from YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl_rkVacGeY
If you are going to prepare your vegan taco meat at home, you’ll want to set aside more time.
That way, you can still have everything fresh when you serve your meal.
Other ingredients include vegan sour cream or avocado, onions, and herbs. Everyone enjoys different ingredients on their tacos, so you can choose what you want to add.
This recipe includes classic vegan taco ingredients, but you can always swap out, remove, or add more as you please!
How To Make a Vegan Taco
- Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a skillet on medium-high heat. Cook your black beans and seasonings for three to five minutes while stirring occasionally. (You can also use vegan taco meat instead!)
- Warm your tortillas using the instructions on the packaging.
- Warm your other veggies and ingredients on the stove as well.
- Assemble the vegan tacos by placing the black beans on the tortilla first, followed by all of your other veggies and lime juice.
- Add vegan sour cream, mashed avocado, guacamole, cilantro, or parsley to the taco.
- Serve immediately while still warm!
While this recipe is best when you enjoy it fresh, you can keep your leftover vegetables and other toppings in the fridge for about four to five days.
You’ll want to use them before then! It’s also best to keep them in separate containers to make them last the longest.
Tips
- You can cook onion in a pan before adding it to the taco if you don’t want to eat raw onions.
- You can substitute herbs with lettuce.
- Make sure to keep the tortillas warm!
- First, adding vegan cheese prevents it from falling off when you bite your taco.
- Pickled red onions add a sweet flavor that balances out the taco.
- Add chili powder and other seasonings for a spicier taco.
Final Thoughts
In short, you have plenty of options for creating a delicious vegan taco!
You can use plenty of vegetables or swap out the taco meat with a vegan alternative.
No matter what you decide to include, your meal is sure to come out tasty.
Tacos have been a favorite Mexican food for years.
If you’re making the switch to a vegan diet, you’ll be happy to know that you won’t have to give up tacos.
You likely have a lot of what you need at home for this recipe already, so give it a shot!
Sources
- Amigo Foods: Carne Asada Tacos, Mexico’s Grilled Steak Taco
- Amigo Foods: 15 Best Mexican Side Dishes
- WalletHub: Best Cities for Vegans & Vegetarians
- NYTimes: The Perfect Moment for Vegan Tacos
More Mexican Foods
See all →
Jorge Garcia is the founder of AmigoFoods, where he has spent over 20 years helping readers discover authentic Latin American and Spanish cuisine. Raised in a Cuban-American household, Jorge learned to cook at the hands of his mother and grandmother, carrying forward generations of family recipes. That heritage, backed by his family’s four-generation history in the Latin food industry, inspired him to launch AmigoFoods in 2003. With more than 1,000 published articles on recipes, ingredients, and food culture, Jorge’s mission is simple: make authentic Latin cooking approachable for home cooks everywhere while honoring the traditions behind every dish.