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These vibrant raw tacos use walnuts for the taco meat. They pop with flavor. Serve them on your choice of collards, romaine, or cabbage in lieu of a tortilla. Ready in less than 15 minutes. Vegan & gluten free.
When I lived in Los Angeles, I had a standing solo date at SunCafé in Studio City. It’s a phenomenal raw restaurant where they serve up jicama nachos, raw supreme pizzas, cashew kale shakes, and raw tacos.
(You’ve got to love the wizardry of raw food that takes salad ingredients and turns them into comfort food.)
I’d tuck in for a meal, and then trot over to Griffith Park for a hike to my favorite overlook in Southern California.
Often people complain that after a vegetable-based lunch they are hungry in no time. But when raw food doesn’t shy away from fat, it’s satiating, filling, and energizing.
After a meal at SunCafé, I was ready to race up the dirt mountain paths while the Black Eyed Peas blasted through my iPod.
(Remember, this was back in 2009…)
It probably won’t surprise you that raw options in Iowa, where I live now, are on the slim side… (Although, you can find some at Rawlicious, a vegetarian restaurant in Cedar Rapids.)
But luckily it’s fast and easy to make raw tacos at home. No dehydrator or expensive blender required. (And of course, no stove either.) Just some chopping, a whirr in a food processor, and lunch is ready.
Raw tacos
The taco meat is made with walnuts, but the flavor is deceptive. It really tastes like the cooked taco filling you already know and love with the flavors of cumin, coriander, paprika, and chili powder.
The filling gets a sticky, tomato-y flavor from sun-dried tomatoes.
(Feel free to use oil-packed, bagged, or the kind that you rehydrate first. Any of them will work.)
Then the taste is balanced out with a salty dash of tamari.
If you haven’t made walnut taco meat in the past, prepare to be amazed.
(By the way, this taco meat is also excellent on nachos. Keep that in mind for your next nacho emergency.)
Instead of wheat or corn tortillas, I used leaves as the shells. Choose from collards, romaine, cabbage, or even iceberg lettuce leaves. Leaves vary in size. You may have mini raw tacos or be able to make a burrito instead.
Just remember to cut out the tough collard rib first, if that’s what you’re using. That can be difficult to chew. With the rib missing, just pull one flap of the collard leaf over the other to keep your fillings from falling.
After that, fill it up with all of your taco filling favorites.
I chose diced red bell pepper, green onion, tomatoes, cilantro, and pickled jalapeño slices. But you could also add avocado or easy guacamole, sliced olives, or a drizzling of cashew queso. The options are endless.
One bite and you’re going to love it.
How do I know? Well, like the Black Eyed Peas said, “I Gotta Feeling.”
Also do you know which Black Eyed Peas song is a favorite amongst camels and whales? My Humps.
Yeah, sorry about that. I’ll show myself out…
Raw tacos with walnut taco filling
Ingredients
- 1 cup walnuts unsalted
- 2 Tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes oil-packed or rehydrated dried tomatoes*
- 2 teaspoons tamari
- ¼ teaspoon Ancho chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Pinch salt
- 4-6 collard, romaine, cabbage, or iceberg lettuce leaves rinsed and patted dry**
- 1 tomato chopped
- 1 red, orange, or yellow bell pepper diced
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 2 green onions sliced
- Optional: Jalapeno slices, sliced olives, guacamole, or avocado
Instructions
- To make the walnut meat, process the walnuts, sun-dried tomatoes, tamari, chili powder, paprika, onion powder, coriander, cumin, and salt in a food processor until crumbled into small pieces. Take time to stop and scrape down the sides, if necessary, as you process. The mixture should be sticky and crumbly in the fingers. You don't want to blend until it's walnut butter.
- Fill each leaf with a scoop of walnut taco filling, chopped tomatoes, and red bell pepper. Garnish with cilantro and green onions. If using, add any optional ingredients on top.
luminousvegans says
I’ve made that raw walnut taco meat and it is delicious…now I’m craving some!
cadryskitchen says
Isn’t it surprising how much walnuts take on those flavors and textures that you wouldn’t otherwise associate with them? Walnuts are okay, but they’re far from being my favorite nut. However, they work so well as taco filling. Plus, you get that omega 3 boost!
Rose says
Your tacos are gorgeous!! What could be healthier too, with the collard wraps. I’m going to have to make some soon, as I usually have collards in the fridge. I know raw recipes are meant for all raw dishes, but I usually end up mixing and matching. Thanks for the shout out! 😀
cadryskitchen says
Since I don’t follow a raw diet, I don’t generally feel that raw recipes have to stay 100% raw either. If the walnut meat works well in other recipes, why not use it? I’ll often include it in a taco salad in a whole wheat tortilla bowl. The collard leaf does a nice stand-in as a shell, because it lets all of the focus go to those tasty ingredients. You’re welcome for the shout out! Thanks for the great idea of including sun-dried tomatoes into the mix. It adds a wonderful chewiness and sweetness.
Sarah (appifanie) says
Those look great! Tacos are by far the best raw food – yummy!
cadryskitchen says
Agreed! Raw pizza is also amazing, but it takes a lot more time and effort, and a dehydrator. The great thing about tacos is that they’re ready in ten minutes!
Kale Crusaders (@KaleCrusaders) says
Collard greens are a genius taco shell substitute! They won’t get soggy and fall apart upon first bite.
cadryskitchen says
Collard greens are great for taco shells or wraps. Plus, you get the added benefit of more raw collards in your diet! 🙂
Cara says
Making these for dinner tonight!
cadryskitchen says
Yay! I hope you love them! I’m putting finishing touches on my post/pictures for my guest post on Friday. Really looking forward to it!
Cara says
You are awesome! Look at that, I don’t even need to send you a little email to remind you 🙂 Impressive! I will let you know how the tacos go after tonight!
Andrea says
I had raw nutmeat tacos at Vida Vegan and they were amazing. Your version sounds great and I especially like the addition of the sun-dried tomatoes. Thanks for including the info about where to buy them without oil. I made a ton of dehydrated tomatoes but they are almost gone and I’d like to be able to buy something similar that’s not packed in oil.
cadryskitchen says
You dehydrated your own tomatoes? That’s another good reason to get a dehydrator! When you use them, do you have to rehydrate them with water?
I agree that it’s nice to avoid the oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes. Even after they’ve been rinsed, they can feel heavy. I’ve used the packaged sun-dried tomatoes that have to be rehydrated, but I feel like their flavor is muted after adding water. I like that the TJ’s version has a slight sweetness to it. I only wish that they were organic.
Carrie says
oh wow – look at those colors! I love that taco night can be healthy. 🙂
Ema says
Oh my goodness I just made this and my mind is BLOWN. But really…. WOWOWOWOOWOWOW soo good!!
cadryskitchen says
I’m delighted to hear that, Ema! So glad you enjoyed them!
Ashlae says
Ok, the tacos look and sound delicious (and ridiculously healthy) – but your bowls are absolutely gorgeous! Anthropologie? West Elm? Neither? Do tell me where you got them, please? 🙂
cadryskitchen says
You guessed it! I got these little prep bowls at Anthropologie. They offer them in several colors. I only wish I’d gotten more!
Cara says
How on earth did I miss those bowls???!!!! We have the same ones now 🙂
cadryskitchen says
Those bowls are taking the blogosphere by storm! I see them everywhere. They’re so cute and look great in photos.
Cara says
I have this big ol’ box of Anthro kitchenware that I just sit and stare at and tell each item how much I love and adore them 🙂 Is that weird? ha
cadryskitchen says
Absolutely not. I think that makes perfect sense. 🙂 I moved all of my favorite pottery from local artists and stores like Anthropology, and I keep them in one specific cupboard. Whenever I open that door, I feel a little mini wave of happiness.
Cara says
We are Anthro nerds 🙂 I wouldn’t have it any other way!!!
Richa@HobbyandMore says
i love all the greens and veggies in this taco! i love those bowls too!
Cadry's Kitchen says
Aren’t fresh vegetables so beautiful? Whenever I pull out a collard green leaf, I just have to comment on how stunning it looks.
Ashlae | oh, ladycakes says
I’m making tacos next week and I really need to acquaint myself with walnut meat. But I’m so addicted to making TVP meat – maybe I can combine the two? Hmm..
Cadry's Kitchen says
Maybe you could have a variety of taco options! The walnut taco meat is ready in less than five minutes. So after you’ve chopped toppings, which would work for both, you could have one raw taco and one TVP taco.
Dianne's Vegan Kitchen says
I love raw tacos! I love how versatile they are. Your recipe is completely different from mine – I’m going to have to try it!
Cadry says
Yes, so much versatility with raw tacos! And you can really taste the freshness. All of those flavors just pop. I hope you enjoy the tacos, Dianne!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says
I’ve never been to SunCafe, but I’m always hearing great things about it. I am definitely making your tacos!
Cadry says
Oh, you should definitely go sometime! It’s one of my all-time favorite restaurants. The food is really inventive and fresh.
Ginny says
These raw tacos look so good! Cashew Queso? Yes, please 🙂
Cadry says
Thanks, Ginny! Cashews make everything better. 🙂
Sarah says
Love walnut tacos! And LOVE your whale cutting board! So cute!
Cadry says
Thanks, Sarah! I just bought that cutting board recently. I’d had my eye on it all summer, and it finally went on sale! 😀
Jenn says
I have never thought to serve tacos in collard greens, but now I’m going to. I LOVE collard greens! I also love walnuts in taco “meat.” These sound so flavorful and delicious and, a big bonus, easy!
Cadry says
So easy! It’s amazing how much flavor & deliciousness you can get out of 10 minutes of work and no stove. 😀