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    Home » Taco night

    Vegan Gardein fish tacos with chipotle crema

    Updated: Apr 16, 2025 · Published: Oct 21, 2019 by Cadry Nelson · This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 14 Comments

    Jump to recipe
    Text overlay: Vegan fish tacos. Two tacos on plate by chipotle crema.

    Vegan fish tacos with chipotle cashew crema will whisk you away to a beachside cabana.

    A satisfying lunch or dinner that is very easy to make!

    Vegan fish tacos on plates by chipotle crema.

    Fish tacos weren’t a big thing growing up in the Midwest in the 80’s and 90’s.

    So it was with a certain amount of surprise that I realized how popular they were once I moved to California.

    In Southern California, fish tacos are widely available in taquerias.

    They’re served in soft corn tortillas, grilled or fried with cabbage slaw, crema, and a lime to squeeze on top.

    So while vegan fish tacos weren’t the first thing that came to mind when Gardein released their fishless filets a few years back, it was a close second.

    (What was the first? Vegan fish and chips with peas. Plus, plenty of malt vinegar & lemon juice for splashing on Long John Silvers-style.)

    Using packaged Gardein as the bulk of the filling, vegan fish tacos are very easy to make & weeknight friendly to boot.

    In this post:

    Jump to:
    • Why readers love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Where can I find Gardein fishless filets?
    • Where can I buy chipotle peppers in adobo?
    • Step by step instructions
    • Standard blender instructions
    • Make it your own
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why readers love this recipe

    5 stars

    “These fish tacos with chipotle crema are a dish we’ve made over and over, but especially when we have guests. Everyone loves them. We always make a full supply of the crema because we end up using it on other foods… It’s soooooo good. Thanks, Cadry, for this great recipe!” – Don

    Ingredients

    Vegan fish tacos are stuffed with:

    • Gardein fishless filets
    • Shredded cabbage mix
    • Onions
    • Avocado
    • A drizzle of chipotle crema (Made with cashews!)
    • A sprinkling of cilantro (Optional)

    Because it’s so convenient, I like to buy bagged shredded cabbage mix for the filling.

    (Shredded cabbage is one of my favorite vegan Trader Joe’s products. But it’s widely available in most grocery stores.)

    You can use the rest of the bag in vegan coleslaw or on top of a vegan BBQ sandwich.

    Where can I find Gardein fishless filets?

    Hand holding vegan fish taco.

    Gardein fishless filets are sold in the freezer section of many natural grocery stores, and in the health market of stores like Hy-Vee.

    You can find them in the plant-based meat freezer section in some locations of Target and Walmart.

    Where can I buy chipotle peppers in adobo?

    The bulk of the crema comes together with cashews and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

    Chipotle chile peppers are made from jalapeño peppers that have been dried and smoked. They’re then put into smoky adobo sauce.

    You can pick up canned chipotle peppers next to the jarred salsas and packaged tortillas in most grocery stores.

    The 7-ounce cans are usually a couple of dollars.

    You’ll need just two peppers for this recipe. Put the remaining peppers and sauce in a container in the refrigerator for later use. (Sweet potato and black bean tacos or chipotle black bean dip, perhaps?)

    Step by step instructions

    Here’s how to make this recipe at a glance. For complete ingredient amounts & instructions, keep scrolling to the recipe card below.

    Chipotle cashew crema ingredients in blender before blending.

    Make the chipotle crema with raw cashews.

    Put the following in a high-speed blender:

    • Raw cashews
    • Water
    • Chipotle peppers
    • Adobo sauce from can
    • Agave syrup
    • Lemon juice
    • Salt

    Blend until smooth.

    Chipotle cashew crema in blender post-blending.

    Refrigerate the chipotle crema in a covered container until ready to serve.

    The crema will thicken as it cools.

    Gardein fishless filets in metal basket.

    Follow the package instructions on the Gardein fishless filets.

    Use one of these options:

    • Cook them in the conventional or toaster oven.
    • Microwave and then pan fry.
    • Use a deep fryer.
    • Air fry them.
    Corn tortilla warming in skillet.

    Warm corn tortillas one at a time in a dry skillet for about one minute on each side on a medium heat.

    Chipotle crema being poured onto vegan fish tacos.

    Top warmed corn tortillas with the following:

    • Fishless filets cut into four pieces
    • Shredded cabbage mix
    • Onions
    • Sliced avocado
    • Cilantro

    Drizzle each taco with chipotle crema.

    Serve with lime wedges.

    Standard blender instructions

    If you don’t have a high speed blender, you’ll need to prepare the cashews first for a fully creamy sauce.

    You have three options:

    • Grind dry raw cashews in a clean coffee grinder until the cashews turn into a flour. Then put the ground raw cashews into the blender with the remaining ingredients.
    • Soak the raw cashews first for several hours. Then drain & add to the blender.
    • Boil the raw cashews in water to soften. Then drain & add to the blender.

    Make it your own

    You can make these vegan fish tacos your own by varying the ingredients or amounts.

    Swap out the Gardein fishless filets

    Don’t have access to Gardein fishless filets or prefer something homemade?

    Use one of these filling options instead:

    • Vegan fried shrimp
    • Vegan crab cakes
    • Fried artichoke hearts
    • Fried zucchini

    Reduce the heat

    Chipotle peppers vary in size.

    If you’re heat averse, minimize the heat by:

    • Choosing smaller peppers
    • Removing the seeds from the peppers
    • Or just use one pepper

    (Remember that the spicy sauce will be drizzled on mild fishless filets, though. So even if it tastes pretty spicy right out the blender pitcher, the heat will be tempered by the rest of the taco.)

    Vary the sauce

    Instead of chipotle crema, use a different sauce to finish.

    Here are a few ideas:

    • Guacamole
    • Cocktail sauce
    • Vegan sriracha mayo

    Replace the cabbage

    Cabbage is a good choice in vegan fish tacos, because it really holds its crunch under the sturdy fishless filets and thick chipotle crema. It also has a mild flavor that lets the other elements shine.

    But if you’d prefer to chop your own cabbage by hand instead of buying pre-shredded, or use romaine or green leaf lettuce instead, go for it!

    For more plant-based alternatives to fish & other sea life, check out these vegan seafood recipes.

    Vegan fish tacos on plates by chipotle crema.

    If you try this recipe and love it, let me know! Leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comment section below. It truly makes my day and is such a help!

    📖 Recipe

    Gardein fishless filets on soft corn tortilla tacos with chipotle crema.

    Vegan Gardein fish tacos with chipotle crema

    Author: Cadry Nelson
    5 from 8 votes
    Whisk yourself to a beachside cabana with these vegan fish tacos drizzled with chipotle crema. The spicy crema pairs beautifully with the crunchy, mild filets.
    Squeeze on a bit of lime juice just before taking your first bite. 
    Makes 6 tacos and roughly 1 cup of crema.
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 people
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican, Vegan
    Keyword: easy dinner, gardein recipes, vegan taco

    Ingredients

    For the chipotle crema

    • ½ cup + 1 Tablespoon raw cashews
    • ¾ cup water plus extra for soaking, if not using a high-speed blender
    • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce** from 7 oz. can
    • 1 teaspoon adobo sauce from can
    • 1 teaspoon agave syrup
    • ½ teaspoon lemon juice
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt

    For the tacos

    • 6 Gardein fishless filets
    • 6 soft corn tortillas
    • 1 ½ cups shredded cabbage mix or chopped romaine lettuce
    • 3 Tablespoons chopped onions
    • 2 avocados pit removed and sliced
    • Cilantro chopped (optional garnish)
    • 1 lime sliced (for serving)

    Instructions

    To make the chipotle crema

    • If you don’t have a high speed blender, soak the cashews in water for several hours, and then drain. If you have a high speed blender, you can skip this step.
    • Put the cashews, ¾ cup water, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, agave syrup, and lemon juice in a blender. Blend until smooth.
    • Refrigerate the sauce in a covered container until ready to serve. The crema will thicken as it cools.

    To make the tacos

    • Cook the Gardein fishless filets according to the directions on package.*
    • In a skillet, warm the corn tortillas one at a time for about 1 minute on each side on a medium heat.
      After each tortilla has been warmed on both sides, move it to a plate and cover with a clean dish towel to keep them pliable until serving.
    • Once the filets are fully cooked, remove from oven and slice the filets in four pieces on a bias.
      Put one sliced filet in each tortilla and stuff with shredded cabbage mix, onions, sliced avocado, and a sprinkling of cilantro (if using).
    • Drizzle each taco with chipotle crema. Serve with lime slices.

    Notes

    *You have several options when it comes to cooking the Gardein fishless filets. You can cook them in the conventional or toaster oven. You can microwave and then pan fry. You can use a deep fryer. Or you can do what I do and air fry them.
    To cook Gardein fishless filets in a conventional or toaster oven: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Then bake them on a parchment paper covered baking sheet for 10-14 minutes on each side until golden brown.
    To microwave the fishless filets: Microwave for one minute on high. Then brown in a dry skillet over a medium heat for about 4 minutes on each side.
    To deep fry the Gardein fishless filets: Preheat oil to 350 degrees. Fry the frozen skillet for about 3 ½ minutes, until they are crisp and hot.
    To air fry Gardein fishless filets: Put the filets into the air fryer basket with room between each of them. If you overfill a basket with breaded things, the breading doesn’t stick as nicely. But you should be able to fit all 6 fishless filets into the basket in an even layer, not touching.
    Air fry at 400 degrees for 9 minutes. Once the filets are looking crisp around the edges, flip them. Then air fry about 7 minutes more until both sides look brown and crispy.
    **This crema is on the spicy side, which works well with the mild filets. However, if you are spice averse, either remove the seeds from the peppers before blending or use only one pepper.
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    Nutrition

    Calories: 394kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 309mg | Potassium: 692mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 440IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 3.3mg

    Content updated October 27, 2022. Originally posted March 5, 2016.

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    About Cadry Nelson

    Cadry Nelson is the writer, recipe creator, and photographer behind Cadry’s Kitchen, and the author of Living Vegan For Dummies, 2nd Edition. Since launching her blog in 2009, Cadry has been making plant-based cooking approachable, and reimagining classic comfort foods. Her work has been featured in NBC News, Buzzfeed, Yahoo, Parade, VegNews, and more. She regularly appears on local TV shows, demonstrating to a broad audience how easy vegan cooking can be.

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      5 from 8 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    1. Don

      May 03, 2019 at 5:51 am

      5 stars
      These fish tacos w chipotle crema are a dish we’ve made over and over, but especially when we have guests. Everyone loves them.
      We always make a full supply of the crema because we end up using it on other foods…..it’s soooooo good.
      Thx Cadry for this great recipe!

      Reply
      • Cadry

        May 03, 2019 at 11:21 am

        Thanks, Don! I’m so glad it’s a family favorite at your house. I always love seeing your pictures of it on Instagram.

        Reply
    2. Barb@ThatWasVegan?

      March 15, 2016 at 9:53 am

      5 stars
      I was just thinking about how a nice a cold beer and fishless tacos would taste- so thank you for this!

      Reply
      • Cadry

        March 17, 2016 at 8:39 am

        Oh, good idea! I like the way you think. 🙂

        Reply
    3. KZ

      March 13, 2016 at 5:20 pm

      5 stars
      Yumm I have to make these! My mom and I used to get fish tacos when I was young. I got her hooked on the gardein fishless filets already, so I bet she would love these tacos!! Good idea, Cadry!!

      Reply
      • Cadry

        March 17, 2016 at 8:38 am

        Thanks! If you loved fish tacos growing up, I think you would enjoy these too. Let me know if you make them! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Mandy

      March 08, 2016 at 11:48 am

      5 stars
      I’m so ready for spring, as I’m sure you are, too! We had a super mild February and now with Spring right around the corner, Mother Nature has decided to give us one last taste of winter! It’s cold and we’ve had snow flurries…it’s starting to wear on me now!

      But, back to these delicious tacos!!!! YUM! That chipotle crema is calling my name. I am so bummed that I didn’t check this recipe sooner because tonight is taco night and I’m missing a couple ingredients to make the crema. Definitely next week!!! Those fish tacos look wonderful and it’s kind of creepy how much it looks like the real thing!

      Reply
      • Cadry

        March 17, 2016 at 8:37 am

        Flurries and snow when it’s supposed to spring are the hardest on the spirit. There have been years when the daffodils have bloomed and then been covered in a layer of snow. So disheartening!

        I hope you enjoy the tacos! Let me know how it goes! Yes, Gardein really nailed the look, feel, texture, and taste with the fishless filets. That’s either good or bad, depending on how you feel about realistic vegan meats. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Becky Striepe

      March 07, 2016 at 11:44 am

      5 stars
      These look amazing! I’ve got to hunt down some Fishless Filets, so I can make them.

      Reply
      • Cadry

        March 08, 2016 at 9:34 am

        Thanks, Becky! Good luck! If you can get your hands on the crabless cakes, they’re also really tasty with those as an alternative to the filets.

        Reply
    6. Shell

      March 07, 2016 at 11:25 am

      5 stars
      I’m dreaming of the beach, too. This meal is perfect for that type of daydream! Enjoy the warm weather this week.

      Reply
      • Cadry

        March 08, 2016 at 9:33 am

        Thanks, Shell! I’m very excited about the coming week’s temperatures. 🙂

        Reply
    7. David

      March 07, 2016 at 8:06 am

      5 stars
      Mmmmm, these were so good!!

      Reply
      • Cadry

        March 08, 2016 at 9:32 am

        Glad you liked them!

        Reply

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    That’s why it’s my passion to share mouthwatering plant-based recipes that taste like home.

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