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Plate of three vegan tacos with chickpea-walnut taco filling

Chickpea-Walnut Taco Crumbles

Vegan taco crumbles made healthier with whole food chickpeas and walnuts! So easy to prepare and packed with plant-based protein.
AuthorKaitlin - The Garden Grazer
Prep Time:5 minutes
Cook Time:25 minutes
Total Time:30 minutes
CourseMain Dish
CuisineGluten-Free, Oil-Free, Vegan
Servings6 tacos

Ingredients

  • 15 oz. can chickpeas
  • 3/4 cup walnuts (I use raw, unsalted)
  • 3 Tbsp. taco seasoning (recipe below)
  • 1 Tbsp. water
  • Optional: 2-3 Tbsp. nutritional yeast for cheesy version

For the Taco Seasoning:

  • 1 Tbsp. chili powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. paprika (I like smoked paprika)
  • 1/2 tsp. salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  • Make the taco seasoning: Add all seasoning ingredients to a small bowl or jar and stir to combine. Set aside.
  • Rinse and drain chickpeas.
  • In a food processor, add chickpeas, walnuts, taco seasoning, and 1 Tbsp. water. (Plus nutritional yeast if using.)
  • Pulse a few times until small/medium crumbles are formed. Don't over-process to super-fine crumbles, unless that's what you desire. (See notes below on how to achieve various textures.)
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread out crumbles.
  • Bake for 10 minutes.
  • Stir, then return to oven and bake for 10-12 more minutes. (Or to desired crispiness.)

Notes

Yield: Recipe makes about 2 1/4 cup crumbles.
Texture notes: If you prefer your crumbles tiny + crispy, pulse them longer into a finer meal. Otherwise, to make them a bit "juicier" add an additional 1-2 Tbsp. water and pulse just a few times to form larger crumbles. The recipe above is a happy medium between the two, so play around to find the texture you love!
Walnuts: If using salted walnuts, you may want to reduce/omit the salt in the taco seasoning.
Pairing: These are fantastic paired with fresh pico de gallo and/or guacamole to add juiciness + creaminess.
Leftovers: When reheating leftovers, add a touch of water, stir, then microwave to heat through. They become dried out after refrigerating, but adding a little water re-hydrates them beautifully.
Usage: Enjoy them in tacos, burritos/burrito bowls, nachos, quesadillas, Mexican salads, etc.

Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

Calories: 172 kcal | Carbohydrates: 14 g | Protein: 6 g | Fat: 11 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g | Potassium: 234 mg | Fiber: 5 g | Sugar: 1 g | Vitamin A: 943 IU | Vitamin C: 1 mg | Calcium: 57 mg | Iron: 2 mg