This Plant-Based Meat Made From Walnuts Is Blowing up on TikTok, and You Won't Believe How Delicious It Tastes

Think of this walnut meat recipe as your go-to vegan swap for chorizo.

walnut-meat tacos
Photo: California Walnuts
Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
20 mins

We've seen new plant-based meat alternatives popping up left and right lately, and we're here for it. And while some are made from less-than-familiar ingredients (pea protein isolate? banana peels?), this ground beef or pork swap is made from something we know and love: Walnuts. And beans. And spices. And that's pretty much it! We'll thank Lizzo's viral vegan TikTok video of Brussels sprout nachos made with walnut "crumble" for the inspiration—you haven't lived until you've tried it—and leave all the other ways you can put it to use up to you (shepherd's pie, just sayin').

Ingredients

  • 2 cups raw California walnuts

  • 1 ½ cups black beans (or 1 15-ounce can), rinsed and drained

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika

  • 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon chipotle, ground

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander

Directions

  1. Place walnuts and beans in a food processor; pulse until coarsely chopped.

  2. Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and remaining walnut crumble ingredients to food processor and pulse again until mixture is finely chopped and resembles ground meat, stirring several times and moving the mixture from the bottom of the food processor bowl to the top to evenly mix.

  3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a very large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add walnut crumble mixture to skillet and cook for 10 minutes or until mixture is nicely browned and resembles ground meat, stirring frequently.

  4. Serve in tacos, nachos, or any other way you might serve ground beef or chorizo. This can also be prepared several days ahead and stored tightly covered in the refrigerator.

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