Vegan Pork Tacos are plant-based carnitas and are delicious, savory, and full of flavor but made from vegetable-based, healthy ingredients. They’re also easy to make and can be ready to eat, from start to finish, in about 25 minutes.
What are Carnitas and Can they be Made Vegan?
The word “carnitas” means “little meats” in Spanish. The root word, “carn,” actually means flesh. Despite sounding like a quite unlikely dish to veganize, I thought I’d give it a try. The good news is the plant-based version of this dish is every bit as tasty and delicious as the original.
How to Make Vegan Pork Tacos Plant-Based Carnitas
For this dish, I wanted a meaty texture and something that would be bland on its own but also hold a lot of added flavors. There are vegan pulled pork recipes that use jackfruit or mushrooms or artichokes but for this I wanted something more neutral and soy curls seemed like a good fit.
Ingredients in Vegan Pork Tacos and Plant-Based Carnitas
Soy Curls: Soy curls can be found in some groceries and are readily available online. They’re boiled and dehydrated soybeans and work fabulously in plant-based meat dishes. One brand is Butler Soy Curls, which can be purchased at online retailers.
Vegan Pork Seasoning: There are a couple of ways to get “pork”-like flavor. The main ingredient is the smoky flavor like what is in Liquid Smoke. There is a “ham” flavored bouillon available, but here I’ve just made my own blend.
Chili Powder: Chili powder is a classic spice in any Mexican-themed dish. It’s made of a variety of dried and powdered chili peppers. It adds pungency and flavor.
Cumin: Another classic spice that’s used in traditional cooking the world over, is made from the dried seed of the Cuminum cyminum flower.
Basil and Oregano: These green, fragrant herbs add another layer of flavor.
Red Pepper Flakes: If you need some more heat, add a few red pepper flakes.
Smoked Paprika: This works great to add a smoky flavor.
Oil: This ingredient is optional. Oil adds both flavor and “mouth feel” to this recipe but can easily be omitted. These will still be delicious.
Lime Juice: This adds both a citrusy flavor and acidity.
What are Soy Curls?
Soy curls are made from boiling and dehydrating soy beans. They have a spingy, meaty texture that is often compared to chicken. They come as hard little chunks and are rehydrated by boiling them and then can be used in all sorts of recipes.
Toppings for Plant-Based Carnitas
Topping for these vegan pork tacos are kept simple to allow the meaty filling to shine. I also wanted to keep the colors on the green side so I used:
Cilantro: The herb you either love or hate (based on genetics!). Add as much as you like.
Green Onion: Fresh and mild, these are also known as scallions.
Cucumber: Because the “pork” can be spicy, I added some cooling chopped cucumber for balance.
Jalepeno: This medium sized chile pepper can vary as far as how hot it is. Taste test and add accordingly.
Sweet Chili Lime Sauce: Super easy, this requires just a bit of vegan mayo, plant based yogurt, lime juice, and a bit of sweetener. It’s really tasty on anything spicy.
Vegan Pork Tacos Plant Based Carnitas
Vegan Pork Tacos are plant-based carnitas and are delicious, savory, and full of flavor but made from vegetable-based, healthy ingredients. They're also easy to make and can be ready to eat, from start to finish, in about 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Vegan "Pork"
- 3 cups reconstituted soy curls
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 cups water
Toppings
- 1/2 cup sliced lettuce or spinach
- 1/42cup sliced green onions
- 1/2 cup diced cucumber
- 8 corn tortillas
Sweet Chili Lime Sauce
- 2 tablespoons vegan mayo
- 2 tablespoons vegan yogurt
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon chili power
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- Place all the vegan "pork" into a heavy saucepan and simmer over medium heat for about 15 minutes, until the water is evaporated and the soy curls have absorbed all the spices.
- Wrap the corn tortillas in foil and place them in a 350-degree F oven for about 115 minutes.
- Assemble the tacos using two corn tortillas for each and layering in a generous helping of the "pork" along with toppings as desired and the Sweet Chili lime Sauce.
- To make the sauce, simply stir together the ingredients.
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Hello! I’m Lisa, a vegan artist, photographer, author, Vegan Life Coach Educator, and RYT 200 yoga teacher. I love showing others how simple and delicious a plant-based diet can be. I draw and paint, cook, write, take lots of pics, eat lots of chocolate, and practice gratitude daily.