Vegan Cauliflower Tacos With Crispy Chickpeas

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 06/28/21
cauliflower tacos served on a plate

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 3 servings
Yield: 6 tacos
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1405 Calories
72g Fat
166g Carbs
33g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3
Amount per serving
Calories 1405
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 72g 92%
Saturated Fat 17g 87%
Cholesterol 9mg 3%
Sodium 2629mg 114%
Total Carbohydrate 166g 60%
Dietary Fiber 32g 113%
Total Sugars 25g
Protein 33g
Vitamin C 123mg 614%
Calcium 243mg 19%
Iron 10mg 55%
Potassium 1680mg 36%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Crispy cauliflower and chickpea tacos are the perfect vegan option for your taco Tuesday cravings. The veggie and legume are seasoned with spices like smoky paprika and zesty lime juice and the tacos are topped with vegan chipotle lime crema and crunchy slaw. The sauce and slaw can be tossed together or the crema can be drizzled on top for a nice presentation.

We served them on top of small flour tortillas but you can use fresh corn tortillas or crunchy corn taco shells if you are looking to leave out the gluten. These tacos are packed with plant-based protein from the chickpeas and tons of nutrients and healthy fats from the avocado. The dish is easy to prepare and is a great option for a quick and healthy weeknight meal.

Ingredients

For the Tacos:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon lime juice

  • 2 teaspoons chili powder

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained

  • 1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets

For the Chipotle Lime Crema:

  • 1/2 cup vegan sour cream, or regular sour cream

  • 1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise

  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

  • 1 garlic clove

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon lime juice

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

For Assembly:

  • 1 1/2 cups cabbage slaw mix

  • 6 small flour tortillas, or corn tortillas

  • 1 jalapeño, sliced

  • 1 avocado, sliced

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    cauliflower taco ingredients
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  2. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a medium-sized bowl.

    spices and lime juice whisked in a bowl
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  3. Add the chickpeas and cauliflower florets to the spices and toss to completely coat.

    cauliflower tossed with spices and lime juice
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  4. Grease a sheet pan and spread the cauliflower and chickpeas onto the pan and shake to spread them out.

    cauliflower and chickpeas spread on a sheet pan
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  5. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown and the chickpeas are slightly crisp.

    baked cauliflower and chickpeas on a sheet pan
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  6. While the cauliflower is cooking, prepare the chipotle crema.

    ingredients for chipotle crema
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 

  7. Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until completely smooth. You can toss it with the slaw, or top the tacos with the sauce and slaw separately.

    blended chipotle crema in a blender
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 

  8. Top the tortillas with the cauliflower and chickpeas, slaw, crema, avocado, and jalapeño and serve.

Recipe Tips

  • To add extra flavor, color, and texture you can char the tortillas on an open flame. Just hold each tortilla over the flame with tongs for 5 to 10 seconds per side.
  • To make the tacos a bit less messy to eat you can mash the avocado and smear it onto the tortillas before adding the cauliflower. This can also help the cauliflower to stick on the tortillas.
  • You can toss the crema dressing with the slaw if you want to save a step when topping the tacos. The dressed sauce can also be made up to a day ahead of time.