Ten Minute Vegan TVP Taco

By
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.
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Updated on 07/30/21
Vegetarian tacos with a TVP filling
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yield: 2 cups
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
439 Calories
13g Fat
69g Carbs
11g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 439
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 16%
Saturated Fat 2g 12%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1255mg 55%
Total Carbohydrate 69g 25%
Dietary Fiber 5g 17%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 11g
Vitamin C 32mg 162%
Calcium 54mg 4%
Iron 4mg 24%
Potassium 290mg 6%
*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.)

This simple vegetarian and vegan recipe uses store-bought salsa and taco seasoning to make a super-quick ten-minute vegetarian taco filling from TVP. TVP, also known as textured vegetable protein, which is a vegetarian and vegan meat-substitute product. If you're new to vegetarian cooking or just have never used TVP before, this is the recipe you'll want to try for your first time since it is simple, easy, quick, and foolproof, and also results in something beloved and familiar: tacos! Be sure you have the smaller TVP "flakes" which are about the size of your pinky finger nail, and not the larger "chunks," which are about an inch round. 

The TVP makes for a great meat substitute for vegetarian and vegan tacos, as it has a texture similar to shredded chicken when cooked and, as a bonus, it takes just a few minutes to prepare and is a bargain at the grocery store.

Wrap up your vegetarian (and vegan!) TVP taco mixture in a flour tortilla or stuff it into a hard shell with lettuce, tomatoes and beans and whatever else you like on your tacos: cheese (or vegan cheese), salsa, hot sauce, guacamole, sour cream (or non-dairy sour cream) or avocado slices.

Like making simple homemade vegetarian Mexican food meals? Browse more of my favorite easy vegetarian and vegan Mexican meals for busy weeknights, and, of course, plenty more vegetarian taco recipes to try! Enjoy your super easy and quick homemade TVP tacos!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups TVP (textured vegetable protein)

  • 2 cups water

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 1 packet taco seasoning

  • 1 red or yellow bell pepper, cut into strips or diced small

  • 1/4 cup salsa

  • 6 flour tortillas, or taco shells

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. First, in a large skillet, heat the water over medium heat. Once the water is hot, add the TVP, stirring well. Allow the TVP to reconstitute for 2 to 3 minutes until fully tender.

  3. Keeping the pot over medium heat, add the olive oil or vegetable oil and soy sauce, then the cut bell peppers and taco seasoning, stirring well.

  4. Allow the mixture to cook for another 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

  5. Next, mix in the salsa and remove the pan from heat.

  6. Serve your quick and easy TVP taco mix wrapped up in a flour tortilla or hard taco shells. I like to eat this as is, but you could also add tomatoes, lettuce, beans and sour cream to your tacos.