Take classic chicken tinga and make it vegan! These Vegan Tempeh Tinga Tacos are an easy 30-minute weeknight dinner packed with protein, fiber, and flavor.
Have you ever heard of chicken tinga? It's a Mexican dish that was new to me before a few weeks ago. But I've come to find that it's full of flavor.
I was looking for some unique taco recipes and I came across a tasty taco dish from Gimme Some Oven. She had taken chicken tinga and turned it into taocs! I thought this was a great idea and decided I'd put a plant-based spin on her recipe.
I often make tempeh tacos. Just a few blocks of tempeh, some black beans, and taco seasoning make a super simple and delicious taco. So I knew that tempeh would work well in this dish. These tinga tacos are super tasty!
Jump to:
Why I love these Vegan Tempeh Tinga Tacos
- Dietary needs - these vegan tacos are dairy-free, plant-based, oil-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free
- Easy weeknight dinner - this dish only takes half an hour to make! Perfect for a weeknight dinner
- Full of flavor - the classic chicken tinga dish has tons of flavor and so does this vegan version!
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Yellow Onion: white or red are also fine.
- Garlic: you could sub fresh or freeze dried garlic and omit the extra cook time.
- Chipotle Chilis in Adobo Sauce: adjust to your personal spice level. You could use a dry spice like cayenne or chili pepper in place of the chipotles - same deal, adjust to your personal spice level.
- Caned Tomatoes: look for diced tomatoes with no added sugar.
- Vegetable Broth: look for a broth with no added preservatives or sugar.
- Maple Syrup: for a fruit-sweetened dish you could use date syrup
- Spices: cumin & oregano
- Tempeh: tempeh is made from fermented soy beans. You can find it at most grocery stores in the vegan section.
- Bay Leaf: this is optional, but helps to add a layer of flavor.
- Black Beans: black beans are also optional, but highly recommended. All you need is a can of beans.
- Salt & Pepper
- For serving: corn tortillas, cilantro, pickled red onions, vegan sour cream, etc.
How to make Vegan Tinga Tacos
Step 1. Sauté the onions in a non-stick pan, using a splash of vegetable broth if necessary to prevent sticking. Stir 5-7 minutes and then add the minced garlic. Cook an additional 1-2 minutes.
Step 2. Transfer the onion and garlic to a blender or food processor along with the chipotle chili(s), tomatoes, remaining vegetable broth, maple syrup, cumin, and oregano. Blend until smooth. Taste and season with salt & pepper.
Step 3. Pour the blended sauce back into the pot and add the crumbled tempeh and bay leaf. Stir to combine. Cook on medium for 8-10 minutes, until the tempeh is warm and the sauce is reduced.
Step 4. Stir in the black beans and let cook 1-2 minutes, until warm. Taste again and season with salt & pepper.
Step 5. Assemble the tacos and top with your favorite toppings. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Prayer
Thank you God for this dinner. Thank you for giving us food to nourish our bodies. Amen.
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📖 Recipe
Vegan Tempeh Tinga Tacos
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion peeled and sliced
- 4 Cloves Garlic minced
- 1-2 Chipotle Chilis in Adobo Sauce
- 1 15 Ounce Can Tomatoes
- 1 Cup Vegetable Broth
- 3 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
- 2 Teaspoons Cumin
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 2 8 Ounce Blocks Tempeh crumbled
- 1 Bay Leaf optional
- 1 15 Ounce Can Black Beans drained
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- Corn Tortillas to serve
Instructions
- Sauté the onions in a non-stick pan, using a splash of vegetable broth if necessary to prevent sticking. Stir 5-7 minutes and then add the minced garlic. Cook an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Transfer the onion and garlic to a blender or food processor along with the chipotle chili(s), tomatoes, remaining vegetable broth, maple syrup, cumin, and oregano. Blend until smooth. Taste and season with salt & pepper.
- Pour the blended sauce back into the pot and add the crumbled tempeh and bay leaf. Stir to combine. Cook on medium for 8-10 minutes, until the tempeh is warm and the sauce is reduced.
- Stir in the black beans and let cook 1-2 minutes, until warm. Taste again and season with salt & pepper.
- Assemble the tacos and top with your favorite toppings. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate.
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