Plant-Based, Gluten-Free, Paradigm-Shifting Tofu Tacos
Oct 07, 2014, Updated Aug 13, 2017
It’s October, and the Unprocessed Challenge has begun. This time around, I’ve added two new dimensions to my challenge: gluten-free and plant-based. It’s going to be a great ride!
About a year and a half ago, frustrated with my ever-present Psoriasis rash, having tried everything else, I decided to jump on the gluten-free bandwagon. Oh sure, to be honest, I had rolled my eyes at all of “that fad” and those who were doing it. But, let me tell you, I was desperate, and if anything could help, I was willing to try it. Three months in, there was no mistaking it was helping.
Fast forward a year or so, and my cholesterol numbers from my yearly checkup came back from the lab. Helloooooo high numbers, sprinkled with a little pre-diabetes thrown in. Oy. Thanks family history, but you can take this particular thing back, K? I wasn’t at death’s door, but let’s just say I was up the street aways as I headed into my 40s. Yeah, no thank you.
I started reading (more) about plant-based diets, changing one’s diet in lieu of medication, and decided to give the plant-based way a try. In the past, I had lowered my blood numbers by dismissing dairy from my life, so what I was reading made complete sense to me. Five months later, I’m feeling better than ever. Oh, and I lowered my cholesterol by nearly 60 points in three months. So, I’d call that a win. (We shall see where those numbers are at for the 6-month mark.)
I share that with all of you this month, because we all have different reasons for taking this Unprocessed Challenge. Mine is to remind myself to be really, really vigilant about labels, which when you are plant-based AND gluten-free, can be a huge awakening. This isn’t my first Unprocessed Challenge, but it IS my first with these two additional guidelines. For me, this is a quest to improve my health, which is my reason.
First, a rant about fake meat.
Meat “replacements” are something a lot of people turn to when starting out on a plant-based diet. It makes sense, right? Making a sandwich, pizza or other “meat” based dish is a lot easier when you have something that looks a lot like what you are used to. The problem is, most of those products are highly, and I mean HIGHLY, processed. Lucky (or unlucky) for me, most of them are loaded with vital wheat gluten. *sigh*
Gluten-free life causes one to be a vigilant label reader. I’m the gal in the store’s freezer section holding the freezer door open to read the veggie burger label. Go ahead and try that sometime, because some of the biggest name brands have some of the nastiest, longest, and most processed ingredients imaginable. (Go ahead, read the label.)
Luckily, there are some veggie “meat” products coming onto the market that have some really great ingredient lists that pass the kitchen test. Or, if you have a food processor, you could make them yourself. Yes, yes, I know, it seems a bit time-consuming, but knowing what’s in your food is better than hoping there’s nothing icky in it.
Let’s face it, eating plant-based requires thought and preparation (don’t even get me started on how to travel). The thing is, you don’t have to resort to “fake meat” to make some favorite dishes. You likely have all you need right under your nose. And yes, your kids will even like it.
Veggies and their products have taken the side dish route for a long time. I think it’s time they shine, and with a little imagination, they can be the delicious main dish. Experiment, taste and experience how versatile they are. Two or three veggie “sides” make a delicious centerpiece. it almost feel like cheating sometimes… in a delicious, healthy way. It’s a paradigm-shifting kinda thing.
Spreading the tofu love.
Tofu is the unsung hero of the kitchen. Oh, you think it’s bland? So do lots of people, but think of it in this way: it’s just like chicken. Chicken is pretty bland by itself, but just like tofu, it is a blank canvas. Crumble it, dice it, blend it, and add flavors familiar to your family. (Case in point: I recently made a completely plant-based chocolate tart with tofu, and no one even suspected it was in there.) The easiest thing to start with is a plant-based taco night. I’ve been known to make vegan nacho cheese on occasion, but you don’t have to go to such drastic lengths. Start with something easy like this plant-based taco. If you’re in the “Taco Tuesday” crowd, this one is easy to roll into your week. My son (he’s 12) has asked for this “taco tofu” specifically because he loved it so much. Um, WIN.
Tofu Tacos
Ingredients
- 12 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2-4 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2-3 tablespoons diced green chilies
- 1 15- ounce can black or pinto beans, drained and rinsed (or homemade, about 1 1/2 cups)
- salt and pepper to taste
- tortillas
- salsa
- guacamole
- thinly sliced red cabbage
Instructions
- Place a large frying pan over medium heat, and drizzle a little olive oil over the cooking surface of the pan. With your hands, crumble the tofu into the pan, and saute until warm or slightly browned.
- Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the tofu, add chilies, and the beans. Stir, and taste. Add more taco seasoning and salt and pepper if needed. (Like a celebrity chef once lamented, we don’t season our food enough. So “make it rain” when seasoning, that’s what makes it taste good!)
- To assemble each taco, take a tortilla and add some tofu/bean mix, a little salsa, guacamole and lots of cabbage.
- Eat!
Nutrition
Brandie Kajino uses humor & eye-blinding enthusiasm to connect, teach & guide others. She can be found trying new recipes, lusting after copper cookware, frolicking through farmers markets and sipping hot beverages at a local coffee shop. She writes about her fab finds, (mostly) plant-based simple recipes and “it’s easier than you think” tips on her site, Spoon And Saucer. You can also find her on Twitter and Pinterest.
That’s great to hear! I’d agree that they are a good transition food (as another commenter stated), but keep an eye on the ingredients. There are so many other options!
Kudos to you for improving your health with a plant-based and gluten-free diet! Ive been vegan for 4 years now, and although my reasons for adopting this way of eating is different, I do believe that it is a healthier way to eat. For those who are not gluten-sensitive, I think fake meats help with the transition process, but it can’t make a regular appearance on the plate, especially during October Unprocessed :). However, not all meat replacements are created equally. My go-to products are tofu, tempeh, and seitan (I’m not gluten-sensitive). And there’s also a product called Neat that is soy-free and gluten-free, and is made with ground pecans, chickpeas, oats, organic cornmeal, sea salt, and spices, which you reconstitute with a flax “egg” mixture to make burger patties, ground “meat”, etc. It’s a great item to have on hand, and it easily passes the kitchen test.
I never realized until i did this challenge how much processing my veggie “meat” products have. Thank u for the tofu taco recipe. Im using fresh tofu now and will throw out the processed fake meat products.
Good for you! I think you’ll find there are lots of other options 😉
what is your taco seasoning,did you make it or buy it? If you made it what is your recipe to go with this?
Hi Susan, Great question! I didn’t make it. I bought some that’s pretty fantastic. If anyone has a recipe, I’d love it!
Nice post. I’m a tofu fan—it’s my comfort food—but for those who are avoiding store-bought tofu because it’s processed, you could just as easily make this without the tofu. Using just the beans and cubed avocado would give you all the nutrients and flavor you need.
That’s a great idea, Ashley, thanks! I might just try that myself 🙂
I applaud the move toward a healthier, plant-based diet. HOO-RAH! We also eat gluten-free and soy-free. Soy-free because my daughter is allergic to soy and me because soy is one of the most genetically modified foods on the planet along with corn. We don’t eat tofu so I don’t know how difficult it is to find certified GMO-free tofu, but I would consider adding it to your healthy diet otherwise you are only trading processed foods for genetically modified ones. As a family, we love Taco Tuesday. Here’s raising a shell to you and your family! If you want to stay away from corn as well, here’s the recipe for THE BEST gluten-free flour tortillas ever! I have tried quite a few over the years and these are amazing. They taste great and they actually roll up without cracking and breaking. AND they are easy, peasy to make. Gluten Free… Read more »
Great post! I’m so happy to hear you are going plant-based and without fake meat. I’d love to sing a duet with you, with my lyrics about the other unsung hereo: plain old beans. Cook up a pot of pintos or black beans to start many healthy, tasty meals. They fill tacos, they can crumble, they make great dips. Beans, beautiful beans!
I agree, Linda. Beans are beautiful! Oh, and tasty too 🙂