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Crispy Black Bean Tacos

Crispy Black Bean Tacos

Crispy Black Bean Tacos are a delicious combination of black beans, cheese, and spices, baked until golden and served with crema.
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine Mexican-inspired, Tex-Mex
Servings 12 tacos
Calories 250 kcal

Equipment

  • oven
  • frying pan
  • Food Processor
  • Sheet Pan

Ingredients
  

Filling

  • ½ cup walnuts broken up into pieces
  • 8 ounces cremini mushrooms roughly chopped (tough stems removed)
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 teaspoon porcini mushroom powder optional
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil more for cooking tacos
  • 4 cloves garlic finely chopped

Taco Spices

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder (2 teaspoon for less heat)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1.5 teaspoons dried oregano (or Mexican oregano)
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 10 twists black pepper
  • ½ cup mild salsa strained of excess liquid

For Serving

  • 8 to 12 taco-sized flour tortillas
  • 1 to 1.5 cups shredded vegan cheese
  • 1 serving 5-Minute Chipotle Crema or Avocado Crema
  • 1 serving Lime Pickled Onions optional
  • 2 to 3 cups shredded lettuce

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Make Lime Pickled Onions first and macerate while you make the tacos.
  • Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Arrange a rack in the top third and the bottom of the oven.
  • Heat a large frying pan over medium-low heat for a minute or two, then add the walnuts to toast. Toss frequently to prevent burning, until golden brown in spots and nutty in aroma, about 5 minutes.
  • Drain and rinse the black beans. Add to a dish towel and pat dry as well as you can.
  • Stir together all the ingredients for the Taco Spices. Set aside.
  • Add the toasted walnuts to a food processor. Blend for a few seconds until in fine crumbs, but don’t over-process into a paste.
  • Add the mushrooms, nutritional yeast, and mushroom powder. Blend for a few seconds, followed by just a few pulses until mushrooms are finely chopped.
  • Add in the black beans and do 10 quick pulses to break them up but leave some beans intact.

Cooking

  • Return the frying pan to medium heat and heat for 1 minute, then add 3 tablespoons of oil.
  • Add the garlic and stir frequently until just turning color, 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Add the Taco Spices and stir constantly for 20 to 30 seconds.
  • Add the bean-mushroom mixture and toss well to coat it in the spiced oil. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir in the salsa and cook for 1 minute until thick and spreadable.

Assembly and Baking

  • Spread ~ ¼ cup of the bean mixture onto one side of each tortilla. Sprinkle with a layer of cheese, then fold the tortilla over onto the side with the filling.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of oil to a large rimmed sheet pan, using a pastry brush to spread it out.
  • Arrange the tacos without overlap and brush the top sides of the tacos with a light layer of oil.
  • Bake on the bottom rack for 8 to 12 min, or until crispy and golden brown on top.
  • Remove from the oven and flip the tacos.
  • Bake on the top third rack for 5 minutes, or until crispy and golden brown on the bottom.
  • Allow to cool a bit, then carefully pry open the tacos and dollop with Chipotle Crema and Lime Pickled Onions.

Notes

The mushroom powder amps up the savoriness and umami. Optional Lime Pickled Onions add brightness, but skip if serving with fresh salsa.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tacoCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 8gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 300mgPotassium: 400mgFiber: 6gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Crispy Black Bean Tacos, Fast Food, homemade, Tacos, Vegan, Vegetarian
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