I am so excited to share today's Pumpkin Spice Tacos with you guys! I know what you're thinking: pumpkin spice and tacos do not go together. Well, I am here to tell you that not only does this combination work, but it's delicious as well! This fall vegan dinner recipe is the perfect easy and nutritious meal. It's made with simple whole foods plant-based ingredients, and is packed full of flavor!
What Is A Pumpkin Spice Taco:
I know this Pumpkin Spice Tacos recipe sounds absolutely bonkers. However, I can confirm that it is absolutely delicious. If you're sick of making the same couple recipes for dinner every week, you have to try these tacos out. They're healthy, savory, and filling.
Don't worry they don't taste like a Starbucks latte at all. If I had to compare the flavor of these tacos to anything, I say that they taste a lot like Caribbean food. The spices used in pumpkin spice are very similar to those used in jerk seasoning.
However, these tacos are much more than just the spices used in them. These tacos are loaded with protein and fiber from the beans, healthy fats from the avocado, important micronutrients from the greens and herbs, and even probiotics from the plant-based yogurt. These tacos are the ultimate complete vegan meal.
Ingredients For Pumpkin Spice Tacos:
- Pie Pumpkins - Make sure you buy the whole squash and not puree. If you can't find pie pumpkins, you can also use butternut squash.
- Cinnamon - Even though this spice is slightly sweet, it adds so much savory flavor to these pumpkin Spice Tacos.
- Allspice - This spice is commonly found in jerk seasoning and pumpkin spice. Therefore it should come as no surprise that it's a key ingredient in this recipe.
- Cloves - This flavorful fall spice adds so much flavor and aroma to this recipe.
- Paprika - This helps bring out the savoriness of the recipe. Paprika is one of my all-time favorite spices, so of course, it had to make an appearance in this recipe.
- Garlic Powder - Helps balance out the flavors.
- Onion Powder - Helps balance out the flavors.
- Black Beans - Look for low sodium or lightly salted black beans soaked in water, or make them homemade. Black beans are a great way to increase the fiber and protein of any plant-based meal.
- Onions - Any onion variety will work perfectly. I love using sweet onions because they're milder and complement the pumpkin.
- Green Leaf Lettuce - You can also use romaine, spring mix, or even kale. It's completely up to your personal taste.
- Avocado - I love the way the creamy avocado compliments all the spices. If you can't find ripe avocados, feel free to use guacamole or avocado mash.
- Gluten-Free Tortillas - These are my favorite gluten-free plant-based tortillas. They're made with simple and clean ingredients, they don't fall apart, and they taste amazing!
- Vegan Yogurt or Sour Cream - I always use Kite Hill Plain Almond Milk Yogurt as a vegan sour cream substitute. It's lower in calories and tastes amazing.
- Cilantro - Is any taco complete without cilantro? I don't know why, but this herb always seems to bring all the flavors together beautifully!
How To Make Pumpkin Spice Tacos:
These Pumpkin Spice Tacos are incredibly easy to make. I love making them as a healthy weeknight dinner because they are incredibly easy to make and don't have a long cooking time. All you will need to make these tacos is a chef's knife, a cutting board, and an oven!
Begin by cutting the pie pumpkin in half, scooping the seeds out, and then cutting into long crescents. Place in the oven to bake for 15 minutes at 350. This will make peeling the skin off SO much easier. If you don't have time to bake them, you can peel them, but I recommend baking to help ease the peeling process.
While the pumpkin is baking, prepare the remaining ingredients: cut the onion into strips and set aside. Chop the green leaf lettuce into strips, the avocado into chunks, and the cilantro into bits. Strain and rinse the beans.
Once the pumpkin has baked, peel the skin off and cut into chunks. Add the onions to the baking sheet and sprinkle with the spices. Place back in the oven and roast at 400 for 20 minutes.
Once the pumpkin is done, assemble the tacos and top with vegan yogurt. Serve and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Spices Make Up Pumpkin Pie Spice?
I know how crazy Pumpkin Spice Tacos sound. I think it sounds so crazy, because a majority of us think of pumpkin spice lattes when we think of pumpkin spice. However, the spices that make up pumpkin spice are actually spices that are frequently used in savory recipes.
There are many seasoning blends that use a lot of the same spices featured in pumpkin spice. If you've ever had anything made with jerk seasoning, then this recipe will taste familiar to you. The spices are almost identical. Some of the spices used in both are allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. This pumpkin spice recipe also features cloves, which are sometimes used in jerk seasoning as well.
Are Pie Pumpkins Sweet?
Going to grocery stores during Autumn is always so much fun. The stores are packed full of seasonal squash, apples, and baked goods, and aromatic spices fill up the air. One item that you probably see a ton of is Pie Pumpkins. Growing up, I never really ate pumpkin outside of pumpkin pie, so Pie Pumpkins was not something I was familiar with until recently.
Whenever I think of pumpkins, I always think of desserts. It's kind of funny when you think about it because pumpkin is just another squash variety. Therefore, it actually makes more sense to use pumpkin in savory recipes like this Pumpkin Spice Tacos recipe.
Pie Pumpkins do not naturally have a sweet flavor at all. In my opinion, it is less sweet than a butternut squash. It tastes like a cross between a spaghetti squash and an acorn squash, in my opinion. Which makes it the perfect squash for savory recipes. Check out this Roasted Pumpkin Dhal for another delicious savory pumpkin recipe!
What's The Best Vegan Sour Cream Substitute?
Finding vegan substitutes for classic ingredients can be a bit of a hassle. Some things are rather easy to find substitutes for, and others are almost impossible. In my opinion, sour cream is one of those ingredients that is rather easy to find a substitute for.
My personal favorite vegan sour cream substitute is vegan yogurt. First things first, let me clarify that not all vegan yogurts taste the same, and there's only a select few brands that work well as a vegan sour creams. My personal go-to is the Kite Hill Plain Almond Milk Yogurt. I find that this one has a thick and mildly tart flavor that tastes just like sour cream. The Foragers Plain Cashew Milk Yogurt is great as well, however it's a little runny for my taste.
I would recommend staying away from all coconut milk yogurts. They're usually quite thick, and naturally sweeter. They're great for desserts and breakfasts, but no the best for savory recipes like these Pumpkin Spice Tacos.
Related Recipes:
Pumpkin Spice Tacos
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1-2 pie pumpkins
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 onion
- 1 avocado
- 1 can black beans
- 1 head green leaf lettuce
- ½ cup vegan yogurt or sour cream
- ¼ cup cilantro
- 8 gluten-free tortillas
Instructions
- Begin by cutting the pie pumpkin in half and scooping the seeds out, and then cutting into long crescents. Place in the oven to bake for 15 minutes at 350. This will make peeling the skin off SO much easier. If you don't have time to bake them, you can peel them, but I recommend baking to help ease the peeling process.
- While the pumpkin is baking, prepare the remaining ingredients: cut the onion into strips and set aside. Chop the green leaf lettuce into strips, the avocado into chunks, and the cilantro into bits. Strain and rinse the beans.
- Once the pumpkin has baked, peel the skin off and cut into chunks. Add the onions and diced pumpkin to the baking sheet and sprinkle with the spices. Place back in the oven and roast at 400 for 20 minutes.
- Once the pumpkin is done, assemble the tacos and top with vegan yogurt. Serve and enjoy!
Tina says
I've seen so many pumpkin spice recipes lately, but this one has to be my favorite!! Can't wait to try these tacos.
Jenn says
YUM! These were so good and unique....fall tacos!