Vegetarian TVP Tacos

Tonight I needed something really quick for dinner that would satisfy the family with minimal prep work or complaints since a cold has zapped me of energy and any real inspiration to cook or to eat much.

I went with TVP (textured vegetable protein) Tacos.  I forgot how amazingly these turn out.

This recipe found here comes together fast and is full of protein and flavour with very minimal prep time or the forethought to take out ground beef.

I had not planned on eating at all, but after a taste test before serving, I changed my mind.

Whether you are vegetarian/vegan or meatavore, these will not disappoint you.

If you have never cooked with TVP, you might be pretty skeptical, but give these a try.
They likely will surprise you.

I added a handful of very finely-chopped mushroom, which gives great texture and flavour to the mixture, but the addition is completely optional








Gather:

1 Large, finely chopped onion
6 cloves of garlic grated
2 cups of TVP
2 cups boiled water
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
1/4 cup of finely chopped pickled jalapenos
1/2 cup of salsa
1 packet of taco seasoning mix ( I make this DIY version)
Handful of finely chopped mushrooms if you are using

Do It:

Saute your onion, garlic, and mushrooms, if you are using them, in the olive oil until soft.  Be careful not to let your garlic burn.  Add a wee bit of water to the pan if you need to.

Add the TVP and water and stir for about 2-3 minutes until your TVP fluffs up.

Add your soy sauce, jalapenos, salsa, and taco seasoning and warm everything up for about five minutes more.  Turn off the heat and keep warm with a lid on top until ready to serve.

Serve in hard or soft taco shells (tostadas pictured above) with shredded cheese, salsa, lettuce, sour cream, diced tomatoes, avocados, more pickled jalapenos or whatever other toppings you like.

This mixture also works well on tortilla chips with some cheese, diced tomatoes, jalapenos, and green onions under the broiler for nachos, or on a bed of lettuce with your toppings for taco salad.