9 Best Vegetables for Filling Tacos

Whether it’s a Taco Tuesday feast or just a way to enjoy the summertime with some easy-eating food, tacos are a wonderful dish to play with. There are so many iterations of a taco. It’s something that can be presented in a build-yourself buffet with loads of fun toppings. That makes the taco ideal for celebrating garden harvests.

In all honesty, tacos can work well with the whole gamut of vegetables prepared in all manner of ways, so this list is more of a stimulator for the possibilities that exist. Using processed plant-based beef, chicken, and cheese is not necessary to have a magnificent taco experience. It can be done and dusted with vegetables alone.

So, rather than limiting your taco dinners to these vegetables alone, they should be used as a catalyst for kickstarting a well-rounded approach to vegan taco construction. And, it can be a lot of fun.

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Roasted Cauliflower

Cauliflower has become the go-to vegetable for getting a substantial bite in a typical meat-based dish like hot wings or piccata. Well, it does the same as a filling in tacos. Season it up well, especially with smoky chipotle (or paprika if spice isn’t your thing), and roast the florets into a delicious filling.

Grilled Summer Squash

With summer calling us outdoors, we inevitably want to fire up the grill. This can be the perfect time for tacos. Cut ½” thick rounds of zucchini and yellow squash for the grill and cook them. They’ll have a bit of smokiness to them and a pleasant char. They can be folded into a tortilla for the perfect “meat” of the taco.

Fried Eggplant

Some time back fish tacos became all the rage, but fish aren’t at all necessary to get the same effect. Crispy fried eggplant can work much the same, with the same bright slaw and sprinkling of dill to make things taste right.

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Corn & Bean Succotash

Sweet corn in the summertime is a magical moment of flavor. Roast it or grill it on the cob then cut it off. Add some fresh lima beans, cherry tomatoes, peppers, and whatever else is growing to make succotash. Put that in your taco and eat it! It’s a sweet southern spin on that vegetable taco thing.

Pickled Root Veg

Root veggies are up and coming in early summer. That harvest of radishes, beets, carrots, and onions can be diced or julienned before being tossed into some vinegar for a few days. Give the mixture some seasoning and fresh herbs to make awesome pickled veg that make tangy tacos to remember.

Kimchi Cabbage

For some real culinary fusion, try using kimchi as the main flavor in your taco fold. While kimchi is as Korean as can be, it is from fermentation and spicy from gojuchang (red chili paste), and it makes an awesome taco filling. To make it a bit crunchier and more complex, it can be fried up in a cast iron skillet.

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Smoked Tomato

Tomatoes are no strangers to the taco. They’ve shown up to the party dressed as salsa. They’ve come as pico de gallo. They’ve arrived diced and as is. But, to make something really special out of those homegrown ‘maters, they can be smoked to create an amazing burst of flavor that screams “awesome”.

Sautéed Onions & Peppers

Sautéed onions and peppers are just a winner any time. Vidalia onions are a great choice for this mix, and it only makes sense to put some jalapeño in that pepper mezcla. These can be kicked up with some chili powder and garlic. They make a great base for a veggie taco, providing something reminiscent of a fajita.

Shredded Lettuce

Cool and comforting, shredded lettuce is an under-sung taco filling. It pads out the tortilla, creates a beautiful crunch, and keeps the taco refreshing. Shredded lettuce with a bit of this or that sauce can carry a taco for those of us who love it. It can be a light bite when the other three or four tacos on the plate are full of spices and heavy bites.

Of course, these methods of cooking can be mixed and matched with vegetables as desired. Lots of crazy things can work well, such as grilled romaine lettuce. It’s all about playing and making tacos something new every time you have them. Well, keep some of the favorites rolling.

Related Content:

• 15 Spectacular Spicy Veggie Tacos
• TikTok Trend: How to Make Vegan Walking Tacos!
• 15 Vegan Taco Recipes for Summer
• 10 Bountiful Bean-Based Tacos
• 10 Flavorful Vegan Cauliflower Tacos

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