You don’t have to go completely raw or even become a raw vegan to enjoy a great raw meal. The goal is for you and your family to consume more raw foods for maximum nutrients. This taco recipe highlights Mexican flavor and is simply raw food at its finest — no pasteurized, homogenized or processed foods.
All or nothing?
Going raw can be hard, especially if you don’t normally reach for fruits and vegetables to satiate your hunger. But remember: there are no hard and fast rules telling you it’s all or nothing. You can add some great raw recipes to your repertoire and still enjoy a varied diet.
What is a raw food diet?
A raw food diet includes uncooked fruits and vegetables, seeds, nuts, grains (mostly sprouted) and beans. A food is considered raw if it is uncooked or prepared below 116°F. After that, food begins to lose some of its essential nutrients and enzymes. The key to sustaining a raw food diet is to avoid — or at least reduce — processed foods such as breads, cereals, crackers, cookies, cheeses, refined oils and processed meats. And make sure your vegetables and fruits are organic and toxin-free. Small steps can make a big difference over time.
The benefits of eating organic raw food
Following a raw food diet means that common allergens — eggs, soy, wheat (gluten), sugar and dairy — can be completely avoided. As a result, you’ll feel more vibrant, alive and brain-fog free. The many benefits of going raw include lowering inflammation, improving digestion, supplying dietary fiber, improving organ function, increasing energy, clearing up skin and maintaining a healthy body weight. A raw-food diet also helps prevent a number of diseases including heart disease, diabetes and cancer, according to Dr. Edward Group of The Global Healing Center.
Whether you’re a “raw foodie” at heart or simply venturing over to the dark side — actually, the fresh side — then this raw taco recipe might just turn you into a raw food convert. This taco recipe could also transition into a lunchtime taco salad. Let’s start with the walnut taco meat…
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Raw Taco Recipe
It’s important to note that for some raw-food enthusiasts, certain spices are off limits because of the methods in which they are dried. However, I have included spices in this recipe.
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Servings
4 serves
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Prep Time
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Cook Time
15 minutes
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- 1 cup walnut halves
- 1/2 cup packed sun-dried tomatoes, soaked 1 to 2 hours and drained
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- Food processor (or blender)
- 4 organic tomatoes, seeded and diced
- 2 cloves of organic garlic, chopped fine
- 1 organic sweet onion, chopped
- 2 organic jalapeno peppers, chopped fine
- 2 organic limes, 1 squeezed and 1 quartered
- 2 organic avocados, diced
- 8 organic romaine lettuce leaves, washed and trimmed
- Add the walnuts and the sun-dried tomatoes to a food processor or high-speed blender.
- Add the chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne pepper to the walnuts.
- Process the ingredients until well combined, but still chunky. Scrape into a bowl and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add chopped tomatoes, garlic, onions and jalapenos.
- Add the juice from the lime and combine well.
- On each plate, place two romaine lettuce leaves.
- Divide the walnut taco meat between the eight leaves.
- Add a generous amount of salsa to each taco.
- Top each taco with chopped avocado.
- Garnish each plate with a quarter of a lime. Enjoy!
— Katherine Marko
