Crispy Cauliflower Vegan Tacos

These crispy battered cauliflower vegan tacos are a party on a plate. Golden nuggets of cauliflower are coated in a light, crunchy batter, nestled into soft, charred tortillas, and topped with quick pickled slaw, peppery radishes, creamy lime mayo, and a scatter of fresh coriander. Every bite is a perfect mix of texture and flavour: crunchy, creamy, citrusy, savoury, and a little spicy. This is one of those Mexican Vegan recipes that brings people together—messy hands, big smiles, and zero regrets.

Inspired by Baja-style tacos but with a plant-based twist, this dish was born from a craving for something deeply satisfying but light enough to devour two (or four) in one go. We’ve taken the classic idea of battered fish tacos and replaced it with cauliflower that’s crispy outside, tender inside, and seasoned to perfection. These vegan tacos are the kind of crowd-pleasing lacto vegetarian recipes that work just as well for a casual weeknight as they do when deciding what to serve vegan guests or when you’re on the hunt for Vegan recipes to impress. They’re fun to make, even better to eat, and guaranteed to leave your kitchen filled with chatter and crumbs.

---

Recipe:

Serves: 4 (8 Tacos)

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Total time 45 minutes

---

Ingredients:

For the cauliflower:

• 1 medium cauliflower, cut into small florets

• 5 tbsp cornflour

• 3 tbsp plain flour

• 1 tsp smoked paprika Use Code: PLANTIFUL20

• 1 tsp garlic powder Use Code: PLANTIFUL20

• 1/2 tsp sea salt

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• 90ml cold sparkling water

• Vegetable oil, for shallow frying

For the slaw:

• 1/2 small red cabbage, finely shredded

• 1 medium carrot, grated

• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

• 1 tsp maple syrup or sugar

• Pinch of salt

For the lime mayo:

• 4 tbsp vegan mayonnaise

• Zest and juice of 1 lime

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

To serve:

• 8 small soft flour tortillas

• 4 radishes, thinly sliced

• Handful of fresh coriander, chopped

• Lime wedges

---

Method:

1. Toss all the slaw ingredients together in a bowl and give it a gentle squeeze with your hands to help it soften and soak up the tangy dressing. Set aside so the flavours can mingle while you prep the rest.

   
   

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the cornflour, plain flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and sparkling water until you have a smooth, lump-free batter that’s thick enough to coat the cauliflower without being gloopy.

   
   

3. Heat about 1cm of vegetable oil in a large frying  pan over medium-high heat. Once hot (test with a drip of batter—it should sizzle), dip each cauliflower floret into the batter, letting the excess drip off, then gently place into the pan. Don’t overcrowd the pan—fry in batches if needed. Cook for about 5–6 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crispy. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer to a plate lined with kitchen paper.

   
   

4. Mix all the lime mayo ingredients in a small bowl until smooth, zesty, and ready to drizzle.

   
   

5. Warm your tortillas one by one in a dry frying  pan or directly over the flame (if you’re brave) until they’re soft and get those lovely little charred spots.

   
   

6. To build your tacos, spread a spoonful of lime mayo onto each tortilla, then pile on the pickled slaw, a few golden cauliflower bites, some radish slices, and a sprinkle of coriander. Squeeze over a wedge of lime for good measure and enjoy immediately—preferably with napkins nearby!

---

Additional Tips:

• Make it spicy: Add a dash of hot sauce or chopped chilli to the mayo.

  
  

• Make-ahead: The slaw and lime mayo can be made a day ahead and kept in the fridge.

  
  

• Gluten-free: Use GF flour for the batter and gluten-free tortillas.

---

Allergy information / alternatives:

• Gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free flour and tortillas

  
  

• Soy-free: This recipe is naturally soy-free.

  
  

• Nut-free: This recipe is naturally nut-free but check your vegan mayo brand.

---

Nutritional Information (per serving):

• Calories: ~390 kcal

• Protein: ~7g

• Fat: ~18g

• Carbohydrates: ~45g

• Sugar: ~6g

• Salt: ~1.2g

Note: The nutritional information provided is approximate and may vary based on the specific ingredients used and their proportions.

Copyright

We appreciate your interest in sharing our content! All images and text on this website are the property of Plantiful Palate. You are welcome to share photos and quotes with a credit and link back to the original post on our site. Please refrain from sharing entire recipes, extensive text, or modifying our images without prior permission from us. Shares on social media platforms are always encouraged and appreciated. Thank you for respecting our copyright policies.

Disclaimer

**This post includes Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through affiliate links in this post, with no extra cost to you.