Cauliflower Chickpea and Crispy Kale Tacos with Orange Tahini Sauce • theVintageMixer.com #tacos #vegetariantacos #vegetarianrecipe #veganrecipe #glutenfreerecipe

Cauliflower Chickpea and Crispy Kale Tacos with Orange Tahini Sauce

Written by Becky

These Indian Spiced Cauliflower, Chickpea, and Crispy Kale Tacos with Orange Tahini Sauce make the perfect meatless monday meal and can be made in less than 30 minutes. I have made them several times this winter and my whole family enjoys them.

Cauliflower Chickpea and Crispy Kale Tacos with Orange Tahini Sauce • theVintageMixer.com #tacos #vegetariantacos #vegetarianrecipe #veganrecipe #glutenfreerecipe

Dinner time can be stressful with kids or it can be peaceful.  Dare I say that the 5-6 o’clock hour can actually be a peaceful one when you have young kids?! Well I decided a few months back to have a plan for my 30 minutes to an hour of dinner making on the weeknights to make things less stressful. Somedays I start prepping early when one child is sleeping and I can entertain Everett, my 3 year old, with an activity or a quick show OR I wait until Josh comes home and then I start making dinner.  I also plan weeknight meals to be simple ones, made in 30 minutes or less.

Cauliflower Chickpea and Crispy Kale Tacos with Orange Tahini Sauce • theVintageMixer.com #tacos #vegetariantacos #vegetarianrecipe #veganrecipe #glutenfreerecipe

During this 30 or so minutes to myself I take a deep breath and enjoy the simple (non dramatic and confrontational) rhythms of cooking. During this time I don’t have to discipline or reason with anyone; there’s no hurrying (especially with easy recipes!); and its quiet (or mostly so)!  I chop, I stir, I measure with peace and ease. Sometimes I’ll put on music or meditate on a truth or verse and other times I’ll just enjoy the quiet or semi-quiet moment in the day.

Dinner time is a time I look forward to now that I have it better figured out.  It’s a little breath in my day. It doesn’t always work out to have this little break (sometimes Josh comes home late or my littlest doesn’t nap) but when it does happen I soak it up and am grateful to get back a few short moments of the joy I find in cooking.  I’m not making 1 or 2 hour meals but at least I’m cooking and enjoying the process again.Cauliflower Chickpea and Kale Tacos • theVintageMixer.com

Cauliflower Chickpea and Crispy Kale Tacos with Orange Tahini Sauce • theVintageMixer.com #tacos #vegetariantacos #vegetarianrecipe #veganrecipe #glutenfreerecipe

Tips for Peaceful Dinner Making

Plan ahead – know what recipe you’re making, have ingredients on hand, and save special activities to entertain kids (play dough, coloring or a show works well for my 3 year old). Here’s a great instagram account for simple kid activities that you can throw together with things you already have around your house – Busy Toddler.

Choose Simplicity – find a quick, easy, and healthy recipe with familiar foods that you know your family will enjoy

Timing is Everything – prep or make the meal during nap time if possible. Also, make sure you’re not overdoing it with the meal you choose (my child naps for 45 min- 1 hour and my older kid can be entertained by himself for 30 minutes so I choose a 30 minute meal.  I have a friend with 4 kids and she lets the three older ones each pick a 15 minute long show while she cooks; she found out what works for her so she can cook quietly for her family every day.

Get Help – If possible make dinner while your spouse is home so that you can have a peaceful time of cooking and the kids can enjoy time with their other parent.

Cauliflower Chickpea and Crispy Kale Tacos with Orange Tahini Sauce • theVintageMixer.com #tacos #vegetariantacos #vegetarianrecipe #veganrecipe #glutenfreerecipe

About the Recipe

The inspiration of this recipe started with Molly Yeh’s Cauliflower Shawarma Tacos.  Just like any good recipe that you make a lot, as I made this one I altered it a bit every time we made it. I simplified the original recipe and then added kale and chickpeas to make the tacos a little more hearty. I also came up with my own tahini sauce.  I use blood orange juice with tahini and water for the sauce but feel free to use lemon or regular orange juice if that’s what you have. Molly’s spice blend of curry powder and garam masala is just perfect, being both sweet and slightly spicy.  Even my 3 year old picks at the baking tray after all of the veggies are roasted.  He especially loves the crispy kale. 30 minutes to myself and my 3 year old is eating kale, I’d call this meal a BIG WIN!

Eating in Season doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult.  Here are some more great seasonal recipes from my favorite group of bloggers around the web!  If you haven’t already saved my Seasonal Guide to your desktop and phone check it out here – February Seasonal Guide.

February Seasonal Recipes • theVintageMixer.com #seasoalrecipes #eatseasonal #healthyrecipes

Beet Buckwheat Pancakes by Simple Bites

Citrus and Yogurt Fruit Pizza with Granola Crust by Completely Delicious

Spicy Cashew Spring Greens Soup by Letty’s Kitchen

Cauliflower Chickpea and Crispy Kale Tacos with Orange Tahini Sauce by Vintage Mixer

Lemon Poppy Seed Meringue Cookies by Project Domestication

Meyer Lemon & Thyme Semifreddo by Suitcase Foodist

Paleo Lemon Poppy Seed Bread by Joy Food Sunshine

Broccoli Cheese and Potato Soup by Foodie Crush

Tilapia with Tangerine Salsa by Healthy Seasonal Recipes

Orange and Arugula Smoothie Bowl by Floating Kitchen

Shredded Brussels Sprouts and Kale Salad with Orange and Avocado by Mountain Mama Cooks

Beet and Apple Salad with Citrus Honey Yogurt by Flavor the Moments

Meyer Lemon and Honey Lassi by Kitchen Confidante

Roasted Veggie Buddha Bowls with Pesto by She Likes Food

Coconut Quinoa Bowls with Roasted Broccoli and Tahini Sauce by Cafe Johnsonia

Cilantro-Lime Chicken Soup Food for My Family

Cauliflower Chickpea and Crispy Kale Tacos with Orange Tahini Sauce • theVintageMixer.com #tacos #vegetariantacos #vegetarianrecipe #veganrecipe #glutenfreerecipe

Cauliflower, Chickpea and Crispy Kale Tacos with Orange Tahini Sauce

These Indian spiced cauliflower, chickpea and kale tacos dressed with a creamy orange tahini sauce make for a perfect 30 minute meal for Meatless Mondays.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, vegan, vegetarian
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 head of cauliflower, florets broken into bite sized pieces
  • 3 cups kale, torn into bite sized pieces
  • 1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1/4 cup oil, I use grapeseed oil
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 tablespoon curry powder
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala
  • 8 corn tortillas

for tahini sauce

  • 1/4 cup tahini*
  • 2-4 tablespoons water, depending on thickness of your tahini
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice, I used blood orange
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  • Prep veggies and chickpeas (break up cauliflower, remove kale from the stem and tear into bite sized pieces, and rinse chickpeas). Mix together the oil with seasonings then toss all of the veggies and chickpeas into the spice mixture to evenly coat. Spread out onto a baking sheet.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes or until kale is crispy but not burned.
  • While everything is baking whisk together the tahini sauce (tahini, water, orange juice and salt). Heat up corn tortillas on the stove top in a skillet.
  • Serve hot cauliflower and chickpea mixture in corn tortillas with the tahini sauce and a wedge or two of the orange.

Notes

Find tahini at most local grocery stores in the condiment or ethnic food isle. You can sub cashew butter or peanut butter for tahini if necessary.

 If you make something from The Vintage Mixer I would love to hear about it! Use the tag #VintageMixerRecipe and/or #eatseasonal on Instagram to share your creations online. Please stay connected and feel free to comment with any questions you have about any of my recipes here. 

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Comments (20)

  1. I need to get better about meal planning to make our evenings less crazy! Now that I’m just about 31 weeks pregnant cooking is like the last thing I want to do…but I need to feed the rest of my family lol!

    • Oh man! I can only imagine what evenings are like for you! Hope (and pray) you can just release yourself from any feelings of should and just do what you can aka quick dinners, frozen dinners, meals out etc! Much love to you Laura

  2. 4 and 5:00 used to be the witching hour for my kids and I could get nothing done — but I didn’t have a meal plan either! You’re so smart to have a plan and prep ahead so you can enjoy the process. These tacos look delicious and I love the sound of that sauce!

  3. So glad you’re enjoying making dinners again. I always find that my least enjoyable meal of the day to make as well, and I don’t even have any kids. I think I just have no energy left by 7pm at night. These tacos are right up my alley. Love roasted chickpeas and cauliflower together! And that tahini sauce sounds awesome!

  4. Such a lovely post Becky. I’ve recently realized that if it takes me longer than 30 minutes to make dinner, it looses its pleasure and becomes a chore for me.

    And tacos are always the best for tossing this and that into – I need to remember that!

  5. I was just thinking…and remembering…the other day how I used to do the bulk of my cooking and dinner prep when the kids were napping. I remember those as some of the most peaceful parts of my day. Embracing simple but delicious meals like this is such a must!

  6. Just wanted to say that this has become a favorite. We made it for a meal swap among friends and everyone loved it. I’ve made for one of my personal chef clients, and they loved it. Gave some to my pet sitter – another thumbs up!

    Thanks for a tasty recipe!

  7. Hi Becky,
    I just came across your recipe. I’m excited to try it tomorrow night! I’m just wondering won’t the kale get burnt if I bake everything together for 12-15 mins at 450°?
    Whenever I’ve made kale chips it begins to burn if left in oven for longer than 8-10 mins.
    Would you suggest baking the cauliflower and chick peas first and then kale separately? I know that’s more work and a longer prep time but just curious if anyone has tried that?

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