What’s not to love about an obscenely large pile of Loaded Taco Fries with a generous drizzle of Lime Crema? Especially when they are healthy, oil-free & ‘bury your face in them’ delicious……
Turns out being hungry at work is a good thing for me as I daydream about what I can make when I get home. These Loaded Taco Fries with Lime Crema are one of these ‘hungry at work’ recipes. My Vegan Blueberry Bran Muffins are another.
If I wasn’t so greedy I’d go to work hungry more often! 😜
I literally had this recipe planned out in my head from start to finish and as soon as I walked through the front door I got to work on it. It was perfect on the first attempt too. That very rarely happens. I still had to make it again a few days later though as this whole massive mountain of deliciousness was inhaled before I had a chance to get the camera out.
LOADED TACO FRIES WITH LIME CREMA FOR THE WIN!
I just know that you are going to ♡ these Loaded Taco Fries with Lime Crema.
What's not to love about an obscenely large pile of Loaded Taco Fries with a generous drizzle of lime crema?Click To TweetThese Loaded Taco Fries with Lime Crema are so delicious you will want to plant your face right in the middle of them.
They are amazing.
And easy. Did I mention that?
The only cooking involved is the fries themselves. Everything else is just mixed together as is and takes minutes.
Hardly any effort at all. We all need recipes like that in our lives.
AND IT GETS BETTER…
What makes these Loaded Taco Fries even better is that they are oil-free. Yes, completely oil-free! You might wonder how I got them looking like that….
ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY AQUAFABA!
Well, the secret ingredient is…………aquafaba.
Yes, the miracle stuff makes an appearance again.
I used it on my Cheese & Onion Roasted Chickpeas to make them crunchy and to keep the flavourings stuck to them and that’s how I got the idea to try it on these humble spuds too. I wasn’t convinced it would work but it did and these Loaded Taco Fries are the result.
PROTEIN PACKED & VIRTUALLY FAT-FREE
So not only do these Loaded Taco Fries with Lime Crema taste good, they are also healthy and virtually fat-free.
They are packed with protein (14g per serving) thanks to the chickpeas and make a wonderful lunch or dinner.
They are also fantastic for parties & get togethers.
The chickpea topping and Lime Crema can be made ahead so all you have to do at the time is cook the fries, pour over the chickpea mixture, drizzle the crema, then watch everyone dive right in.
AND POTATOES ♡
Anything involving potatoes is good in my eyes.
Have you tried my Dilly Smashed Potatoes with Creamy Horseradish Dipping Sauce?
Oh boy they are good! If you haven’t already, give them a try. They are battling my Loaded Taco Fries with Lime Crema for top spot in the AVV spud awards I think.
Ok, that’s enough of my potato waffling.
Go make these. You will ♡ them.
Feel free to face plant….I have been very tempted to myself…..and be sure to share your pics on Twitter or Instagram. I am @avirtualvegan and you can use #avirtualvegan to be sure I don’t miss them.
Loaded Taco Fries with Lime Crema
Ingredients
For the fries
- 1000 g | 2.2lb large potatoes I like yellow waxy potatoes for this like Yukon Gold
- ½ cup aquafaba liquid from the can of chickpeas
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning you can sub this for any other spice mix you like - I have used fajita seasoning a few times!
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the topping
- 1½ cups | 1 398ml/14fl oz can chickpeas - be sure to reserve the liquid for the fries
- 2 large juicy fresh tomatoes chopped try to keep as much of the juice that comes out of them as you can
- ½ red onion chopped finely you can sub this for a white onion
- finely grated zest and juice from 1 lime
For the lime crema
- ⅓ heaping cup | 50g raw cashew nuts soaked for 15-20 mins in boiling water (for nut free suggests see recipe notes)
- ⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons | 113mls non-dairy milk
- 1 lime
- ½ teaspoon salt
- A grind of black pepper or a pinch
For garnish
- A handful of parsley chopped finely for sprinkling
Instructions
For the fries
- Preheat oven to 450°F
- Pierce each potato with a fork then place in a microwave and cook on full power. My microwave is 1200w and I cooked my large potatoes for 4 minutes. You want them so that they have some give but aren't soft. (see recipe notes for non-microwave method)
- Remove your potatoes from the microwave. Allow to cool a little bit then use a sharp knife and slice them into fries.
- Place the cut fries in a bowl and pour over the aquafaba. Stir to coat then sprinkle over the taco seasoning and salt. Make sure they are all coated evenly.
- Line a large baking sheet. I love my Silpat. I've had the same one for years and use it all the time. If you don't have one use baking parchment. If you use baking parchment rub a tiny drop of oil over it as the fries tend to stick a bit otherwise.
- Gently tip the fries out onto the tray and spread them out as evenly as you can. Ideally none of them should be touching as they will cook more evenly and get browner and crispier.
- Bake for 30 mins then remove from the oven, turn them all over, then bake again for another 30 minutes.
For the topping
- While the fries are cooking, put the drained chickpeas in a bowl, then add the chopped tomatoes and any juice from them, chopped onion, lime zest and juice. Stir well and leave for the flavours to infuse while the fries finish cooking.
For the lime crema
- Add the soaked cashews, milk and salt to a blender.
- Peel the lime either by hand or with a sharp knife. Discard the peel and put the whole lime in the blender.
- Blend until completely smooth.
- When the fries are ready pile them on a large plate. Pour over the chickpea mixture, drizzle with the lime crema and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Recipe Notes
If you do not have a microwave or prefer not to use one then slice your potatoes into chunky fries, put into a saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil for about 2 minutes then drain, put back in the pan with no lid and allow to steam dry. (The microwave method yields marginally best results)
For a nut-free crema you could use silken tofu instead of cashews to make the sauce. Just blend it up in a blender adding the non-dairy milk gradually until you get a nice creamy texture. Then add the lime and seasoning. This avocado based recipe would also work well in place of the crema.
This recipe has been shared with Tinned Tomatoes Meat Free Mondays link up.
jackie mitchell says
The sodium in this is disconcerting. Any subs to lower it?
A Virtual Vegan says
Other than omitting the salt, I don’t know what to suggest other than to just buy low sodium tacos seasoning and chickpeas (or cook your own).
Lawanda D says
Loved these babies…
A Virtual Vegan says
So glad you enjoyed them!
Valerie Valles says
Starting a plant based diet today and these sound sooo good for dinner tonight. However my son is allergic to nuts, do you have any recommendations for an alternative for the crema sauce instead of using cashews??
A Virtual Vegan says
Good for you! This is a great recipe to start with as who doesn’t like fries? And they are so tasty. As for the crema, you could use silken tofu instead of the cashews, blended with a little non-dairy milk, the lime and seasoning to taste. Add the milk gradually so you get the right consistency. Silken tofu makes great silky smooth sauces. You will find it in the fridge with the other tofus at the store and it is usually in a tetra pack rather than plastic wrapped like the others. If you can’t get silken tofu and you have an avocado handy this recipe would work really well in place of the crema and is super quick and easy to make. https://avirtualvegan.com/creamy-avocado-lime-dressing/ Hope that helps and I hope you enjoy it!
Tabitha @ Tabitha Talks Food says
What a good idea to use the chickpea juice for the fries! These look delicious!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you! It works brilliantly. I just love aquafaba!
Brittany says
Ok I am new to this vegan lifestyle (loving all the benefits of it)
I did not know what aquafaba was so i googled. it. Do I just use the liquid from the chick pea can?
A Virtual Vegan says
Hi Brittany! Yes, the liquid from the chickpea can. Sounds weird but that stuff is like a miracle ingredient. You will find it crops up in a lot of vegan recipes, particularly baked goods. Whenever I eat chickpeas I freeze the liquid so I’ve always got some on hand.
Angie says
I don’t know if I’d want to share! lol
A Virtual Vegan says
Ha ha! I know the feeling ;O)
Lisa Nunez says
Holy cow these are outstanding! I just served them for dinner and it was one of those quiet dinners – we didn’t want to stop eating even to talk! I baked the fries in my convection oven at430 for 25 minutes and they were done! Thank you for sharing this incredible recipe!
A Virtual Vegan says
Wow Lisa, you’ve made my evening! I am so glad you enjoyed them and thank you for stopping by to let me know. I really appreciate it :O)
Mary Harrington says
If you add a small clove of crushed/minced garlic, 1/4 tsp. salt, and a pinch of cayenne to the crema (in the blender) you will thank me. It really tastes superb.
A Virtual Vegan says
Sounds lovely Mary. I will do that next time!
Ally says
ooh like an aioli
Amy says
Taco fries? You’re a genius!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you so much Amy!
Vegan Heaven says
I’m drooling over here! This looks super delicious! 🙂
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Sina :O)
Nicole Dawson says
I seriously want a bowl of this right now, and I don’t think I’d share :).
A Virtual Vegan says
I don’t blame you!
Dreena Burton says
Holy guacamole, these look insanely good! What great holiday party food, too. Smashing!!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Dreena!
Jennifer says
This was absolutely delicious!!!! 5 stars 😀
I made mine with sweet potatoes (which cooked faster in the oven) and cilantro. Looks and tastes like restaurant food. I’d love to make this as an appetizer for company to show just how yummy a WFPB diet can be!
Thanks for the awesome recipe!
A Virtual Vegan says
That’s so good to hear Jennifer. They would make an awesome appetizer on a big platter and you’re right, they would also be a great advert for WFPB living. I really must try them with sweet potatoes! Thanks so much for stopping by to leave your feedback :O)
Alisa Fleming says
Oh my yum! I want this for dinner tonight. Do you have any trouble with the chickpeas rolling off as you eat them or does the crema make them good an clingy?
A Virtual Vegan says
Ha ha! That made me laugh. The chickpeas kind of nestle nicely in amongst the fries but are a bit difficult to catch with a fork. The sauce does act as a glue to some extent though. There are positives to it being a bit tricky to eat..It means it lasts longer!
Aimee | Wallflower Kitchen says
Oh my goodness, what are you doing to me? I have just eaten breakfast and now I’ve got serious cravings for this!! Looks incredible.
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Aimee. You could always have brunch too ;O)
Jenn says
The miracle of aquafaba never ceases to amaze me. Can’t wait to try these. In fact, I might just dive head first right into the plateful…and not share!
A Virtual Vegan says
I don’t blame you. I wanted to face plant too! ;O)
Linda @ Veganosity says
That’s one big pile of yum! What a fun way to eat sweet potato fries.
A Virtual Vegan says
Thanks Linda. They are regular potatoes, they just look that colour because of the taco seasoning on them!
Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite says
I do this with my fries all the time!!! I love using aquafaba to coat, give a great texture. How funny. These look delicious. Who doesn’t love taco fries?!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you. Great minds think alike!
Becky Striepe says
Oh my gosh, these look EPIC!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Becky. They kind of are!