Published: · Modified: by Dora S. · This post may contain affiliate links.
Tamales are probably one of my favorite things in the whole world!! If you want to learn how to make vegan tamales look no further. Unlike what you may think they are not difficult to make at all. They are a bit time consuming, but with some help from friends or family you can make a tamalada and enjoy vegan tamales all year.
I have searched the internet far and wide for the best vegan tamales out there so you don't have to. Here are over 15 different recipes that you can use and adapt to your liking. Enjoy!!
Savory Vegan Tamales
Did you know there are both sweet and savory tamales? Here is a list of our favorite savory ones.
1. Red Chile Jackfruit Tamales
Red Chile Jackfruit Tamales
These red chile jackfruit tamales are made with spicy guajillo chile seasoned jackfruit and masa, stuffed inside corn husks and steamed until tender.
Go to Recipe
2. Jalapeño and Cactus Tamales
Jalapeño Cactus Tamales
These jalapeño and cactus tamales are super easy to make. Rather than stuffing each tamal individually, the pickled jalapeños and cooked cactus bits are added to the masa and mixed thoroughly, making the spreading so quick. (This recipe does call for chicken bouillon powder, but you can substitute for Better than Bouillon No Chicken Base.)
3. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tamales
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tamales
Sauted black beans, steamed sweet potato, onions and cumin fill tamales for a healthy and protein-filled add on.
4. Vegan Fresh Corn Tamales
Vegan Fresh Corn Tamales
These rich, spicy tamales are made with Hatch green chiles, fresh white corn, and masa harina. Wrapped in fresh corn leaves and steamed.
5. Oil-Free Vegan Tamales
Oil-Free Vegan Tamales
Oil-Free Tamales filled with black beans, sweet potatoes, and green chiles in a New Mexican red chile sauce. Instead of oil the masa uses pureed corn, kind of genius!
6. Potato and Pinto Bean Vegan Tamales
Potato and Pinto Bean Tamales
These Potato and Pinto Bean vegan tamales are also filled Anaheim peppers and tomatoes, spiced with a touch if cumin and chili powder. The masa is made with extra-virgin olive oil.
7. Vegan Nacatamales
Vegan Nacatamales
Nacatamales are a Nicaraguan comfort food. These are filled with vegetables, rice, and jackfruit wrapped in thick banana leaves.
8. Vegan Potato Adobo Tamales
Potato Adobo Tamales
They are filled with a mixture of potatoes and peas tossed in a spicy adobo sauce. The adobo is smoky, spicy, tangy, and has an earthy quality to it. The masa that surrounds it, is fluffy and light, and it’s all wrapped in a corn husk and steamed until tender.
Go to Recipe
9. Jalapeño and Cheese Tamales
Vegan Cheese and Jalapeño Tamales
These vegan cheese and jalapeño tamales are tender warm pockets of corn filled with vegan cheese and pickled jalapeño slices. They are spicy, creamy, and perfect.
Go to Recipe
10. Bean and Jalapeño Tamales
Bean and Jalapeño Tamales
Bean and Jalapeño Tamales filled with beans stewed in chile ancho and spices, and pickled jalapeño peppers. The recipe does call for chicken stock, but you can easily substitute for vegetable stock.
11. Zucchini and Corn Tamales
Zucchini and Corn Tamales
Zucchini and Corn Tamales, a simple and delicious vegan tamal recipe, no filling required. The masa is studded with sweet corn and zucchini then wrapped in corn husks and steamed. (This recipe calls for chicken bouillon, but you can substitute forBetter than Bouillon No Chicken Base.) You can find the recipe HERE.
12. Mole Mushroom Tamales
Mole Mushroom Tamales
Delicious tamales filled with sauteed mushroom stewed in mole sauce.
Sweet and Easy Vegan Tamales
If you've never had sweet vegan tamales you're in for a treat. It makes so much sense when you think about it, corn itself is so sweet that it only makes sense to enhance that sweetness with flavor like lime, strawberry, chocolate, and pumpkin.
13. Lime Tamales
Lime Tamales
Lime Tamales are a traditional sweet tamal. For vegan sweet tamales, we use vegan butter and almond milk. A few easy swaps and traditional sweetLime Tamalescan be made vegan!
14. Sweet Pineapple Tamales
Pineapple Coconut Tamales
These sweet vegan tamales are pineapple tamales meets a piña colada co*cktail. The flavors are incredibly delicious and just the dessert tamales you need to serve your fiesta guests.
15. Strawberry Tamales
Strawberry Tamales
These strawberry tamales are soft, tender packets of ground corn, filled with sweet strawberry jam. The aroma of the tamales steaming is irresistible. They are great with a mug of Mexican hot chocolate or an atole
Go to Recipe
16. Blackberry Tamales
Blackberry Pecan Tamales
Sweet tamales filled with fresh blackberries, pecans, and cinnamon.
17. Vegan Chocolate Tamales
Chocolate Tamales
Vegan Chocolate tamales filled with roasted pecans and chocolate chips.
Go to Recipe
18. Cinnamon Raisin Tamales
Cinnamon Raisin Sweet Tamales
Sweet Tamales made with raisins and sweetened with cinnamon and sugar. Easy to make and perfect for holidays and celebrations with family and friends.
Vegan Tamales Unwrapped
You didn't find the recipe you were looking for?? Vegan Tamales Unwrapped Ebook has over 50 detailed pictures, and will guide you step-by-step in the tamal making process. Make delicious savory and sweet tamales inspired by traditional Mexican cuisine, but all vegan and gluten-free.
Including an oil-free option for making guilt-free plant-based tamales. You will be able to find recipes like jackfruit in salsa verde tamales. mushroom mole tamales, rajas con crema tamales, and blackberry tamales.
More Classic Vegan Mexican Recipes
« Red Chile Jackfruit Tamales
Vegan Empanadas With Mushrooms in Mole »
Reader Interactions
Comments
ZeeMe and my family have sensitive stomachs and are vegetarian, do you have recipes/modification suggestions for non-spicy tamales that are savory? Thank you :)
Reply
- Dora S.
Hi yes you can use the masa recipe for my cheese tamales https://dorastable.com/vegan-cheese-and-jalapeno-tamales/ and fill with your favorite sautéed veggies and black beans.
Reply
- Adrianna Cuellar Rojas
Hi Dora! Just bought your e-book and can’t wait to try the recipes. I was wondering if you’d tried mole with something besides mushrooms - not a big fan. The link to the recipe here isn’t working for me, so hope it’s okay to leave the comment here. Thanks in advance!
Reply
- Dora S.
I think soy curls would be a really good option for this.
Reply
- Dee
Do you have a good vegan Mexican red tamale sauce that might be comparable to the beef or pork red tamale sauce? I would add that on top of veggies from a can of veg all 😂 and make tamales like that. I just haven’t been able to find a source/sauce because typically the flavor comes from the meat. Thanks !
Reply
- Dora S.
Hi I have a recipe for red tamales made with jackfruit
https://dorastable.com/red-chile-jackfruit-tamales-3/Reply
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