These are some of the best vegan Mexican recipes! A full menu of 22 Vegan Cinco de Mayo party food ideas so you don’t have to stress about planning the menu for your next Mexican themed party.
A History
Cinco de Mayo is the commemoration of the battle of Puebla, that took place in 1862 in the Franco-Mexican war. The Mexican triumphed over the French in an unexpected battle of 6,000 French troops, against only 2,000 Mexicans! The battle was only one of many in the Franco-Mexican war, but the victory emboldened the resistance movement.
Celebrating in the U.S.
Cinco de Mayo may not be celebrated in Mexico as it is here in the US, but as a Mexican, let me tell you, I will take any excuse to celebrate what a beautiful country Mexico is!!
In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is a minor holiday, the big celebrations confined to the city of Puebla. However, in the U.S. this special date has become a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage. It was in the 1960s that Chicano activists took this holiday as their own, perhaps because they identified with the values of the indigenous Mexicans that had triumphed over the French. Later Cinco de Mayo was commercialized and morphed into what it is today.
22 Vegan Cinco de Mayo Party Food Ideas
From delicious Vegan Birria Tacos to Tres Leches Cake you are going to love all of these plant-based Mexican dishes!
1. Vegan Birria Tacos
These spicy and fragrant vegan birria tacos are going to change the way you eat tacos forever. A mixture of meaty oyster mushrooms and young jackfruit is simmered in a hearty sauce of dried chiles, aromatic spices, and roasted tomatoes, then served on warm corn tortillas.
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2. Vegan Street Tacos
Made with TVP and mushroom asada. Serve on corn tortillas topped with chopped cilantro, onion, and your favorite salsa.
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3. Salsa Molcajeteada
This salsa molcajeteada combines pan roasted tomatoes, garlic, and peppers to make a spicy and hearty salsa. They are ground down in an authentic Mexican molcajete.
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4. Vegan Tres Leches Cake
A sweet vanilla cake soaked in a combination of three dairy-free kinds of milk, covered in silky coconut whipped cream, then topped with juicy strawberry slices.
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5. Potato and Poblano Flautas
These crispy golden flautas are filled with mashed potatoes spiced with poblano peppers, garlic, onion, and cumin. They can be baked or pan fried to a crisp.
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6. Copycat Bitchin Sauce
Copycat of the famous Bitchin Sauce, use it to dip chips, veggies, or as a sauce on top of baked potatoes.
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7. Creamy Salsa Verde for Tacos
This spicy and creamy avocado salsa verde is great for dipping flautas or for topping your everyday tacos. It is traditionally served with flautas or taquitos, but it would also make a great addition to some vegan enchiladas.
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8. Vegan Churros
A delicious vegan churro with a vegan salted caramel sauce!
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9. Cauliflower Ceviche
A traditional Latin American seafood dish gets a makeover when you use cauliflower to make this ceviche. Serve with chips!
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10. Mole Empanadas
These vegan empanadas are filled with mushrooms sauteed until golden brown and simmered in a mole poblano.
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11. Cantaritos Locos
Fresh orange, grapefruit and lime juice are mixed with tequila and grapefruit soda, poured over crushed ice, then topped with orange, grapefruit segments, and pineapple.
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12. Vegan Conchas
Tender enriched yeast rolls topped with a crunchy cookie topping, and one of the most iconic varieties of pan dulce
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13. Homemade Tortilla Chips
These homemade tortilla chips are the centerpiece of every party. They’re crispy, crunchy, and won’t crumble and fall apart when dipping and snacking!
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14. Pineapple Cucumber Agua Fresca
Light and refreshing, great for Sunday brunch or family gatherings. The tartness and sweetness of the pineapple are perfect with the cooling effect of the cucumber, and it has basil!
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15. Pico de Gallo
This is pico de gallo, a raw salsa that consists of jalapeño, tomato, onion, cilantro, and lime juice. That’s it!
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16. Frijoles Puercos
Pinto beans are refried in vegan Mexican chorizo and topped with pickled jalapeños and vegan queso fresco.
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17. Watermelon Paleta Shots
This watermelon paleta shot is a combination of sweet watermelon, lime juice, tequila, and chile powder. So good it makes my mouth water!
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18. 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 to perfection.
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19. Refried Bean Sopes
These vegan sopes or sopes de nogada are topped with a walnut “meat”, refried mayocoba beans, tomatillo avocado salsa, queso fresco, and cilantro.
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20. Vegan Chocoflan
Also known as pastel impossible (or impossible cake), choco flan is the fusion of chocolate cake and flan. That’s right! It is then drizzled with cajeta and chopped pecans.
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21. Chilaquiles Rojos
Crispy strips of corn tortilla are coated in a guajillo-tomato salsa, tossed with a mixture of vegetables, and sprinkled with vegan queso cotija, and almond crema.
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22. Esquites (Mexican Street Corn)
Esquites (vegan Mexican street corn) this popular Mexican snack gone vegan is just as delicious as the original, but dairy-free!
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