Dairy Free Chicken Tacos with Chipotle Cashew Crema
These tacos bring serious smoky heat and a creamy, tangy drizzle that most people would never guess is completely free of dairy. The chicken thighs are marinated in chopped chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, cumin, and smoked paprika before getting seared in a hot skillet until deeply browned and juicy — the kind of char that makes taco night feel like a real event. The star of the show is the cashew crema: soaked raw cashews blended smooth with a chipotle pepper, fresh lime juice, and a splash of water until it's thick, pourable, and genuinely luscious. It does everything sour cream would do on a taco, without a drop of dairy in sight. Piled onto warm, lightly charred corn tortillas with shredded red cabbage, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime, each bite hits smoky, bright, and rich all at once. Sliced avocado on top takes it even further if you're feeling it. This one serves four and comes together in well under an hour, making it an easy weeknight win that nobody at the table will feel shortchanged by.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the chicken
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp adobo sauce (from the can)
- 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the chipotle cashew crema
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked in cold water for 30 minutes, then drained
- ½ cup water
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- ¼ tsp salt
For serving
- 8 small corn tortillas
- 1 cup shredded red cabbage
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- 1 avocado, sliced (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Place the raw cashews in a bowl, cover with cold water, and soak for 30 minutes. Drain and rinse well before using.
- 2
While the cashews soak, combine the chopped chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, 1 tbsp of the olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Add the chicken thighs and toss to coat evenly. Let the chicken marinate at room temperature for 20 minutes (or refrigerate for up to 4 hours).
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