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Lentil Tacos Recipe

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4 from 3 reviews

These Lentil Tacos offer a flavorful and nutritious vegetarian twist on traditional tacos. Packed with seasoned lentils cooked in vegetable broth and topped with fresh vegetables like tomato, avocado, and lettuce, this recipe is easy to prepare, hearty, and perfect for a wholesome meal any day of the week.

Ingredients

Seasoning Mix

  • 4 teaspoons dried minced onion (or onion powder)
  • 3 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ⅛ – ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to heat preference)
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano

Lentil Mixture

  • 1 cup uncooked lentils
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • ½ small yellow or red onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 medium green or red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 ¼ cups vegetable broth

For Serving

  • Corn tortillas
  • 1 tomato, diced
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce
  • Salsa (optional garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Seasoning Mix: In a bowl, combine dried minced onion (or onion powder), chili powder, garlic powder, salt, paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, and oregano. Set this seasoning mixture aside for use later.
  2. Sauté Vegetables: Heat oil in a large pan with a lid over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion, minced garlic, and diced bell pepper, and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
  3. Cook Lentils with Seasoning: Add the uncooked lentils and the prepared seasoning mix to the pan. Sauté everything together for about 5 minutes, allowing the spices to toast and coat the lentils well.
  4. Add Broth and Simmer: Pour in the vegetable broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Let it cook for 30 minutes, or until the broth is absorbed and the lentils are tender but still hold their shape.
  5. Mash Lentils: Transfer the cooked lentils to a bowl and use a fork to mash them slightly, creating a taco filling texture that’s hearty but not mushy.
  6. Prepare Tortillas and Assemble Tacos: Warm the corn tortillas either in a skillet or bake them in the oven to make taco shells. Spoon the lentil mixture into the tortillas, then top with diced tomato, diced avocado, shredded lettuce, and salsa if using. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • You can adjust cayenne pepper to control the level of spice according to your preference.
  • Be careful not to overcook the lentils to avoid a mushy texture; they should be soft yet maintain some bite.
  • Feel free to add additional toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, or cilantro if not looking for a strictly vegetarian meal.
  • This lentil filling can be used for burritos or as a filling for stuffed peppers as an alternative.
  • Using vegetable broth enhances flavor, but water can be substituted if needed.

Find it online: https://marthatasty.com/lentil-tacos-recipe/