Smoky & spicy lentils are at the flavorful heart of these affordable Vegetarian Chipotle Lentil Tacos — You can change things up with a meatless filling, while still preserving all of that taco flavor!
Let’s continue to cook from the pantry this week, shall we? I found a bag of green lentils I want to work on using up before I move, and thought that these Vegetarian Chipotle Lentil Tacos might be a nice change of pace.
The green lentils I used here hold their shape well but take longer to become tender; red lentils will blend together better, get slightly mushier, and cook through faster. I prefer the green ones in meals such as tacos for their firmer, chewier texture, but either will work. Just reduce the cooking time if you substitute red ones, and realize that the texture will differ.
Adding a little chipotle flavor to traditional taco seasonings brings a smoky spice to these vegetarian tacos, while some sweet bell pepper balances out the slight bitterness of the lentils.
Lentils can be such a filling and affordable meat alternative — they also work really well in chili, if you’re not feeling tacos today. Just be sure to rinse them well in a fine mesh strainer before using, and plan to devote some time to simmering them to the perfect tenderness.
Vegetarian Chipotle Lentil Tacos
Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup diced onion
1 medium sweet bell pepper, diced
1 tsp minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
1 cup dried green lentils, rinsed and picked over
1 chipotle in adobe, chopped (see Note)
1 Tbsp sauce from chipotles in adobo (see Note)
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp cumin
Sea salt, to taste
2 cups vegetable broth
8 oz can tomato sauce
Directions
Chop the onion and bell pepper.
Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Saute onion and bell pepper for four minutes, stirring occasionally.
While these are sauteing, rinse your lentils and chop the chipotle pepper and garlic (if not using minced).
Stir in the garlic, lentils, seasonings, chipotle pepper, and adobo sauce and saute for another two minutes.
Stir in the broth and tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 35 minutes or until lentils are tender.
Uncover the pan. Taste the lentils and add a bit more salt, if necessary (I did). Continue to simmer uncovered for another 7 minutes, or until mixture thickens up, stirring occasionally.
Mash the lentil mixture slightly with a potato masher, then serve with your favorite taco fixings.
Shown here: I filled browned flour tortillas with the chipotle lentil taco mixture, then topped each with lettuce, tomato, and a little shredded cheese.
Note: These were fairly spicy. You can cut down on that by using half a chipotle pepper and/or less adobo sauce, if desired.
Tangy, filling, vegetarian… tacos!
The smoky tang of chipotle takes these vegetarian lentil tacos up a notch, making them a great Meatless Monday (or Taco Tuesday!) alternative. Enjoy this filling & spicy lentil mixture anywhere you’d ordinarily use taco meat.
Looking for more vegetarian recipe ideas? Take a few minutes to browse through the Meatless Monday category for additional dinner options — or, check out fifteen favorite meatless meals to jump start your vegetarian cooking.
Vegetarian Chipotle Lentil Tacos, printable recipe
Vegetarian Chipotle Lentil Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 medium sweet bell pepper diced
- 1 tsp minced garlic about 2 cloves
- 1 cup dried green lentils rinsed and picked over
- 1 chipotle in adobe chopped (see Note)
- 1 Tbsp sauce from chipotles in adobo see Note
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- Sea salt to taste
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 8 oz can tomato sauce
Instructions
- Chop the onion and bell pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Saute onion and bell pepper for four minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While these are sauteing, rinse your lentils and chop the chipotle pepper and garlic (if not using minced).
- Stir in the garlic, lentils, seasonings, chipotle pepper, and adobo sauce and saute for another two minutes.
- Stir in the broth and tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 35 minutes or until lentils are tender.
- Uncover the pan. Taste the lentils and add a bit more salt, if necessary (I did). Continue to simmer uncovered for another 7 minutes, or until mixture thickens up, stirring occasionally.
- Mash the lentil mixture slightly with a potato masher, then serve with your favorite taco fixings.
- Shown here: I filled browned flour tortillas with the chipotle lentil taco mixture, then topped each with lettuce, tomato, and a little shredded cheese.
Notes
Recipes in the real world
Be sure not to miss the free ALDI meal plans, which show you how to use these easy family recipes to meal plan affordably and realistically for your family. Or, find more recipe ideas with the Recipe Search!
Be sure not to miss the free ALDI meal plans, which show you how to use these easy family recipes to meal plan affordably and realistically for your family. Or, find more recipe ideas with the Recipe Search!
Melissa
Wednesday 29th of July 2020
that was great!