Lentil taco meat
This easy vegan taco meat comes together quickly, thanks to pre-cooked lentils & canned black beans. (I like to use steamed lentils from Trader Joe's.) Add it to tortillas & finish with your favorite toppings. Or use it in taco salads, on nachos, or in burrito bowls.
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 164kcal
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon avocado oil or your preferred oil
- ½ medium onion chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 ½ cups cooked brown lentils (One package of Trader Joe's steamed lentils)
- 1 ½ cups black beans drained & rinsed
- 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- Pinch of salt
- 2 Tablespoons water Plus more if necessary
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce Adjust more or less to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large non-stick skillet to a medium heat with oil.
- Add onion and garlic to the skillet. Sauté a few minutes, until fragrant and translucent.
- Add cooked lentils, black beans, ancho chili powder, cumin, paprika, granulated onion, salt, and water to the skillet.If you're using a package of Trader Joe's steamed lentils, crumble it with your hands to break it up as you put it in the pan.
- Stir until the spices are evenly combined. Continue cooking for a few minutes more, until the lentil mixture is fully heated.
- Add hot sauce to taste and combine. Taste for spices and add more if needed.
- If the mixture starts to look dry or stick to the skillet, add another splash of water, one Tablespoon at a time. Remove from heat and set aside. Now it's ready to use in tacos, burrito bowls, or taco salads.
Notes
If you'd prefer you can use canned lentils. You'll need about 1 ½ (15 ounce) cans.
Or you can make dried lentils from scratch to use for this recipe. I recommend brown, green, or French lentils du Puy. Avoid using red or yellow lentils, because the texture will turn to mush.
Ancho chili powder is different from standard chili powder, which tends to be a mix of spices. Ancho chili powder has just one ingredient - dried ancho chili peppers.
If you use a chili powder mix, it may include cayenne pepper, which will change the spiciness of this dish. Adjust accordingly.
Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator. It will last 3 to 5 days.
Lentil taco meat can also be frozen in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Move it to the refrigerator to thaw.
Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet.
Nutrition
Calories: 164kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 497mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 278IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 4mg
