Lentil Tacos Recipe
This Lentil Tacos recipe offers a hearty, flavorful, and vegetarian alternative to traditional meat tacos. Featuring protein-rich lentils simmered with aromatic spices and tomato paste, these tacos are perfect for a quick and nutritious meal. Serve with your favorite taco shells and toppings for a satisfying and delicious dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 tacos 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. neutral-flavored oil, such as canola or vegetable
- 1 white or yellow onion, diced
- 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- ½ tsp. ground coriander
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. smoked paprika (optional)
- 1 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed
- 3 cups water or vegetable broth
- ½ tsp. Mexican-style hot sauce, such as Cholula (optional)
- 12 hard or soft taco shells
Instructions
- Sauté Onion: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the diced onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add Tomato Paste and Spices: Stir in the tomato paste, kosher salt, chili powder, ground cumin, ground coriander, garlic powder, and smoked paprika (if using). Cook for an additional minute until the mixture becomes fragrant.
- Simmer Lentils: Add the rinsed lentils and water or vegetable broth to the saucepan. Stir to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer until the lentils are tender, approximately 20 minutes.
- Adjust Consistency and Season: Remove the lid and add the Mexican-style hot sauce, if using. If there is excess liquid but lentils are tender, simmer uncovered for a few minutes to reduce the liquid to your preferred consistency.
- Prepare Taco Shells and Serve: Heat the taco shells according to the package directions. Spoon the warm lentil mixture into the shells and serve immediately. Offer grated cheese, diced tomato, lettuce, or your favorite taco toppings at the table for customization.
Notes
- Use vegetable broth instead of water for a richer flavor.
- Adjust spices according to your heat preference or omit the smoked paprika if you prefer.
- Leftover lentil taco filling can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- For vegan tacos, skip cheese or use a plant-based cheese alternative.
- Brown or green lentils hold their shape better and are ideal for this recipe compared to red lentils.
- If you prefer softer taco shells, warm soft tortillas instead of hard shells.
Keywords: lentil tacos, vegetarian tacos, healthy tacos, Mexican taco recipe, meatless tacos, lentil recipe
Find it online: https://ellaeatsdaily.com/lentil-tacos-recipe/
