Lentil Tacos with Avocado Crema
User Reviews
5.0
138 reviews
Excellent
Lentil Tacos with Avocado Crema
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From ingredients to enjoyment, this recipe makes it easy to create something wonderful.
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Ingredients
Taco Meat
- ⅔ cup (135g) brown or green lentils
- ¼ packed cup (32g) walnuts
- 8 ounces (227g) cremini mushrooms, stems removed & very roughly chopped
- 2 medium shallots, roughly chopped (or ~80g roughly chopped onions)
- 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 to 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- ½ teaspoon porcini mushroom powder (optional, see Note 1)
- 2 teaspoons vegan beef broth seasoning or bouillon cube crumbled (optional, see Note 1)
- 2 to 4 tablespoons olive oil or cooking oil of choice
For serving
- Avocado Crema (see 2nd recipe card)
- Spicy Cabbage Slaw (see 3rd recipe card)
- 12 taco-sized corn or flour tortillas (see Note 2)
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
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Instructions
- Cook the lentils. Bring some water to a boil in a saucepan and lightly salt the water. Once boiling, add the lentils. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the lentils for just 8 to 10 minutes. You want to slightly undercook them: they should be mostly but not fully cooked with a distinct bite, as they’ll get cooked later.
- While the lentils cook, toast the walnuts. Heat a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Add the walnuts and toast for 4 to 5 minutes until they smell toasty and are darker in spots.
- Drain the lentils well, then add to a food processor. Blend for several seconds, followed by a few pulses, until partially blended with a few pieces still intact. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside. Wipe out the food processor bowl.Watch this Youtube video at the 11:26 mark to see the desired texture.
- Add the toasted walnuts to the food processor. Blend briefly until you have fine crumbs, but don’t over-blend into walnut butter. Add the roughly chopped mushrooms and shallots to the food processor with the walnuts. Blend a few times, followed by a few pulses until they are very finely chopped.Watch this Youtube video at the 11:39 and 11:46 marks to see the desired texture.
- Make the taco meat filling. Add the walnut-veg mixture to the bowl with the lentils. Add in the flaxseed meal, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, 2 tablespoons taco seasoning, plus mushroom powder and beef broth seasoning (if using). Use your hands to mix the taco meat until the mixture comes together with your hands. It should easily come together but not be very sticky.If the mixture is too sticky, add a tablespoon or two of flour and toss to combine.
- Cook the taco meat. Heat a large (12-inch) nonstick skillet over medium/medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once hot, add ⅓ to ½ of the mixture to the pan (to avoid overcrowding) and break the taco meat up with a wooden spoon or angled spatula into as small pieces as you can. Cook for 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until browned and slightly crispy. Repeat with remaining taco meat, adding more oil as needed.
- Warm the tortillas. Add a few tortillas to a cast iron (or other) skillet over medium-high heat. Warm for about 30 seconds per side. Stack and wrap tortillas in a dish towel to keep them warm.
- Assemble. Dollop some Avocado Crema onto each warmed tortilla and spread out. Top with taco meat and Spicy Cabbage Slaw. If desired, sprinkle a bit of cilantro onto each taco, and serve with lime wedges.
Notes
- The porcini mushroom powder adds a punch of umami (you can also use a mushroom seasoning blend, like those sold at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s). And the vegan beef seasoning makes the taco meat taste “beefy.” Both are optional. If you don’t care about making this taco “meat” taste like meat, feel free to skip.
- Use 100% corn tortillas to keep this recipe gluten-free.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
392kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
61g
(20%)
Protein
18g
(36%)
Fat
10g
(15%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
6g
Sodium
691mg
(29%)
Potassium
828mg
(24%)
Fiber
19g
(76%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
389IU
(8%)
Vitamin C
8mg
(9%)
Calcium
219mg
(22%)
Iron
5mg
(28%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 392 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 392kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 61g | 20% |
| Protein | 18g | 36% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Sodium | 691mg | 29% |
| Potassium | 828mg | 18% |
| Fiber | 19g | 76% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 389IU | 8% |
| Vitamin C | 8mg | 9% |
| Calcium | 219mg | 22% |
| Iron | 5mg | 28% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
138 reviews
Excellent
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