Lentil Tacos
These Easy Mexican Vegan Tacos / Mexican Lentil Tacos are sooooo good even carnivores won’t notice they’re meat-free. Suitable for Vegan and Gluten-Free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.
Staircases in grand houses make a pretty entertaining few hours for young children, don’t they?
All that running up and down them, trying to slide down head first, poking heads through railings, pulling funny faces at rather serious ancestors and shouting ‘mama yook me’ from the top of the stairs as they try to climb a rather expensive and antique looking piano. Luckily there are some very understanding people out there. And our rather fab fun day out was topped up with some easy peasy Lentil Tacos (or Awesome VEGAN Tacos as Freddy calls them) when we got back home – bliss.
When I first suggested making Lentil Tacos to my (meat loving) OH, his exact response was – can’t we just have real tacos instead, with meat, not lentil tacos?
He hesitantly agreed to give it a go after my rather indignant ‘incase you do not realise I have been cooking for you for 10 years and you can pretty much tell that if it turns out crap then I will bin it’. Even mini chef threw in a daddy are you crazy look on my behalf.
He loooooooooved it. Which I really got after his third taco – and him gulping down the two leftover tacos the next day. Thank you Mexican cuisine. Instant Pot Arroz con Leche is next on my list and I know he will love that one. Oh and of course Instant Pot Mexican rice.
Want to save this Recipe?
Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Along with recipes & tips every week!
Lentil Tacos – Why You Will Love Them
- These vegan tacos are so simple to make – with everyday store cupboard ingredients.
- They are frugal yet tasty.
- These can be made ahead – and store till needed.
- They make a great freezer meal.
- You can triple or quadruple the recipe to feed a crowd. #winningealready
- It is highly customisable with herbs and spices.
- The Mexican Lentils are very portable to take along to your picnic, BBQ, lunchbox, drinks party, potluck, etc.
Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
How to Make Lentil Tacos
Wondering how to make Lentil Tacos. Seriously guys, these are sooooo easy to make. Here is what you do:
- Step 1. Saute the onion and garlic.
- Step 2. Then add all the remaining ingredients, bring to the boil and reduce to simmer until the Mexican lentils are tender.
- Step 3. Keep an eye on the liquid and add some more stock if necessary.
- Step 4. Adjust seasoning and remove from heat.
- Step 5. Serve lentil tacos with a variety of toppings.
Mexican Lentils Tips
- You can use green lentils, but you will need to cook them a little longer.
- You need to make sure the lentils don’t overcook and turn into a mushy mess.
- Feel free to add a little bit more spices to your taste.
What Goes With Lentil Tacos
- Homemade Corn Tortilla.
- Cheese (vegan cheese if vegan)
- Guacamole.
- Sliced green onions
- Mango salsa
- Avocado sauce
- Radishes
- Grilled Corn
- Tomato Salsa
Can You Freeze Lentil Tacos?
Yes, you can Vegan lentil tacos filling.
- Let the lentil tacos cool down, then transfer into Ziploc freezer bags.
- Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags.
- Label bags and then lay them flat in the freezer.
- Store in the freezer for 3 months.
Mexican Lentils Uses
You can use this easy filling in other eats like :
- Burritos
- Salads
- Nachos
- Burgers
- Mexican salad bowls
More Taco Recipes
Instant Pot Chicken Tacos (if not vegan).
Why Lentils?
Lentils are a fab source of vegetarian or vegan protein. Each 100g cooked serving of lentils contains 9g protein, a moderate amount of carbs (20g) and almost no fat. Combined with their hearty flavour, their nutrition profile makes lentils the perfect meat alternative in tacos.
Love Mexican Lentil Tacos? Try These Lentil Recipes
Guys if you love lentils then you could try this red lentil dahl from Veggie Desserts, and this lentil tabbouleh from Jamie Oliver.
More Lentil Recipes (And other pulses)
I love, love lentils and beans which is why I eat them in treats like
Instant Pot Mexican Lentil Soup.
Vegan Lentil Tacos Weight Watchers Points (lentils only)
A serving of these Vegan Mexican Lentils contains just 1 Freestyle SmartPoint.
To determine how many points are in the tacos, you will need to calculate additional points based on the toppings you use.
Thank you for reading this Mexican Lentils Tacos recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you.
Get the Mexican Lentil Tacos Recipe:
Don’t forget to tag #recipesfromapantry on Instagram or Twitter if you try Mexican Vegan Tacos! It is really, really awesome for me when you make one of my recipes and I’d love to see it. You can also share it on my Facebook page. Please pin this recipe to Pinterest too! Thank you for reading Recipes from a Pantry.
Mexican Vegan Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 150 g (1 cup) dried lentils rinsed ( I used brown lentils)
- 2 large tomatoes finely chopped
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 3/4 tsp smoked parika
- 1/2 tsp dried mixed herbs
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- Chilli powder to taste
- 480-720 ml (2-3 cups) vegetable stock to your preference
Toppings
- shredded lettuce
- cheese
- coriander cilantro
- lime
- sour cream
- salsa
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large enough pot and soften the onion and garlic for about 5 mins.
- Then add in all the remaining ingredients and mix well, bring to the boil and reduce to simmer until lentils are tender.
- Keep an eye on the liquid and add some more stock if necessary.
- Adjust seasoning and remove from heat.
- Serve lentils with the tacos and a variety of toppings.
Notes
Mexican Lentils Tips
- You can use green lentils, but you will need to cook them a little longer.
- You need to make sure the lentils don’t overcook and turn into a mushy mess.
- Feel free to add a little bit more spices to your taste.
Lentil Tacos Serving Suggestions
- Homemade Corn Tortilla.
- Cheese (vegan cheese if vegan)
- Guacamole.
- Sliced green onions
- Mango salsa
- Avocado sauce
- Radishes
- Grilled Corn
- Tomato Salsa
Weight Watchers Points – Mexican Lentils only
A serving of these Vegan Mexican Lentils contains just 1 Freestyle SmartPoint. To determine how many points are in the tacos, you will need to calculate additional points based on the toppings you use.Nutrition
Previous picture
I made these tonight and they were so amazing I ate 5 of them. I’m now laying here with a belly too full to do anything else, but they are so worth it. I added a pinch each of oregano and marjoram as my dried herbs and also a small bay leaf. I’m a huge lover of spicy food so I also tossed in one and a half chipotle peppers (diced). I have so much leftover (as I was only cooking for myself) but I’m thrilled because I’ll get to have this for lunch tomorrow. Thanks for sharing your recipe!!
Hi Airyn,
Thanks so much for coming back and telling me about making this dish. Enjoy the lovely belly full feeling.
I love lentils too and these tacos look fabulous Bintu!
what lovely bright and vibrant tacos! Beautiful!
Vegetarian tacos with lentils? Yes please!
I love the “white” white you’ve managed to get in your photographs. I always struggle getting that correct shade of white.
I know exactly what you mean Morgan.
What a great idea! I love beans and lentils and I love chilli, so love your recipe.
Yaye, let me know if you try it J.
These look so yummy! I love vegetarian tacos. I make crispy potato tacos and lot and more recently have been making baja style grilled tempeh tacos with a recipe from Veganomicon. So good!
Tammy I need to know more about those crispy potato tacos.
Yum, these are going on my ‘to try’ list!!!
Easy peasy Fiona.
I just melted at the ‘yook me’ <3
Janie x
Awwwwwwwww. They are so sweet.
I’m a huuuuge fan of lentils too – these look amazing!
Thanks N. Nice to meet you.
He he! Brilliant, I would love these too. Yum!!
Might be making them again tonight J.
Love the combination of lentils or beans with tacos and really who needs the meat? The spices and other toppings are what make tacos so tasty and delicious and I’d much rather have lentils… Thank you SOOOO much for your generous mention of the bake sale! This is greatly appreciated and a big help in getting the word out!
No worries JV. Good luck.
I so hadn’t thought of lentil tacos either but what a great idea. Love lentils but in practice don’t eat them anywhere nearly enough as I should. Pinning your recipe!
Thanks Lou. Hope you like this.
Bintu ! U have serious competition from me to top the list of lentil lovers! But lentils in tacos ?! whats not to love ! 🙂
Hehehehehe. Let’s start a lentil recipe fight.
I love pulses too and start to panic if my jar of lentils looks like it’s near to empty. I know I would be happy to eat any number of your tacos – delicious.
Hehehehehe. I get major panic if I am down to a kilo…
What a delightful recipe and such pretty enticing images too! I love the addition of lentils, and I use them a lot in cooking.
I am loving lentils more and more and tend to think about them first before anything else.
These sound really delicious, full of spicy flavour. I love the texture of lentils too. GG
Thanks GG. The spices really make this dish.
Thank you so much for visiting my blog recently. And was thinking the same about these tacos, if you are going to have them have them with meat. But hey the recommendations here from the family have swayed me enough to try the lentil version.
No worries Denise. Enjoy the lentils.
Lentil tacos? Oh boy! I love it 🙂
They are fun.