
It’s Taco Time!
Do you love Mexican food?
I LOVE Mexican food. I’ve blogged before about how ethnic food was my saviour when I became a vegetarian four years ago.
The ethnic food influence has been pretty evident throughout the recipes I’ve blogged. Let’s see…
- There was my other Mexican-influenced dish, my Black Bean Quesadillas with Cilantro Salsa
- French-inspired quiches, from Gruyere, Leek and Roasted Red Pepper Quiche to Mushroom Goat Cheese Quiche
- A Greek Spanakopita recipe
- Mediterranean Stuffed Whatevers
- Italian/Indian rice in the creamiest tomato sauce you’ll ever make with Riso alla Orientale
- Italian risottos, from Butternut Squash Risotto to Mushroom Risotto
- Romanian/Greek inspired Leek, Spinach, Lentil and Potato Pie
- and Asian influence with Anna’s Asian Lettuce Wraps
So let’s just add to the mix with a Mexican taco feast, shall we?
This is a really fun dinner to make because it’s an ‘assemble-it-yourself’ dish, which I always find is enjoyable for everyone as you can customize your meal however you prefer. It’s a great one to serve at parties. You can choose whichever toppings you prefer, but for this version I topped my taco and taco ‘meat’ with avocado, tomatoes and my homemade coleslaw (recipe below).
What to do when ground beef taco meat is no longer an option?
Make lentil taco ‘meat’ of course!
Lentil Tacos
INGREDIENTS (serves 6):
For taco meat:
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 tsp minced garlic
1/4 cup diced onion
3/4 cup dried lentils
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
Salt and pepper
For tacos:
Pack of tortilla wraps (gluten-free if necessary)
1 avocado, halved and pitted, and then sliced into thick wedges
Baby tomatoes, halved or 2 regular tomatoes, sliced
Anna’s Waldorf Coleslaw (recipe below)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat oil in a frying pan. Add garlic and onion; stir fry for 5 minutes or until onion starts to soften.
2. Meanwhile, boil lentils in 1 1/2 cups water. When cooked, water should have disappeared.
3. Add cooked lentils to onion and garlic, then add seasonings. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Fry for 5 more minutes.
5. Assemble with wraps, avocados, tomatoes and coleslaw (recipe below).
Nutritional information below is per serving of taco meat only, if serves 6:
Anna’s Waldorf Coleslaw
I call this Waldorf Coleslaw because I make it a bit like a Waldorf salad with the apples and nuts, but coleslaw…does that make sense? If not, just read on for the recipe; hopefully all will become clear :).
INGREDIENTS:
1 bag shredded cabbage and carrot (coleslaw mix)
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 apple, diced
1/4 cup to 1/2 mayonnaise (or Veganaise) – just use however much you want till it’s as wet as you prefer. Some people don’t want their coleslaw too wet.
1-2 tbsp almond milk, to thin out the mayo a bit
1 tsp Sucanat (optional, only if you prefer a sweeter coleslaw)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Mix the cabbage and carrot mix, walnuts and diced apple in a large salad bowl.
2. Add mayo and stir until combined, then add milk to thin it out a bit.
3. Taste, if too sour for you, you can add some Sucanat to sweeten. Done!
Nutritional information below per serving of coleslaw if serves 6 (no Sucanat, 1/4 cup mayo):
November 18, 2011
Katie
Mike always says his favorite type of food is mexican food, and I feel the same! We love chips, salsa, and guacamole so much ! I make tacos weekly for the boys, but need to make some for me soon!
Happy weekend love! xoxo <3
November 20, 2011
Anna
Yum guacamole! Yes, don’t let yourself miss out on the taco action, they’re way too good to be missed – and these ones are so healthy!
November 18, 2011
Annie @ Naturally Sweet Recipes
Thanks Anna! My husbands favorite food is Mexican too and this will be an awesome meal that he’d love!! Even without meat!! Btw, my meat reducing diet is going very well! Thanks for your ideas! Have a great weekend!
November 20, 2011
Anna
I’m so glad it’s going well! Let me know if you have anymore questions at all. I hope your husband loves this but even if he doesn’t, it’s pretty easy to make a meat filling for him and a lentil one for you!
November 19, 2011
Tessa @ Amazing Asset
Thanks for the recipe roundup! I am definitely going to bookmark this page, so many tasty things 🙂 And of course a wonderful recipe!
November 20, 2011
Anna
You’re more than welcome, you’re so sweet! Thanks for stopping by!
November 20, 2011
Shannon (Healthiful Balance)
I love tacos! 🙂
Thanks for the recipes! 🙂
November 20, 2011
Anna
You’re welcome, I hope you get to make these tacos soon; nothing like a good Mexican meal!
November 20, 2011
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance
I had Mexican last night for dinner with Will! Although I’m pretty confident that these recipes are much healthier than the boatload of chips I ate 🙂
November 20, 2011
Anna
Haha chips are so good now and again though 😉 but yeah, these tacos are pretty awesome as a healthy Mexican alternative. If you don’t want the coleslaw, you can serve them with my cilantro salsa, which is ah-maaazing and is so cilantro-y if you like that 😉
November 20, 2011
Char @ www.charskitchen.ca
Yumm!! Tacos & coleslaw, count me in! 😀 I’m a big fan of tacos, but have yet to try making lentil ‘meat,’ though it’s on my mental list. Bookmarked! Thank you for the recipe! 🙂
November 20, 2011
Anna
Ooh I hope you love it if you try it! Yes, I know tacos are sooooo sooo good! Thanks for stopping by Char 🙂
December 5, 2011
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
lentil tacos NEED to happen in my kitchen super soon! looks great girly!