Lentil Tacos

 (Photo from A Couple Cooks)

I found this recipe at A Couple Cooks, and just tried them out. My hubby says out of all the veggie taco meat replacements we've tried this one was his favorite. We both agree that the consistency of the lentils is the closest to taco meat.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups brown lentils (8 ounces) 
• One red onion 
• 2 cloves garlic 
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 3 1/2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning mix 
• 1 1/2 tablespoons ketchup 
• Whole grain tortillas 
• Toppings of your choice: Lettuce, fresh tomatoes, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream

Directions: 

1. In a medium sauce pan, bring 1 3/4 cups salted water to a boil. Add 1 1/4 cup lentils, cover, and reduce heat. Simmer covered for about 20 to 25 minutes, until most of the water has been absorbed.

2. If you haven’t already done so, mix up the taco seasonings. Prepare the toppings by washing and chopping the lettuce and fresh tomatoes, if using.

3. Finely dice a red onion and two garlic cloves. Heat about 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet; add red onion and sauté for about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for about 1 minute more.

4. Turn off the heat and add the lentils. Stir in around 3 to 3 1/2 tablespoons of taco seasoning mix and about 1 1/2 tablespoons ketchup, to taste. Add more seasoning if desired.

5. To serve, add lentils to a warmed tortilla; top with lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, salsa, and sour cream. Fold and enjoy!

Serves 4-6

Notes about this recipe:

1. We used regular white tortillas, although I'm sure the wheat are just as yummy.

2. We also served it with avocado slices.

3. I used their homemade taco seasoning recipe, but I think if there is a different mix you prefer that would also work, just as long as you have enough to really flavor the lentils.

 

Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers

(Photo from  LunchBoxBunch.Com)

This recipe was sent in by Vanessa H. She found it at LunchBoxBunch.Com. 

Ingredients:

• 2 cans cannellini white beans, drained
• 1 large sweet potato, baked/peeled/mashed (about 2 cups)
• 2 Tbsp tahini
• 2 tsp maple or agave syrup
• 1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning OR Cajun seasoning (or another fave spice!)
• 1/4 cup wheat flour
• optional: additional seasoning (whatever you have on hand - I used a few dashes cayenne, black pepper and a scoop of nutritional yeast)
• salt to taste if needed
• plentiful Panko crumbs
• safflower oil for pan
• burgers: avocado, Dijon mustard, grain buns, romaine, onion, olive oil, pepper

Directions:
1. Bake sweet potato. Peel, place in large mixing bowl.
2. Add drained beans to mixing bowl. Mash beans and potato together.
3. Mash in seasoning, flour and any additional seasoning. Your mixture will be quite soft and moist. But you should be able to form a patty. Add more flour or a scoop of breadcrumbs - or dry rice to thicken the mixture if needed.
4. Heat 1 Tbsp safflower oil in a pan over high heat.
5. Form a patty from mixture and coat in Panko crumbs. Thick coating. Then drop the patty in the pan. Repeat until the pan is filled. Cook until browned on both sides. You could also bake. If baking, use less Panko.
6. Transfer cooked patties to paper towel. Cool for a few minutes.
7. Serve on toasted bun with lotsa toppings.
makes 7-8 large patties
Note: yes this patty does fall kind of apart as you eat it. But that is OK because it tastes yummy. 


Notes about this recipe:
1. This recipe makes TON, so I would cut it in half.

Vegetable Quiche

This recipe was sent in by Aubrey B. She adapted it from a recipe over at For The Love of Cooking. 

Ingredients:

• 2 russet potatoes, peeled and grated
• 2 medium/large tomatoes, chopped
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped
• Handful of spinach or kale, chopped
• 1 carrot, grated
• 5 eggs
• Splash of milk
• Big spoonful of greek yogurt
• Several ounces of goat cheese
• Dill spice blend and salt/pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 3 quart round casserole dish with cooking spray.

Peel, then shred, the two potatoes onto 2 paper towels; add another two paper towels to the top and press all the liquid out of the potatoes. Smash the shredded potatoes all over the bottom and sides of the pie pan, making sure to press them firmly. Spray with cooking spray and season with sea salt, freshly cracked pepper, and garlic powder, to taste. Bake in the oven for 12-13 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

Sprinkle the diced tomato, spinach/kale, zucchini, carrot and ½ the goat cheese on top of the potatoes Beat the eggs with the milk and yogurt and season with dill, sea salt, and freshly cracked pepper. Pour the egg mixture on top of the veggies then top with the remaining goat cheese.

Place in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center of the quiche comes out clean – don’t overcook. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes before slicing.

Enjoy.

Lasagna Rolls with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

(Picture from My Recipes.)

This recipe was sent in by Rachel S. She found it at My Recipes.

Ingredients:

• Lasagna:
• 8 uncooked lasagna noodles
• 4 teaspoons olive oil 
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion 
• 1 (8-ounce) package presliced mushrooms
• 1 (6-ounce) package fresh baby spinach 
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup minced fresh basil, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon salt  
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• Sauce:
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained 
• 1 (7-ounce) bottle roasted red bell peppers, undrained
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Directions:

1. To prepare lasagna, cook noodles according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain and rinse under cold water. Drain.
2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, mushrooms, spinach, and 3 garlic cloves; sauté 5 minutes or until onion and mushrooms are tender. Remove from heat, and stir in cheeses, 2 tablespoons basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper.
3. To prepare sauce, place vinegar and remaining ingredients in a blender; process until smooth.
4. Place cooked noodles on flat surface; spread 1/4 cup cheese mixture over each noodle. Roll up noodles, jelly-roll fashion, starting with short side. Place the rolls, seam sides down, in a shallow 2-quart microwave-safe dish. Pour 1/4 cup sauce over each roll, and cover with heavy-duty plastic wrap. Microwave at high 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons basil.

Vegetarian Taco Salad

(Picture from Eating Well.)

This recipe was sent in by Vanessa H. She found it at Eating Well. 

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels (see Tip) or frozen, thawed
• 4 large tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups cooked long-grain brown rice (see Tip)
• 1 15-ounce can black, kidney or pinto beans, rinsed
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/3 cup prepared salsa
• 2 cups shredded iceberg or romaine lettuce
• 1 cup shredded pepper Jack cheese
• 2 1/2 cups coarsely crumbled tortilla chips
• Lime wedges for garnish

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and corn; cook, stirring, until the onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Coarsely chop 1 tomato. Add it to the pan along with rice, beans, chili powder, 1 teaspoon oregano and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the tomato cooks down, about 5 minutes. Let cool slightly.
2. Coarsely chop the remaining 3 tomatoes. Combine with cilantro, salsa and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon oregano in a medium bowl.
3. Toss lettuce in a large bowl with the bean mixture, half the fresh salsa and 2/3 cup cheese. Serve sprinkled with tortilla chips and the remaining cheese, passing lime wedges and the remaining fresh salsa at the table.

Notes about this recipe:

Don't stir the lettuce directly into the salad, spoon some of the salad onto a bed of lettuce on each plate. Don't want soggy lettuce in your leftovers!