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    Home / Main Courses / Entrees

    Smoky Lentil Tacos {vegan option}

    Published Jul 13, 2017

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    A handful of surprising yet simple ingredients lend big flavor to these meatless smoky lentil tacos, adapted from Naturally Nourished by Sarah Britton. 

    delicious Smoky Lentil Tacos {vegan option}

    I bought Sarah's book especially for these smoky lentil tacos. After following her beautiful blog My New Roots for nearly a decade, I had the pleasure of hearing her speak about her new book Naturally Nourished: Healthy, Delicious Meals Made with Everyday Ingredients at Omnivore Books a few months ago along with my friend Mere. This turned out to be a momentous occasion for a variety of reasons, the first being that spending time in an all-cookbook bookstore is my heaven on earth. The second is that Sarah KNEW WHO I WAS before I introduced myself. The third was meeting Laura, a friend of Mere's who fosters kittens, and I realized that kitten fostering is likely what I was put on this earth to do, being both obsessed with cats and having zero maternal instincts when it comes to human children. I'm hoping to start this month!

    ingredients on table

    The fourth was, as you've probably guessed by now, these tacos, which Sarah cited as a favorite from the book during her talk. Sarah is an incredible public speaker, her smart, witty self shining in front of a crowd (unlike certain people who get so nervous they feel as though they're babbling incoherently in gibberish and suddenly can't recall a single recipe in the book they lived and breathed for two solid years). A certified nutritionist, Sarah knows a thing or two about healthful cooking, and she does a compelling job explaining kitchen science as it relates to health. Now I think about her every time I (guiltily) reach for a bottle of olive oil for sauteing (a poor choice, according to Sarah, with its low smoke point – coconut oil and ghee are best for high heat) and when I forget to soak my grains and lentils (as I did today when making these tacos, and, let's be real – every time).

    stirring onions in pan

    Jay's been on a taco kick lately, experimenting with homemade refried beans, shredded cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, and any other seasonal vegetables we have on hand. He has his system down: heat the corn tortillas on a cast iron griddle. Add thinly sliced cheese and filling of choice and sandwich in said tortilla, still on the griddle, until melted and heated through. De-sandwich and fill with all the good things such as salsa, avocado, sour cream, cilantro, and (very important) a squeeze of lime. Fold and serve with kombucha. Make Alanna really happy.

    So when Sarah mentioned these tacos, I wagered that I could get tacos without having to cook anything, making the book an especially smart investment. I WAS RIGHT.

    Sarah concocted the smoky lentil taco filling with umami in mind – that difficult to describe taste that feels full and earthy on the palate like bacon, mushrooms, parmesan, or ketchup. Umami foods such as meat all contain glutamate, an amino acid that lends that savory, satisfying flavor. So Sarah ditched the meat in favor of a handful of surprising, umami-ful, plant-based ingredients: caramelized onions, tamari, sun dried tomatoes, and smoked paprika with a bit of spice. The result is a savory, sweet, and smoky filling that reminds me a little of the complexity and consistency of al pastor. The sun dried tomatoes give it a sweet brightness with their concentrated, sunny flavor that smacks of summer. And lentils are of course full of good-for-you things like protein and fiber, and they're usually easier to digest than beans (especially if you don't forget to soak them first).

    lentils in pan

    Sarah tested all of the recipes in Naturally Nourished with finds from her local supermarket in Copenhagen, the equivalent to Safeway, to make sure the ingredients would be easy for anyone to source. The result is a collection of innovative vegetarian recipes that leave you satisfied and uplifted, all made with easy-to-source ingredients. Many are vegan and/or gluten-free to boot. Sarah includes "rollover" suggestions to ease prep time in the kitchen, such as cooking a double batch of quinoa when making the Lemony Raw Beet and Quinoa Salad with Dill and Olives so you'll have some on hand when you crave the Quinoa and Black Beans with Radish Cilantro Salsa the following day. (I'm currently craving both.)

    The photos are a rainbow of colors, styled and shot by Sarah in a way that feels both elegant and cozy. The cookbook nerd in me appreciates not only the bounty of nourishing recipes and tantalizing photos for every recipe, but also the thick matte paper stock that feels good under my fingers, and pages that stay open on their own.

    I'm smitten, and I can't wait to try many more recipes such as:

    • One-Pot Cleansing Kichadi
    • Cashew Corn Chowder with Chipotle Oil
    • Broccoli Basil Broth with Noodles and Sesame Salt
    • Chickpea Curry Salad Sandwich
    • Brown Butter Carrots with Pistachio and Dill
    • Falafel Waffles (!!!)
    • Spicy Watermelon Mojito Ice Pops
    • Espresso Brownie Bites

    Smoky Lentil Tacos {vegan option} and cookbook

    I highly recommend getting your mitts on a copy of Naturally Nourished, and I hope you enjoy these smoky lentil tacos as much as we do!

    More Lentil Recipes:

    • Lentil Soup with Chestnuts and Fennel
    • French Lentil and Spinach Soup
    • Roasted Beet & Carrot Lentil Salad with Feta, Yogurt & Dill
    • Lentil Walnut Vegan Pâté
    *Thanks for reading! For more Bojon Gourmet in your life, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest, purchase my gluten-free cookbook Alternative Baker, or subscribe to receive new posts via email. And if you make these lentil tacos, I’d love to see! Tag your Instagram snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and  #bojongourmet.*
    Smoky Lentil Tacos {vegan option}
    5 from 2 votes

    Smoky Lentil Tacos {vegan option}

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    These lentil tacos are packed full of flavor!
    Alanna Taylor-Tobin
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total: 45 minutes
    Servings: 8 tacos

    Ingredients

    Lentils:

    • 1 cup (210 g) French green lentils (optionally soaked in cool water for up to 8 hours)
    • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) coconut oil
    • 2 medium yellow onions, diced
    • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
    • 1 large garlic clove, minced
    • 1/3 cup (70 g) chopped drained oil-packed sun dried tomatoes
    • 1 teaspoon hot smoked paprika (or regular smoked paprika plus cayenne to taste)
    • 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
    • 2 teaspoons (10 ml) GF tamari (or soy sauce if gluten isn’t an issue)

    Tacos (choose your favorite toppings):

    • Corn tortillas
    • Chopped tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
    • Tomato salsa (we love locally-made Papalote salsa)
    • Sliced avocado
    • Lime wedges
    • Cotija, queso fresco, or feta, crumbled (or jack or another melting cheese, melted onto the tortillas in a skillet prior to assembling)
    • Cilantro
    • Shredded cabbage
    • Sour cream

    Instructions

    • Drain the lentils if soaked, place in a medium saucepan, and cover with 3 inches of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the lentils are very tender but still mostly holding a shape, 20-30 minutes. Drain and rinse well.
    • In a wide skillet, melt the coconut oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and salt and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, sun dried tomatoes, paprika, oregano, and tamari. Stir to coat, adding a splash of water if the pan is dry, and cook until fragrant, 2-3 minutes. Stir in the lentils and cook until heated through. Taste for salt, adding more if you like. The lentils keep well, refrigerated airtight, for up to 1 week.
    • To make the tacos, warm the tortillas and top with warm lentils and your favorite toppings.

    Notes

    Barely adapted from Naturally Nourished by Sarah Britton.
    Sarah serves these topped with pico de gallo and a spicy lime and red cabbage slaw, which sounds delicious; we usually just use what we have on hand that doesn’t require extra prep. I’ve listed our regular toppings here, but feel free to improvise. Sometimes we take the extra step of melting jack or another melting cheese on the tortillas in a skillet before assembling the tacos.
    Nutritional values are based on one of eight tacos without any toppings.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 182kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 9gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 400mgPotassium: 485mgFiber: 10gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 180IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 2.8mg
    Making this? I'd love to see!Tag your snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet!

    Smoky Lentil Tacos {vegan option} on plate

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    the cover of the award-winning cookbook, Alternative Baker

    Hungry for more?

    Alternative Baker celebrates the unique tastes and textures of 14 gluten-free flours, from buckwheat flour to almond flour to sorghum and coconut! This cookbook will fill your kitchen with sweet treats that burst with flavor every month of the year.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Janet says

      July 13, 2017 at 10:23 am

      Well guess who just signed up to be a dog foster here on the other coast? Can't wait to hear more about your parade of meowlers.

      Thanks for this handy way to engage the big bag of smoked dried tomatoes lurking in my pantry depths! All about the tacos here as well.

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        July 15, 2017 at 6:00 pm

        Dog foster?! Because you don't have enough on your plate? ;) Just kidding, I'm so excited for you! Smoked dried tomatoes sound like they were MADE for this recipe!

        Reply
    2. Tiffany says

      July 13, 2017 at 8:14 pm

      This post makes my heart happy❤️
      I have followed my new roots and the bojon gourmet for the last several years and I adore you both! Yours and Sara's posts have enriched my cooking and inspired me to dive into my garden and my sourdough starter. I have enjoyed both of her cookbooks and yours immensely, and I have often wondered if you knew of each other. Happy healthy cooking! I am on my way to the kitchen to soak some lentils !

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        July 15, 2017 at 5:39 pm

        Aw, thank you for the incredibly kind note Tiffany! I'm so glad I got to meet Sarah - such a talented gal, and sweet to boot. Thanks so much for following along all these years! Let me know how you like the lentils. Happy healthy cooking to you too! <3

        Reply
    3. Jay Doane says

      July 14, 2017 at 8:56 am

      These lentils really are the bomb, and make fantastic tacos! Looking forward to lunch now.

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        July 15, 2017 at 6:00 pm

        I'm looking forward to you coming home and making me lunch. ;)

        Reply
    4. Sabrina says

      July 16, 2017 at 8:05 pm

      thank you for sharing this recipe, such interesting flavors, AND in a taco!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        July 30, 2017 at 9:07 pm

        Right?! Sarah B is a taco genius. :)

        Reply
    5. Lily says

      July 19, 2017 at 8:29 pm

      Made these tonight and they were awesome. Loved them! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        July 30, 2017 at 9:06 pm

        Yay! I'm so glad you liked them. We just made a fresh batch ourselves!

        Reply
    6. Susanna says

      July 23, 2017 at 11:52 am

      So delicious! Used the leftover lentils to make the best huevos rancheros I've ever had.

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        July 24, 2017 at 1:10 pm

        Well that sounds AMAZING! So glad you liked them!

        Reply
    7. Erika Kwee says

      July 24, 2017 at 7:11 pm

      Omg being recognized by Sarah would MAKE MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!! But of course she recognized your talented self ;) Omg can't wait to see KITTEN PHOTOS once you start fostering!!!!!!! And gorgeous styling, as always, on these amazing sounding tacos!!!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        July 25, 2017 at 9:05 am

        Aw, you're the sweetest Erika! I was 100 sure she wouldn't know who the heck I was! We're just waiting to get Catamus up to date with his vaccinations before we take in fosters - so incredibly excited!! Miss you friend! <3 <3 <3

        Reply
    8. MaryOMary says

      May 16, 2018 at 1:14 am

      I broke my number one entertaining rule of no untried dishes made this for a dinner party, and it was a huge hit! (I found out only the day before that my guests were vegan.) Thank you so much for posting this recipe. I received a gift of Penzey’s Smoked Paprika, and had no idea how to use it- it was perfect for this dish. I also made a batch of cucumber and mango salsa, and the sweet/crunchy paired well with it. Looking forward to trying your other recipes!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        May 16, 2018 at 10:28 am

        Aw I'm so glad you all liked it! That salsa sounds like the perfect accompaniment.

        Reply

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