Grab your skillet and whip up this flavourful, 4 ingredient lentil walnut taco meat for tacos, burritos, bowls and more! With canned or pre-cooked lentils, it takes just 10 minutes to whip up a healthy weeknight meal.
I have been making a version of this ridiculously good lentil walnut taco meat for years now. It started as a taco recipe in my first cookbook, Eat More Plants. Then I used it for a taco salad recipe here on the blog. It’s become a forever staple in my house…so I thought it deserved a blog post all its own.
If you’re looking for a quick and less processed alternative to vegan meats for taco night, burritos or bowls, this is the one. This walnut + lentil taco meat is super weeknight friendly because it comes together in minutes with just 4 basic ingredients…in the flavour department, taco seasoning is doing ALL the heavy lifting (I make my own homemade taco seasoning but you can do store bought in a pinch!)
This lentil taco meat is also a really great way to get more lentils on your plate, and I’m on a one woman mission to get folks eating more legumes. Look, as a plant-based dietitian, I LOVE my veggies…but I rarely use vegetables as a replacement for meat.
Why? Because humans also need protein. Not in that icky (and incorrect) internet, eat-your-body-weight-in-protein way. But if you want to feel full and satisfied after a meal, you need a good balance of veggies, protein, fat and fibre. And this easy lentil walnut taco meat has all that and MORE.
Raid your pantry to make this easy walnut lentil taco meat
You could do lentil taco meat, or walnut taco meat…but I promise you, the combination of the two is SO much better. Because tender lentils pack in more protein than walnuts, and they soak up flavour well. Walnuts offer filling fats and fibre, with a firmness that keeps the vegan taco meat from just feeling like mush.
Nutrition Corner: In addition to being rich in iron, potassium and zinc, this lentil walnut taco meat has about 10.5 grams of protein and 6.5 grams of fibre per serving!
Epic vegan taco recipes for every craving
- 30 Minute Crumbled Tofu Vegan Tacos
- 30 Minute Smashed Black Bean Tacos with Pumpkin Seeds
- Sheet Pan Cauliflower Tacos with Creamy Chipotle White Beans
10 Minute, Yummy Lentil Walnut Taco Meat
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or any neutral cooking oil
- 2 cups canned lentils drained and rinsed, or pre-cooked lentils
- 1 cup walnuts finely chopped
- ½ cup water
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning storebought or homemade
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
Instructions
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Add oil to a large skillet over medium heat, then add walnuts and lentils and warm through, about 2-3 minutes. Add the water, taco seasoning and tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally until the water is absorbed, about 2-3 minutes.
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Serve as a taco or burrito filling, or addition to taco salad or grain bowls.
The post 10 Minute Yummy Lentil Walnut Taco Meat appeared first on Desiree Nielsen.
