After a tear-jerker post about a deceased relative I miss…
…and a post about Va-ja-jays and ta-ta’s…
…it’s time to get back to some regularly scheduled programming.
Here’s a one pot, gluten free, vegan meal recipe that is ready in less than 30 minutes, makes planned leftovers, costs next to nothing, and is hearty and satisfying. How’s that for killing seven two birds with one stone?
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Chipotle Salsa Lentils with Mixed Vegetables
Ingredients
1 c dry Lentils
1.5 c Salsa (I used a small jar of Pace)
1 Tbsp Chipotle seasoning (I used Mrs. Dash)
1 Tbsp Sugar (optional)
1 c diced Vegetables (I used carrots and broccoli stalks)
Directions
Cook 1 cup dry lentils with 2 cups water on stovetop (Bring the lentils and water to a boil, then cover and reduce heat). Simmer for about 15 minutes, or until about 85% of the water has been cooked off.
Add the remaining ingredients.
Stir, cover, and cook for another 10-15 minutes.
Serve.
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Here’s a visual guide of the process
Water + Lentils. Boil, reduce heat & cover
After 15 minutes, 85% of the water is gone
Add everything else, stir, simmer (covered) for 10-15 minutes
Plate & Serve
This was easy, fast, cheap meal when served next to a fresh green salad. Filling, hearty, satisfying. 30 Minute Meals anyone?
The salsa was a nice way to season the lentils because on their own, I find lentils to be quite bland and can even be “earthy” tasting.
Scott had no idea he was eating lentils. His comment, “Whatever that was that you made was actually good.” He grew up a meat and potaotes guy so the fact that he dines on nooch (15 recipes here), raw vegan chocolate mousse made with avocado, and lentils, well, he’s come a long way. I’ll take an “acutally good” any day.
If you’ve never cooked with lentils before, just make sure to not overcook them. Red lentils cook very fast and can turn to mush easily and you can end up with (unplanned) lentil soup on your hands, quickly.
Green and black lentils take longer to cook, but this whole meal, from start to finish, was done in 30 minutes.
The added veggies gave some color, a bit of extra texture and crunch, and more fiber. Not that the lentils on their own are hurting in the fiber department.
And planned leftovers are music to my working mommy ears.
Need other one-pot meal ideas?
Maybe Mango Balsamic Rice, Beans, & Mixed Veggies
Check out This Post for more One Pot Recipes
From my last post about going to the doctor, specifically going to the gyno, thanks for chiming in about your own experiences with going and with monthly self-breast exams. Not exactly on the top of everyone’s to do list, but as I mentioned, it’s one aspect of staying healthy. Being proactive about our health and preventative care just makes sense to me given how much we all care about other aspects of healthy living like food and exercise choices.
Maybe you’d like to wash your lentils down with brownies. I know some people who’ve tried beans or lentils in their brownies. I haven’t gone that far, yet.
Raw Vegan Brownies are as far as I’ve gone.
Questions:
1. Do you like lentils?
I used to love buying lentil salads at WFs. Haven’t wasted money like that done that in years, though. I just make my own now.
2. Favorite way to prepare them?
I don’t cook with them that frequently but I need to start using them more because this was a fast, family-friendly, cheap, vegan meal.
Christine has been sprouting them. That’s next on my to-try list.
3. Anything fun or exciting happen for you today?
I got a package in the mail I was waiting for. Will be posting about it, soon.
Chipotle lentils! One pot, vegan and 30 minute meals! Oh yeah!
omg i love love lentils!!! i make curried lentils, lentil stew, lentil salad! i put the curry and lentils over basmati rice. so so good!!
First rugby practice of the season tonight; so stoked!
Love these one pot dishes! Genius!
I’ve never cooked lentils but I actually just bought the same bag you have pictured. I bought them for a recipe of ‘snobby joes’ but, I may be more inclined to try your one pot meal instead! I def don’t like mush foods, so that makes me a touch nervous.
Nothing exciting today! Happy to be home with my family and not traveling for work.
i almost made snobby joes but the salsa was just as easy. dont over cook, follow my directions, and you will NOT have mush. promise.
Totally laughing at the “actually good” comment… I get that one from Alex too! :D
glad you can relate :)
I really do enjoy lentils, I made a soup not that long ago with lentils and it was quite the thick soup!! haha.
Yum – may have to try this with the dehydrated sprouted mung beans I have in my pantry….and green chilies…
i want to start sprouting too!
HI! I’ve missed your posts! This looks totally delicious! I love using salsa as a sauce and seasoning device for bean or bean and rice dishes! This looks fantastic! And I loved the size of that pace salsa- they should sell it in that size. We just got home from our trip! I will finally have a post up tomorrow morning!
welcome home and ive missed you too! :)
Looks like another winning 1 pot dish :)
I’ve only ever had & cooked red lentils. But I would be willing to try the other kinds.
Haven’t tried sprouting them, but do sprout other things, so that seems like it would be good to try.
I’m not super into lentils. I like the red ones that get all mushy. BUt, I am way into chipotle and southwestern anything and everything. I need that Mrs. Dash!
I loved your post on the gyno FYI. I go every year, and I was shocked a ouple yrs ago when they told me that they don’t do breast exams anymore! WHAT?!?!?! Nope – not for women under 30. Stupidest thing I have ever heard.
these are NOTHING like red. I hate red b/c i hate mush and i think red turns to mush in a heartbeat.
the recommendations for paps and breast exams have been altered and changed so many times in recent yrs. There was a huge bru haha over pap and breast (both mammogram and self check) recommendations. Just about the time women were truly getting on board with it all…20+ yrs in the making of advocating screenings, they said….we dont need to do it as often. Major set back IMO…common sense must prevail!
You know what’s crazy? I don’t really like lentils, I’ve never tried then in a dish I liked :(
Oh well!!
This is the last comment for me from awhile!!! Adios dear Averie!! :)
hi averie!
one pot meals = a big hit for me! :-)
i love lentils. i used red ones in soups (my apricot lentil soup is a hit with my husband) and the green and brown ones in cold salads. I have to, have to try a warm brown/green lentil dish. Mama Pea posted her lentil sloppy joes recently and OMG they look AMAZING!
here’s a neat saying: instead of “kill two birds with one stone” say “feed to birds with one scone”. ;-)
anything exciting happen to me today? well, it’s still to early to tell! yesterday was awesome: spent the morning outside in the sun (trudging through a foot of snow and -20C weather) but saw mini horses, which made me SMILE!
happy thursday!
sabina
cute saying :)
Oh yum! I love lentils and this sounds perfect. Even better: fast, cheap, easy!
You read my mind with this recipe! I have some leftover lentils in my fridge and was in need of some inspiration! I usually make lentil soup, “snooby joe’s” or lentil-walnut pates!
i have wanted to make snobby joes for years and never have! I was almost going to make them..but then i had the salsa on hand so went with that. But it was an almost snobby joe day.
I got a package too! I’ve been a good girl and didn’t splurge on January sales, I bought just a couple of real practical el cheapo items (patting my own back) so I got a 50% reduced bag from the internet. Leather, should last a while, and in the cheap end even before reductions, so I’m ok with that. Plus I found a place that sells most of the health stuff I buy, like ghee and tofu, which I usually pick up from all over the place, plus they ship for free if I order more than a pretty small amount, so double whammy in the mail! Groceries delivered to the door plus something I’ve waited for years to buy = thursday bliss.
Big event at work today, so I’ve been here for a couple of hours and staying until tonight. Right now it’s quiet before the storm…
Love lentils! I just can’t tolerate them right now, so I prefer not to think about my favorite way of eating them, haha ;-)