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.
I love lentils and will usually throw them in my chili. Thanks for another easy, delicious looking recipe!
Tonight we are going to a Valentine’s Day dance which is a fundraiser for the kids school. Looking forward to it!
Lentils!!! Yum! I love them….and your salsa/chipotle idea….I have some Chipotle Mrs. Dash in my cupboard…I like to use it in my raw dehydrated crackers…
I like green, red or brown lentils….I just ate some tonight using Sue Gregg’s recipe for Lentil Rice Casserole..find it here..https://kitchenmixers.com/blog/?p=4
I just leave out the cheese…
I like to make a salad sprout mix with red and green lentils, alfalfa, broccoli and radish sprouts. I just make a mix of them in keep it in a ball jar in the fridge…One T. sprouts about 1 1/2 c. sprouts.
I sprout the green ones and make a recipes from The Complete Book Of Raw Foods for Lentil Salad.
The red ones are mushy but I like them and make a soup with them…I add 2 cans of green chilies, red bell peppers, shredded carrots, onion, garlic, salt…and some brown rice pasta for the last 8-10 mins of cooking~you could use brown or green ones with this recipe.
love the new blog design…it is beautiful!!! and so is your pic!
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Just made this, SOOO good and SOO easy!! I left out the Chipotle because I didnt have any, its my new favorite thing :D
Hello! Excellent site, keep up the good work!
I usually don’t post in blogs but your blog forced me to, amazing work.. beautiful !
I love lentils! Even plain :) I really like them with avocados, too. So tasty!
That looks SUPER yummy–and hearty, too. Perfect for guys (and hungry girls like ME!)
This looks like a great fast meal, lentils are one of my fave ingredients for busy weeknights. Awesome job! True on leftovers, I had my leftover lentil stew for lunch today.
1. Yes, very much so because they’re so cheap and versatile.
2. Thanks for the shout out, sprouting them was fun. :-) Also in stews and I’ve yet to try them in homemade lentil burgers.
3. Not yet, more business at work, but running smoother than yesterday and that’s a good thing!
I love one-pot meals; Phil doesn’t though. I love to sprout lentils: it’s so easy to do, they love to sprout! Even if you’re cooking them, I think it’s worth doing–makes the nutrients more available, removes the phytase-inhibitors, they cook faster, etc…
Being Middle-eastern, lentils are totally up my alley–unfortunately, I think they may hurt my my tummy last few times I’ve tried (cooked anyway–sprouted raw seems ok, but not as tasty)–but black beans, white beans, etc, are great.
That’s cool that you can insert a ‘printer friendly’ version right into your blog post!
love
Ela
Great recipe! I came across your blog the other day and I am really enjoying it!
thanks for saying hi!
Wow, this might be one of the quickest, simplest recipes I’ve ever seen that still passes the filling and satisfying test. I’ll have to make this some time when I don’t feel up to making something complicated. It looks delicious!
it does pass the test and yes, it’s easy :)
I don’t know how you do it, but love all of the meals you create!!!!
thanks, Jen! :)