It happened... These lentil tacos made me finally start a YouTube channel... eeek!
I have been thinking about making videos for It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken for some time now, but what really kicked my butt into gear was a brand new red apron.
Let me explain. I went to a Pulse Feast Party (yes, that's a thing), because 2016 has been declared the International Year of Pulses. There I met Chef Michael Smith who is a really nice dude and happens to be exceedingly tall. (Note to self, if I ever meet Chef Michael Smith again, time to pull out the monster heels).
The next day I got a package in the mail with a nifty red apron and an invitation to audition for Star of The Show.
To audition I had to make a little YouTube video showing a recipe featuring lentils. If I win (fingers crossed), I get flown to Prince Edward Island and get to film a cooking show with Chef Michael Smith! (Hence the note about packing heels). How much fun would that be!? So this was the swift kick I needed to get my YouTube channel started.
So are you ready? Here I am! Gah. Be sure to like this video and leave a comment and subscribe to my YouTube channel if you think I should be the Star of the Show! 🙂
Did that make you hungry for tacos? It sure made me hungry! I managed to polish off 5 of these hand held numbers. Yes, I had tacos for lunch AND dinner that day.
These lentil tacos are so quick and easy to make, they take under 30 minutes to prepare! The lentils are full of delicious spices, the tomatoes and mango add lovely fresh sweet notes, and nothing finishes off the taco better than this creamy dreamy avocado cilantro sauce.
To make the lentils, just sauté some garlic and onions. Then add in your spices to toast them up a bit and get fragrant. Now add in the lentils and vegetable broth. Cover and let simmer for about 8 to 10 minutes until the broth has been absorbed and the lentils are cooked.
Those are some mighty fine looking lentils!
To make the avocado cilantro sauce, add all of the ingredients to a food processor or blender, and blend to combine! Ooo saucy.
Slice the tomato, chop the mango, and finely slice the red onion.
If you like warm tortillas, just wrap the tortillas in a bit of foil and then pop them in the oven for 10 to 20 minutes to heat through.
Assemble your lentil tacos by adding a layer of the lentil mixture, followed by the toppings, and a dollop of avocado cilantro sauce. Yum!
Lentil Tacos with Avocado Cilantro Sauce
Ingredients
For the lentil filling:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon chili flakes
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup red lentils
For the avocado cilantro sauce:
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 1 avocado
- ½ cup water
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon agave
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the tacos:
- 8 flour or corn tortillas
- 2 mangoes, chopped
- 2 tomatoes, sliced
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
Instructions
- To make the lentils: Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion and garlic and sauté for a few minutes until the onion becomes translucent. Add in the spices and continue to cook for 1 minute more until the spices are fragrant. Add in the vegetable broth and lentils. Cover and bring to a low simmer for about 8 to 10 minutes until all of the broth is absorbed and the lentils are cooked.
- To make the avocado cilantro sauce: Add all of the sauce ingredients to a food processor or blender, and blend until your sauce is smooth.
- To prepare the tacos: On a gas stove, use tongs to hold a tortilla over a flame for about 20 seconds per side to warm them. If you do not have a gas stove, warm the tortillas, by preheating the oven to 350F (180C), wrapping the tortillas in foil, and baking for 10 to 20 minutes until warmed throughout.
- Assemble the tacos by spreading the lentil mixture on a tortilla, adding toppings, and dolloping some sauce across the top.
Notes
Nutrition
Bon Appetegan!
Sam.
Tami says
This recipe is FANTASTIC! My husband and I both loved it! The combo of the lentils, avocado sauce and mangoes is like a flavor explosion in your mouth.This is coming from someone who is not the biggest fan of lentils. I made this in the Instant Pot, 6 mins on LOW pressure, with 5 min. natural release They were the perfect texture and still had a little bite, not mushy at all. Thanks for an incredible recipe!!!!!
Mindy says
Can I leave the cilantro out of the sauce? Cilantro tastes like soap to me.
Sam Turnbull says
Yep! But it will just be more of an avocado sauce of course 🙂
Marlo Cage says
Delicious and super easy! Even my 7 year old said she loved these tacos. Will definitely be in regular rotation. Thanks Sam for all your easy, great tasting recipes.
Sam Turnbull says
Wonderful! So happy you enjoyed them, Marlo 🙂
Beata says
Thank you for a fantastic inspiration for the avocado cilantro sauce! I commented on your taco crumble post that I used this sauce to layer on the taco crumbles and it was an absolute hit!!! OK, I didn't make the sauce exactly as written because that's how I roll, lol, but I wanted an avocado cilantro SOMETHING on my tacos, and this sauce was it! I am not really a fresh herb kind of person (I know, I know, I should change that, but sometimes I'm just lazy like that) and I don't particularly care for added sugar in my sauces so I simply skipped the sugar altogether and used A LOT of chopped cilantro from a spice jar. Added a chopped shallot in addition to the garlic and used quite a bit more lime juice for the extra tang. I actually didn't put any water in the sauce so my concoction was more like a very smooth guacamole, and I actually pondered adding some water to make it more like a sauce, but decided against it last night. Great to know that I can still make it like a sauce by simply adding some water, though!
Yes, I know I really didn't make the sauce as stated in the recipe - but wow, what a great base recipe to use to make the sauce/dip/whatever, exactly the way I want it at any given time. I so appreciate your creativity, Sam - you rock!!!
Sam Turnbull says
Glad you loved it!
David Graham says
Wow. This turned out even better than I expected, and that is saying a lot. I was looking for a recipe that combined lentils and avocados, and this came up. By some fluke I already had all the ingredients except for agave, for which I substituted organic sugar. Also, instead of using a blender I used a fork to whisk the avocado sauce. Otherwise, I stuck to the recipe.
The flavoring of the lentils is perfect for tacos. The amount of sweetness from the sugar and mangos is just right and perfectly complements the red onion. The dish is incredibly refreshing and tasty. And, as if that weren't enough, it's also healthy. My picky sister even said, "Damn. Whoever came up with this, especially the mangos, is a genius." Five stars.
Sam Turnbull says
Haha, thank you so much, David 🙂
Amanda says
Great recipe! It has become a staple meal in our house as we cook it almost every week. My husband is an omnivore and I have been a vegetarian for 2 years now, working on reducing my dairy consumption. The avocado/cilantro sauce was a game changer; it is sooooo delicious that it made my husband give up on sour cream (and he was totally addicted to it). After we are done eating the tacos, I use the left over sauce for dipping corn tortilla chips and I could probably use it as a pasta sauce too 🙂
It is the perfect recipe for a weekday night as the red lentils cook super fast. We mix the spices in advance and keep them in a small jar so it is even more practical. And I never knew that mango tasted so good as a taco topping!
Thank you Sam!
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome, Amanda!! Thrilled you are enjoying my recipes so much 😉
Melanie says
Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this awesomely delicious recipe! I loved it! ❤️
Sam Turnbull says
Yay!! You're most welcome, so happy you enjoyed it, Melanie 🙂
Dojjan says
My lentils came out quite tasty but fairly mushy, which was the only thing I would try to change until next time. I'd be curious to see if beluga lentils absorb enough flavor to be a chewier replacement. Still a winning weekday taco though!
Kristin says
My family isn't vegan, but I have encouraged them to try it out just for this week. I made this recipe tonight (Day 1) and everyone LOVED it! The lentil filling was a hit and so was the avocado sauce. Thanks! I'll be visiting your site again!
Sam Turnbull says
Oh wonderful!! Love that your family is game to try for a week! I hope they love everything they try! I recommend trying my chili or tofu bolognese recipe, I find meat eaters are always wowed by those ones!
Deb says
Made these for the family tonight and they are a hit. Easy to make and such good flavors. Made a double batch so we will have leftovers. My daughter and I have been looking for something to replace shrimp tacos, we would like to stop eating fish. (We don't eat meat). This is the answer! I am excited to try more of your recipes. Even my carnivore husband loved these. Thanks for sharing with us.
Sam Turnbull says
Wonderful!! Thrilled you love them so much, Deb 😀 I hope you enjoy many more recipes!
Megan says
My family loves so many of your recipes, to say that one is a favorite almost feels sacrilege. But if I had to choose, these tacos are it. We eat this almost without fail once a week. The lentils are so amazing! We don't always have the sauce with them, and honestly they don't need it, but it does kick it up a notch when we do. Thanks for such an amazing recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
Hahahaha love it!! You're most welcome, Megan!
Maya says
This was AWESOME!. I didn't think I liked avocados, but the sauce was my favorite. I didn't have fresh cilantro and agape, but substitued sugar and cilantro leaves seasoning, still turned out to be a tasty sauce!!!! Thanks for the recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
Woohoo! Thrilled you loved it so much, Maya 🙂
Shari Savage says
Due a surprising health diagnosis, I've pulled the plug on everything my carnivorous husband holds dear. Your recipes are absolutely amazing and he hasn't revolted yet (hard to complain when your mouth is full of deliciousness). Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
Hahaha! Love it. So happy you are both enjoying my recipes so much, Shari 🙂
Megan says
This recipe is awesome! It's become our taco Tuesday regular recipe (we tried at least 5 before deciding we liked this one best). I've had such success with your recipes, I have one planned for every cooking night this week 🙂 So thanks for the recipes and I can't wait to get your book when it comes out.
Sam Turnbull says
Wow! That's amazing! So flattered you love my recipes so much, Megan 😀
Sara Vinas says
Sam,
Your recipes are amazing! I keep wowing my family with every recipe.
Thank you so much for your talent and creativity.
Sam Turnbull says
Aww shucks! You're most welcome, Sara! So happy my recipes help you wow your fam 🙂
Srivani says
So I tried to "cheat" on you... tonight I was going to make a lentil taco filling from another site (gasp)... but after reading the recipe and steps, it was way too complicated and time-consuming. So I quickly jumped to IDTLC and had a delicious taco filling whipped up in under 15 minutes. These are reasons enough to keep me coming back: quick and delicious! Thanks Sam!
Sam Turnbull says
Bahahahaha!!! Too funny. Love it 🙂
Steph says
Friend made this for me and it was delicious! Now I want to make them, but do you have any suggestions if we wanted to use canned lentils instead? i,e, how would you modify prepping them? I have a lot of canned lentils in the cupboard....
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Steph, you have a very nice friend! 🙂 Yes, to use canned lentils, sauté the garlic and onions as normal, add the drained and rinsed lentils along with all of the spices, and then instead of the broth, add powdered vegetable broth, without the water (whatever amount would normally make 2 cups of broth). Heat through and enjoy 🙂
Megan RJ says
Made these last night, increasing the recipe because I wanted to use up my lentils (also, had to cook them for about 12 minutes, my stove top is lazy). No joke, my husband and I had 8 tacos EACH! And the avocado cilantro sauce? Do you know how hard it is to try and lick the inside of a food processor? Because I now do. Soooo gooood. I'm thinking I have just enough leftovers to make a big burrito for lunch. Definitely looking forward to it.
And I gotta tell you, my husband is Mexican. He was really impressed with the spices I'm also very happy to have something I can make and take along to his family get-togethers (not vegan friendly) and enjoy the experience of sitting around the table and actually eating something.
Sam Turnbull says
Bahahahahahaha! Love the licking of the food processor! Thank you so much for the lovely comment, Megan! So thrilled you and your husband loved them so much! Comment of the day for sure 😀
Jenny says
I loved the avocado sauce. I need to try the whole recipe now. I am sure it will be delicious. You seriously have the best vegan blog.
Sam Turnbull says
Awww shucks, thank you so much Jenny! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Joanne says
Another great recipe! I made these with your Buffalo Cauliflower as a side on Wednesday. I had leftover sauce, a spare mango, and lentils so I decided to combine your genius in a new way for Thursday. I used the avocado sauce (amazing there was any leftover, I was eating gobs straight up) as a substitute sauce on your tofu steaks, added some southwestern spices to pranko crumbs and pan fried in tiny bit of oil. I pt leftover mango on top and dressed with little ketchup, Siracha and maple syrup. I used the leftover lentils to make yummy nachos. Love how I can mix and match your recipes. I am dreaming of ways to use your avocado & cilantro sauce. That is out of this world!!!!
Sam Turnbull says
Hahaha! I love how you are mixing and matching! Sounds so very yummy, and there is nothing better than having fun in the kitchen!
Lauren says
Eating these right now and they're pretty great! One question though- what should the texture of the lentils be? This is the first time I've had lentils outside of soup, and mine seem a little... Al dente? They're chewable, but they seem a little hard. Should they be this crunchy, or did I do something wrong?
Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
Glad you liked them! It just sounds like you undercooked them a bit. Everybody's stoves are different, so next time I would just give them another minute or two so that they are cooked through. 🙂
scott jungle says
Tried this and the lentil shepard's pie and both have been great. I'm not vegan or veggie but really enjoying these recipes. Cheers!
Sam Turnbull says
Yay that's great to hear scott! Every little bit helps 🙂
scott jungle says
Made the Battered tofu steaks today and they were great. 3 of your recipes so far this week and all good!
Sam Turnbull says
Yay! So happy to hear they have all been successful for you 🙂
Beth Sowell says
Made these for dinner tonight, well at least i followed the recipe for the lentils for tacos. I only added a little bit of ground coriander, they were EXCELLENT and full of flavor. Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
Woot woot! So happy you enjoyed them Beth 🙂
Shirly says
Thank you so much for posting this recipe - it became a regular in my kitchen! Love that it's quick healthy and delicious!
Sam Turnbull says
Aww you're so welcome Shirly. I love that you love it! 🙂
Naomi says
These are fabulous!! New favorite go-to recipe when I'm in a rush or just craving yummy, delish tacos!! Keep em coming!
Sam says
Yay! So happy you love the recipe Naomi 🙂
Dan says
Oh these were just wonderful! I could have made them for friends and I'll be they wouldn't realize...not hamburger! They are just so good on their own I don't even look at them as "vegan" but a great recipe I'll be making a lot. Wow, I'm just loving your site!
Sam says
Hahah that's awesome!! Thanks so much Dan, so very happy you are enjoying my blog. That's exactly what I say all the time, vegan food doesn't have to be weird, it's just food! 🙂
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious says
Love lentil tacos and I'm all about the year of pulses! Such a cute video! Good luck with the contest!
Sam says
Thank you so much Jessica! 🙂
Grandma Shelley says
Congrats on 'star of the show' try out...I'm sure you'll win..absolutely the best v chef u r..in my book anyway! Everything you created makes my appetite sizzle. I've subscribed and waiting to see more so my appetite can sore! All the best, much love, Grandma Shelley...oh BTW...PLEASE hold out on using Al foil as it retards our memories so researchers say..don't take my word for it though, check it out for yourself, my dear...LOTS of LOVE
Sam says
Aww thanks so much Grandma Shelley!! I'm so happy everyone seems to be enjoying these videos, I will have to make more soon! 🙂
Jenny Bee says
Oh I'm so excited for you and that YouTube channel! You are a complete natural for this format and your kitchen is the stuff of dreams. Just subscribed but all that aside holy yikes those tacos look incredible. I am living in Austin, Texas right now which is the most taco laden city ever perhaps and have never actually come across one like that. I can't believe I haven't used lentils as a taco filling ever?! Mangoes are magic. I do kitchen prep work and when I have to cut mangoes at work I have no self control and just stuff them into my cheeks like a greedy chipmunk!
Congratulations on the everything and I can't wait to see where this YouTube leads! I always wanted to go to PEI. I grew up reading and watching "Anne of Green Gables". She made me feel justified in my dramatic nature 🙂
Congrats again and cannot wait to make these tacos!
xo
Sam says
Thank you so much Jenny!! Haha! If I were you prepping those mangoes, I am pretty sure no one would ever actually see a mango, I would eat them all! haha. Thanks so much for the well wishes. I forgot that PEI was the home of Anne of Green Gabels! I will have to read it before (if) I go. I hope you love the tacos!
Johanna says
It was a great video, and yummy sounding recipe to add to my Taco "Cleanse."
Sam says
Haha! Love it. Thank you, glad you enjoyed 🙂
Jill Aaron says
A taco cleanse? Mmm, I have got to know the rules for that. I'm doing a water cleanse, and this gorgeous recipe arrived in my inbox. : ( Such torture.
Sam says
Haha, yes there Taco Cleanse bookall vegan recipes! It's a joke of course, but the tacos look yummy. A water cleanse? That really does sound like torture! I hope you get to eat tacos soon 🙂
grace says
outstanding recipe! that sauce sounds SO good. best of luck!
Sam says
Thank you so much!!
Bethery says
I really think you've got it, AND you can only get even better and better.
Tacos look amazing. I never have put mango on them, so that sounds good and different.
Sam says
Thank you so much Bethany!! I'm so excited the video is getting good feedback, I will definitely be making more 🙂 Mango on tacos is the best!!
Srivani says
I LOVE this video. I'll leave a message on the YouTube site for sure. Your vivacious personality comes through and you were able to edit an incredibly succinct video (I suspect the contest had a time limit). Sam, I'm over the moon excited for this opportunity for you and really hope you get on the show. You make Veganism accessible in a very non-preachy way. (FYI - Typo in Michael's name the second time you typed it... just in case he reads this blog!)
Side note, I've made these tacos and they are super easy and so delish! You go, girl. 🙂
Peter Bonch says
Sammy - you are a star! Oscar would approve and the tacos get best supporting roll.
No question you WILL get on the show. Watch out chef Smith.
Peter
Sam says
Haha aww thanks so much Peter! Very much appreciated 🙂
Connie Moultroup says
CONGRATS, Sam!!!!!!!!
Nicely done video and even better is the recipe!!! YUMMMMM!!!!!
I love cilantro!!!!
Sam says
Thank you Connie! I love cilantro too... and avocados... and lentils... and mango... and tacos! haha
OAyuso says
What a beautiful video... And I love that kitchen...
I'm from Spain, I started my new lifestyle in... october or november, I don't remember. For now I am vegetarian when I go out if I don't find any vegan (I suffer from ulcerative colitis), but I'm on my own way and you are an inspiration. Thank you so much.
Sam says
Aww thanks so much!! Congrats on your new veg adventure! 🙂
Jan says
Your first U Tube Video is an awesome production of food and fun. Looking forward to more.
Red is your color, you pop! Thank you for your wonderful recipes. Love and Gratitude.
Sam says
Yay! Thank you Jan! Haha, so convenient they didn't send me a puce coloured apron. Hahah!
Emilie @ Emilie Eats says
Ahhh how exciting! Good luck <3 I definitely want to start getting in to videos. Also, your kitchen is LITERALLY #goals.
Sam says
Yes! Do videos! It was pretty fun 🙂 Thank you! I designed much of my kitchen myself 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Ah yum! That sauce is perfect!!! I love cilantro!
Sam says
Me too! 🙂