Chipotle Salsa Lentils with Mixed Vegetables

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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?

Chipotle Salsa Lentils with Mixed Vegetables

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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

Ingredients for Chipotle Salsa Lentils with Mixed Vegetables

Water + Lentils.  Boil, reduce heat & cover

Lentils in pot of water

After 15 minutes, 85% of the water is gone

Lentils cooking in pot of water

Add everything else, stir, simmer (covered) for 10-15 minutes

Chopped Vegetables

Remaining ingredients added to lentils

Chipotle Salsa Lentils with Mixed Vegetables mixed together

Plate & Serve

Chipotle Salsa Lentils with Mixed Vegetables in white dish with fork

Close up of plated Chipotle Salsa Lentils with Mixed Vegetables

This was easy, fast, cheap meal when served next to a fresh green salad.  Filling, hearty, satisfying.  30 Minute Meals anyone?

Dished up Chipotle Salsa Lentils with Mixed Vegetables with fork digging in

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.

Overhead of Chipotle Salsa Lentils with Mixed Vegetables with fork digging in

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.

Close up of Chipotle Salsa Lentils with Mixed Vegetables in white dish

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.

Fork digging into Chipotle Salsa Lentils with Mixed Vegetables

And planned leftovers are music to my working mommy ears.

Leftover Chipotle Salsa Lentils with Mixed Vegetables in clear container

Overhead of leftovers in container

Need other one-pot meal ideas?

Maybe Mango Balsamic Rice, Beans, & Mixed Veggies

Mango Balsamic Rice, Beans & Mixed Veggies in white dish with fork

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.

Raw Vegan Brownies

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.

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

Comments

  1. This was delicious! I really enjoy lentils but haven’t had any recipes that were very exciting. This was full of flavor and the hubs really liked it too!
    I am a little bummed because I was going to make the carribean PB rice dish but made this one instead because I couldn’t find the carribean citrus mrs dash at the grocery store (I went to about 5 different places none the less!). I now will have to wait since I think I will have to order the mrs dash onlilne!
    I also made the raw vegan chocolate chip cookie dough balls – love them! No one could have just 1.

    1. So glad you made this and really enjoyed it and also the cookie dough balls, too! Yay for two successes!

      As for the arribean citrus mrs dash…don’t go out of your way for it, seriously. ANY SEASONING blend will do. Really, it’s not a biggie. The original Mrs. Dash or really any garden-variety McCormick’s, TJ’s 21 Salute seasoning, or any seasoning blend that’s not ridiculously potent with garlic or onions (and don’t pick an Indian seasoning, i.e. no curry) but aside from that, just use whatever. Don’t let the seasoning stand in your way of making the recipe!

  2. I like lentils a lot!

    The hubby and I are doing a 1 week vegan challenge this week!!!!!! I am going to make some of your recipes :-)

  3. 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!

  4. 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..http://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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  6. Just made this, SOOO good and SOO easy!! I left out the Chipotle because I didnt have any, its my new favorite thing :D