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Easy Lentil and Avocado Tacos

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These Easy Lentil and Avocado Tacos can be ready to go in 30 minutes, and they're full of delicious fresh and healthy flavors that I absolutely LOVE. | gimmesomeoven.com (Gluten-Free / Vegetarian / Vegan)

Happy New Year, everyone!

Wow, I can’t believe how much has changed in the past ten days since I last shared a new recipe with you. There’s suddenly now a ring on my finger (and the most incredible feeling of joy and peace settling into my heart as that reality becomes more real each day), my sister has booked a plane ticket to Kansas City to go wedding dress shopping together in two weeks, I’ve signed on the dotted line to let go of my sweet apartment six months from now, Barclay and I have started a Pinterest board to brainstorm ideas on how to update his tiny kitchen so that it can become the new Gimme Some Oven headquarters (first order of business: fixing his oven so that it actually works!), we have booked tickets to go to Spain at the end of the month to scout out a potential big dream of ours (more details soon), and — wow — it pretty much feels like all of the big life changes have kicked into gear and are suddenly happening at once around here.

But — oh my goodness — every chaotic bit of it makes my heart so incredibly happy.

And so thankful.

Because, man, I’ve been there on new year’s days that felt far from happy, when it felt like a tremendous act of faith to hope and dream for the year ahead. And even this year, I’m so acutely aware of the friends in my life who find themselves in those sort of seasons, and all of my love goes out to them as they’re navigating the dark times and hopes for brighter days ahead. It’s that wild and humbling balance of life, right? How some of the most beautiful and brutal moments in life collide at the same time in our worlds?

Well, wherever this new year finds you — whether life has given you a season full of joy and energy for the year ahead, or whether you’re in a season when hope feels hard and it’s a win just to get through each passing day — know that I’m sending each of you all my love this week. And all of my hope for a brighter and beautiful year ahead. And a big new year’s hug-through-the-screen to hopefully get 2017 off to a good start.

Because I don’t know about you, but after a hard 2016, I think the world needs all of the extra hugs it can get this year.

As promised, I have a month of feel-good recipes ready for you to help get the year off to a healthy start, beginning with this seriously delicious new taco recipe that I’ve been waiting for weeks to share with you. Even if you’re not usually a lentils person, trust me, you have got to try these. ♡

These Easy Lentil and Avocado Tacos can be ready to go in 30 minutes, and they're full of delicious fresh and healthy flavors that I absolutely LOVE. | gimmesomeoven.com (Gluten-Free / Vegetarian / Vegan)

Truly. I had to make myself stop stealing spoonfuls of these lentils so that they could actually make it into the tacos. Because they are so good.  And so incredibly easy to make! Seriously, this whole recipe can be ready from start-to-finish in just 30 minutes.

Just pop the lentils on the stove to simmer until they’re nice and tender…

These Easy Lentil and Avocado Tacos can be ready to go in 30 minutes, and they're full of delicious fresh and healthy flavors that I absolutely LOVE. | gimmesomeoven.com (Gluten-Free / Vegetarian / Vegan)

And then while the lentils are cooking, dice up a few avocados and toss them with your favorite green (and purple) fixin’s to go on top. I went with lots of fresh arugula and cilantro, sliced red onion, and some thinly-sliced serrano pepper, all tossed in lime juice. (<– Nix the serrano pepper if you want less heat, or core and dice a jalapeño pepper as a milder option.)
These Easy Lentil and Avocado Tacos can be ready to go in 30 minutes, and they're full of delicious fresh and healthy flavors that I absolutely LOVE. | gimmesomeoven.com (Gluten-Free / Vegetarian / Vegan)

Toss everything together…

These Easy Lentil and Avocado Tacos can be ready to go in 30 minutes, and they're full of delicious fresh and healthy flavors that I absolutely LOVE. | gimmesomeoven.com (Gluten-Free / Vegetarian / Vegan)

Then once your lentils are cooked and ready to go, spoon them into some corn (or flour) tortillas, top them with the avocado mixture, and you’re good to go!

These Easy Lentil and Avocado Tacos can be ready to go in 30 minutes, and they're full of delicious fresh and healthy flavors that I absolutely LOVE. | gimmesomeoven.com (Gluten-Free / Vegetarian / Vegan)

I liked serving mine with some crumbled queso fresco, which balances out all of those flavors perfectly. But if you’re looking to make these tacos vegan or dairy-free, just leave out that step.

Seriously, all of these fresh and zesty flavors pair so perfectly together, those lentils make the tacos extra-hearty and filling (trust me, you meat-eaters won’t miss a thing!), and they are downright delicious.  The perfect meatless meal to get your new year’s off to a lighter and delicious start. ♡

Stay tuned for more feel-good recipes coming your way this month, and I wish you all a hopeful first week of the year ahead!

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Easy Lentil and Avocado Tacos

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 8 -10 servings 1x

Description

These Easy Lentil and Avocado Tacos are quick and simple to make, full of fresh feel-good ingredients, and SO incredibly delicious!


Ingredients

Scale

Lentil Avocado Tacos Ingredients:

  • 1 batch zesty lentils (see below)
  • 2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, and diced
  • 1 large handful fresh baby arugula
  • 1 cup roughly-chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • quarter of a small red onion, peeled and thinly-sliced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • (optional) 1 serrano pepper, thinly sliced
  • corn or flour tortillas
  • (optional) crumbled cotija cheese or queso fresco

Zesty Lentils Ingredients:

  • 1 cup uncooked black (beluga) or green (French) lentils
  • 2.5 cups vegetable or chicken stock
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • pinch of salt and black pepper

Instructions

To Make The Tacos:

  1. Prepare the lentils as instructed below.  Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, add the avocado, arugula, cilantro, red onion, lime juice and serrano pepper (if using).  Toss gently until combined.
  3. Assemble the tacos by filling your tortillas with lentils, topped with the avocado mixture, then sprinkled with the crumbled cheese (if using).  Serve immediately.

To Make The Lentils:

  1. Rinse the lentils with water in a fine-mesh strainer, picking out and discarding any little stones that may have snuck in there.  Transfer the lentils to a medium saucepan, add the stock, garlic powder, ground cumin, salt and pepper, and stir to combine.  Cook over medium-high heat, until the mixture reaches a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender.  Drain, and set aside.

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22 comments on “Easy Lentil and Avocado Tacos”

  1. Mmmm it sounds delicious! I’m going to make a cheese-free version!

    Charmaine Ng

  2. Yum! This looks amazing! Beautiful photos

  3. I am definitely going to try and cook with way more lentils this year! Love this recipe :)

  4. Eeeek, congrats, Ali! I’m just catching up on blogs this morning. Your post announcing the engagement brought tears to my eyes. <3 Happy for you guys. It's such a sweet chapter in life! Also, this recipe looks delicious and refreshing. Exactly what I need after weeks of feasting and festivities. Oof!

  5. So happy for you both! It will be fun to follow along this year and wishing you both the very best 2017!!

  6. These tacos look fantastic, Ali! Such a delish vegetarian option to have on hand!
    I know your sister is thrilled to come visit and dress shop with you – I remember what a wonderful time that was!!!
    Just so happy for you!!!

  7. Hi Ali!

    I just wanted to tell you how much this post meant to me.  I’ve not really been looking forward to 2017 as 2016 was a hard year for me too.  This part especially “when it felt like a tremendous act of faith to hope and dream for the year ahead”. That is exactly how I’m feeling.  I have the flu right now and am feeling quite sore from it.  (Getting back to school tomorrow as well!) If I can ask you to please pray for me during this time (and year).  I will be praying for you in this exciting (and busy) year ahead.
    Thank you very much,
    Naomi

  8. Oh, congratulations! I can’t wait until I get a chance to try this – Molly Yeh got me hooked on cauliflower tacos so lentils will probably be just as amazing – thanks for the recipe! 

  9. I literally just bought a bag of black lentils to make tacos with! I was so excited to see someone else loves them too. I make mine with hot sauce (usually sriracha), red and yellow peppers and diced mango. I top it all with goat cheese. Give it a try!

  10. I was quite surprised when I read that you were giving up your apartment where you love all your neighbors and getting together with them so much, for an apartment with a tiny kitchen, being a food blogger. I guess there must be good reasons though. :)

  11. Happy New Year, Ali! I’ve been making your recipes for a while but, silly me, I didn’t even realize you were blogging from the same zip code until a few weeks ago. ? One of my good friends is actually friends with Lindsey (your matchmaker)! So, although we’ve never met, you seem like a kindred spirit, and I wish you the best as you plan out all the joy and freshness 2017 will bring! (These tacos were marvelous!!)

  12. Congratulations on your engagement! I just read your post where you told the whole story, and it was amazing! Especially the part about him getting the ring! And making a 6-course meal was the perfect way to propose to a food blogger :)

  13. These look delicious, I never would have thought of using lentils in this kind of recipe! I think this is going to be my go to recipe for meat free mondays!

  14. Congrats on everything! What an amazing way to start 2017!! :) These lentil avocado tacos have all of my favorite things and they sound so delicious… definitely pinning these to make soon!

  15. I just stumbled across your blog and this recipe. I bought black lentils on a whim at Whole Foods last week, and now I have a delicious sounding recipe to use them in Thanks!

  16. Made these 3 times so far – they’re a family favorite already! Not sure I’ve ever commented before but I make (and love!) so many of your recipes (enchiladas! tortellini minestrone! detox salad! to name a few recent ones).

  17. So incredibly delicious! Thank you!