Description
These vegan taco bowls are piled high with hearty walnut-lentil taco meat, zesty cilantro-lime brown rice, crunchy fresh toppings, and a creamy cashew-lime crema.
Ingredients
Cilantro brown rice
- 2 cups uncooked brown rice
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro
Walnut lentil taco meat
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cups cooked brown lentils
- ¾ cup raw walnuts, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ cup low-sodium or salt-free vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon tamari (or soy sauce)
- Salt to taste, if needed
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Cashew lime crema
- ½ cup raw cashews (soaked overnight, drained, and rinsed)
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- Pinch of salt (optional)
Toppings
- 1 avocado (deseeded and diced) or guacamole
- Diced tomatoes
- Your favorite salsa or pico de gallo
- Your favorite greens (kale, spinach, lettuce)
Instructions
Cilantro brown rice
- Cook the brown rice according to the package.
- When the rice is done and still warm (but not hot), add the lime juice, garlic powder, salt, and chopped cilantro.
- Stir to combine.
Walnut lentil taco meat
- While the rice is cooking, heat a large sauté pan over medium heat and add the onion with a pinch of salt, and cook until translucent. For oil-free cooking, add water as needed if the onion is sticking, about a tablespoon at a time. (Or use a neutral-tasting oil)
- Turn down the heat, add the chopped walnuts, and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Then add chili powder, oregano, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder, and coat the onions and walnuts with the seasonings. Cook for about 30 seconds.
- Add the cooked lentils, vegetable broth, and tamari.
- Bring to a gentle simmer (no need to boil) and cook covered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- The liquid should be cooking out. If the mixture becomes too dry, add a little more vegetable broth to hydrate the lentils.
- After 10 minutes, if the lentils still have excess liquid, remove the lid, continue cooking, and stir frequently to evaporate excess liquid.
- Taste, adjust for seasoning, mash some of the lentils for a creamier texture, and stir in the fresh lime juice.
Cashew lime crema
- Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Assemble
- Add the rice, taco meat, and any toppings to a bowl. Then top with a dollop of lime crema.
Notes
The nutrition facts do NOT include toppings or any oil.
Check out vegan lentil taco meat for how to cook lentils. 3/4 cup dry lentils yields about 2 cups cooked.
Soak the raw cashews overnight or place the cashews in a bowl, cover them with boiling water, and soak for 1 hour.
I use salt-free chili powder and make my own using this recipe: chili powder.
Use low-sodium vegetable broth, or make your own salt-free version using this method: slow cooker vegetable broth.
If you use canned lentils, they can be very salty. Drain and rinse them before adding them to the recipe.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Mexican
