Lentil Walnut Tacos with a Pineapple Mango Salsa

If Meatless Monday and Taco Tuesday had a baby, they would make lentil walnut tacos. These vegan tacos are delicious, easy to make and packed full of nutrients. The smokiness of the taco “meat” paired with the sweetness and spiciness of the salsa is a classic flavor combo that everyone will enjoy (plant and meat eaters, alike). Get the recipe below!

Lentil Walnut Tacos with a Pineapple Mango Salsa | FitLiving Eats

It’s true. Since I’ve been cooking a lot more plant-based meals at home, our love for Taco Tuesday has fallen a bit to the wayside. Mexican foods are one of the easiest cuisines to make in my opinion, so I decided to bring a Mexican fiesta back to the kitchen, veggie style!

Let’s take a closer look at the nutritious benefits of these lentil walnut tacos…

There’s a lot of plant-based protein sources to choose from for these tacos, but I went with a combination of lentils and walnuts.

Lentils provide a creamy, meaty texture (almost like eating refried beans) and are packed with protein, fiber and iron (to help keep you fuller longer and promote healthy digestion). Walnuts on the other hand are full of healthy fats (good for brain health!) and add a nice crunch to the mix.

Lentil Walnut Tacos with a Pineapple Mango Salsa | FitLiving Eats

The spices added to the taco meat create a smoky flavor, which is balanced out by the sweet and spicy pineapple mango salsa! Did you know that pineapple is an excellent source of vitamin C, antioxidants and bromelain? These three nutrients combined together make for a powerful anti-aging beauty food which results in youthful, glowing skin.

You can serve these tacos any way you like, but I opted to up the green power by serving them in romaine lettuce shells. But I’m pretty sure my husband will request tortillas, so I’ll be serving them up two ways.

Lentil Walnut Tacos with a Pineapple Mango Salsa | FitLiving Eats

To finish off the tacos, I added a drizzle of cashew sour cream, because… why not? However, if you don’t want to go the extra step to make the sour cream, no worries. They would be just as delicious without it!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Lentil Walnut Tacos with a Pineapple Mango Salsa

  • Author: FitLiving Eats by Carly Paige
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 1x
  • Category: Main
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Mexican
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

If Meatless Monday and Taco Tuesday had a baby, they would make lentil walnut tacos. These vegan tacos are delicious, easy to make and packed full of nutrients. The smokiness of the taco “meat” paired with the sweetness and spiciness of the salsa is a classic flavor combo that everyone will enjoy (plant and meat eaters, alike).


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup french green lentils
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 Tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 Tablespoon cumin
  • 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 8 romaine lettuce leaves

Pineapple Mango Salsa

  • 1 cup pineapple, diced
  • 1 cup mango, diced
  • 1/2 jalapeno, seeds removed and diced
  • 1/4 cup red onion, diced
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Cashew Sour Cream
  • 3/4 cup cashews, soaked for a few hours
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Cook the lentils according to the package. This should take about 20 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, combine the salsa ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
  3. To make the cashew sour cream: Drain the soaking liquid from the cashews and add the cashews to a blender. Add the remaining ingredients and blend on HIGH until creamy.
  4. To make the lentil walnut taco meat: Toast the walnuts in a sauté pan for about 5 minutes on medium-low heat. Add to a food processor with the lentils and pulse until crumbly (keeping the texture!). Add back to the pan and add in the spices and tomato paste. Stir to combine and sauté for a few more minutes to let the mixture dry out a bit and become crumbly.
  5. To assemble: Spoon the taco meat into the romaine leaves. Top with the salsa and sour cream. Enjoy!


Next time you plan out your Taco Tuesday menu, try it with a veggie twist. You might be surprised at how satisfying and flavorful these lentil walnut tacos are.

Lentil Walnut Tacos with a Pineapple Mango Salsa | FitLiving Eats

If you make these Lentil Walnut Tacos, let me know! Leave a comment below or snap a pic on Instagram and tag it with @fitlivingeats and #fitlivingeats. I love seeing your recipe creations!

Loved this recipe? Don’t forget to pin for later!

-Carly Paige

Post Tags

The Cookbook You'll Actually Use

Simply Swapped Everyday

Simply Swapped Everyday is your guide to elevating the everyday through mindful methods, ingredient swaps and over 75 plant-powered recipes. Cooking healthy foods at home has never been easier or more delicious!

You might also like

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating

9 Responses

  1. So clever, using lettuce for taco shells and adding walnuts to the lentil filling – I am sure it must make them deliciously rich and satisfying. The pineapple salsa is so creative too!

  2. I was looking for help with how to start an essay on racial profiling and proessays.net writing service was incredibly helpful. The writers were knowledgeable and provided me with quality advice on how to begin my essay. I was impressed with the level of expertise and the prompt response I received. Highly recommend!

Hi! I’m Carly Paige, a culinary nutrition expert and chef who believes that healthy doesn’t have to be frustrating, boring or restrictive. I’m here to show you how through my Simply Swapped Method so that you can feel more energized and confident from within. You’ll find tips for focusing on nutrition in the kitchen, along with plant-powered, gluten-free recipes that proves healthy can be delicious.

Meal Planning Made Easy

Learn how to meal prep without spending hours in the kitchen and actually crave the foods you make. Get your free MEAL PLANNING STARTER KIT and printable weekly template to get cooking.