Meals don't come much cheaper than this and that is mainly down to lentils. If you love Mexican flavours, but want something other than burritos and tacos, then try out this Mexican Lentil Stew.
I think lentils have a bad reputation as being bland and something that only vegans would eat, but that totally isn't the case. Lentils are one of the cheapest healthy ingredients you can buy (especially if you buy it in bulk) and they take on the flavour of herbs and spices really well, not to mention they are a great protein source.
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I recently got a huge delivery of lentils and whilst that would fill some people with fear over not knowing what to do with them, I am looking forward to the challenge. I'm going to be sharing lots more delicious, healthy and creative ways to use lentils as they are a must for healthy eating on a budget. I really suggest that you buy them in bulk too, as they work out a lot cheaper.
If you are looking to get healthy on a budget, then a good selection of dried herbs and spices are a must. You will need to spend a bit initially, but then they will last a while and you will be able to give life to budget ingredients like pulses and grains. This Mexican lentil stew makes use of a well stocked herb and spice rack, to really bring the lentils to life and create a hearty and warming dish that is as far from bland as you can get.
It seems to be a theme with a lot of my recipes at the moment, but this one is also really adaptable to use any leftovers you have or any vegetables that are on offer when you go shopping, making it an even more budget friendly meal. You could even make this with beans if you don't have lentils, or you don't like them. But, if you haven't liked lentils before, give this as try as it might just change your mind.
I used leftover lentils that I cooked in bulk at the beginning of the week for this recipe, so it's ready in under 15 minutes. If you are using dried lentils, then the cooking time and measurements will be different.
How to make Mexican Lentil Stew - Serves 2:
Mexican Lentil Stew
Ingredients
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 4 shallots diced
- 4 mushrooms diced
- 250 g cooked lentils
- 400 g chopped tomatoes
- 400 ml boiling water
- 4 tbsp fresh coriander (cilantro) chopped
- 0.5 tsp cumin
- 0.5 tsp garlic granules
- 0.5 tsp paprika
- 4 cherry tomatoes quartered
- 2 jalapeños diced
Instructions
- 1Add the oil to a pan and once hot, add the shallots and mushrooms and gently cook for 3 minutes.
- Add the lentils and stir well.
- Add the chopped tomatoes, water, coriander, tomatoes, cumin, garlic and paprika and jalapeños and simmer for 10 minutes. If it starts getting a bit too dry, add a little more water.
- Serve in to bowls.
Notes
Nutritional Information
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ManjiriK
I love lentils and can NEVER associate boring or bland with them , am a self proclaimed curry queen so there !
Dannii
Me neither - it is a shame that so many people think they are.
Janie
Looks delish and even as a serious meat lover, I love lentils too!
Janie x
Dannii
I usually add them to meat dishes too, just to bulk it out a bit.
Andie
Hey!
I made this today for lunch and absolutely loved it! It was so quick and simple to make yet soooo delicious!
Thanks for the recipe!
Dannii
Yay! I'm so glad you liked it. Thanks for coming back and letting me know too :)
Louisa
A very pretty bowl of goodliness! And makes me once again consider how little I cook with lentils, though always love them when I do, particularly puy lentils.
Dannii
I realised that I don't use them enough, but now I have all of these I really have no excuse.
Tina @ The Spicy Pear
The flavours and aromas in this stew must be amazing. And super healthy too.
Dannii
The kitchen smelled amazing whilst it was cooking.
Nayna Kanabar (@SIMPLYF00D)
This looks yummy I may make it for lunch today.
Dannii
Enjoy :)
Jacqueline Meldrum
Nice garnish, that makes all the difference. I must remember to do that.
Dannii
Thanks :)
Sylvia
Looks like my kind of dinner tommorrow ;) I'm plannig to make mexican bean stew!
Dannii
I have so many beans to use too, so I might do that next week.
Nia
This is going on my meal plan for next week. I am already looking forward to it.
Dannii
I hope you enjoy it :)
Beth
You had me as soon as I saw feta. I can't get enough feta!
Dannii
Same here. Everything is better with feta so they say!
Deena Kakaya
Mmm, lovely. Comforting, filling, scrumptious and versatile. Lovely recipe xx
Karen
I LOVE lentils and use them a lot as a meat substitute when I am on a meat-free day! Karen
Dannii
They are a great meat sub.
Choclette
Lentils bland? They are one of my most favourite ingredients ever and have a fantastic flavour. Even when I was a meat eater, I ate more lentils than anything else. Cheap, healthy and delicious, I don't know what I'd do without them. Haha, lentil love eulogy now over.
Your recipe sounds delicious. Don't think I've ever combined feta and lentils before, so will have to try it.
Dannii
I definitely don't think they are bland, but I know many people that do.
Hannah
Thanks for another great Mexican recipes. I have really been enjoying trying new things from your blog. I had never had quinoa before, and now I love it!
Dannii
I am glad you are enjoying the blog :)
Franglais kitchen, Nazima
You had me at Mexican and Stew. Love the spice and flavours of Mexican food. This is a perfect healthy dish - so filling! I like the feta on top too. I wonder though are there any mexican type cheeses that might work here (though usually seems tacos get loaded with grated cheddar...!). Bookmarking to make this
Dannii
Queso Fresca, which is like feta, would be awesome on this. But it is hard to find over here.
Stephanie
I am so happy I subscribed to your blog. I love seeing new recipes from you pop up in my inbox :)
Dannii
Thank you for subscribing :)
Teresa
How spicy would you say this is?
Dannii
I would say it is fairly mild, but I like my food pretty spicy. You could always add less, taste some and add more if needed.
Claudia
This is perfect for one of my lower calories days, when I am not working out.
Dannii
One of the many benefits of lentils - pretty low in calories.
Susanne
This looks and sounds delicious. I love anything with a Mexican twist to it.
Dannii
Make sure you have taken a look at all the Mexican recipes I have :)
Areletta
Thank you for more budget recipes. I am really struggling when junk food can be so much cheaper. I know healthy food can be cheaper too, but I don't know how.
Dannii
Buying in bulk, especially things like lentils and beans, really helps.