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Vegan Enchiladas Recipe

Vegan Enchiladas Recipe
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★★★★★

4.7 from 6 reviews

These Vegan Enchiladas are a hearty, flavorful plant-based twist on the classic Mexican dish, featuring a protein-packed lentil and vegetable filling wrapped in soft tortillas, topped with a rich, homemade enchilada sauce and vegan cheese. Perfectly spiced and baked to perfection, this recipe is satisfying for vegans and non-vegans alike.

Ingredients

Scale

Enchiladas

  • 12 tortillas (22 cm in diameter)
  • 7 oz (200 g) vegan cheese or to taste

Enchilada Filling

  • 1 cup (192 g) dry lentils
  • 2 ½ cups (600 g) vegetable broth
  • ½ cup (70 g) sunflower seeds
  • 1 ⅓ cup (120 g) rolled oats (gluten-free if needed)
  • 3 heaped tbsp (120 g) tomato paste
  • 2 small bell peppers
  • 1 medium-sized carrot, grated
  • 1 medium-sized tomato, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds (ground) or flax seeds
  • Spice mix: ½ tbsp onion powder, ½ tbsp garlic powder, 2 tsp dried oregano, 1-2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1–2 hot chili peppers, chopped (adjust to taste)
  • Sea salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp oil (for frying veggies)

Enchilada Sauce

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp gluten-free flour (or all-purpose flour if not GF)
  • 2 ½ cups (600 g) tomato sauce
  • Spice mix: ½ tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp ground cumin, ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • Sea salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook Lentils: Rinse lentils thoroughly to remove any dirt. Place them in a medium-sized pot with vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat and keep covered for another 10 minutes.
  2. Prepare Enchilada Sauce: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add all sauce spices and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in the flour, cooking for 1 more minute while stirring frequently. Add tomato sauce and bring to a boil, then simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.
  3. Make Enchilada Filling – Sauté Veggies: In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion and minced garlic for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add chopped bell peppers, chopped tomato, grated carrot, and chopped chili peppers. Cook for 5-7 minutes until vegetables soften. Remove from heat.
  4. Blend Dry Ingredients: Add ground spices, salt, pepper, rolled oats, sunflower seeds, and ground chia seeds into a food processor. Blend for 20-30 seconds until finely ground.
  5. Combine Veggies and Dry Mix: Add the cooked sautéed vegetables and tomato paste to the processor and blend until combined.
  6. Add Lentils and Texture: Finally, add the cooked lentils and pulse until the mixture sticks together with a cohesive texture. If the mixture is too loose, add more ground oats to thicken.
  7. Preheat Oven: Heat oven to 390°F (200°C).
  8. Assemble Enchiladas: Spread about 2 heaped tablespoons (100 g) of the filling evenly over each tortilla. Roll up and place seam side down in a greased baking dish. Arrange tortillas in one or two layers depending on dish size.
  9. Add Sauce and Bake: Pour the enchilada sauce over the rolled tortillas evenly. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes.
  10. Add Vegan Cheese and Final Bake: Remove from oven, spread vegan cheese or vegan cheese sauce on top, then return to oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese melts and enchiladas are heated through.
  11. Serve: Serve hot garnished with fresh cilantro or greens. Optionally add vegan sour cream on top for extra creaminess.

Notes

  • Use finely ground oats if mixture feels too loose for better binding.
  • Adjust chili peppers to your preferred spice level.
  • Gluten-free flour and oats can be swapped for regular if gluten is not a concern.
  • Sunflower seeds add a nutty texture and enhance protein; can be substituted with pumpkin seeds.
  • Let enchiladas rest a few minutes after baking to set for easier slicing.

Nutrition

Keywords: vegan enchiladas, plant-based enchiladas, lentil enchiladas, vegan Mexican recipe, healthy vegan dinner, gluten-free enchiladas

Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/vegan-enchiladas-recipe/