Lentil Quesadillas with Homemade Salsa
These Lentil Quesadillas are a serious comfort food, filling and full of healthy protein, fiber, folate (= great for pregnant women).
Quesadillas can be versatile and are true crowd pleasers – go crazy with any filling that floats your boat, but I love having the lentils take center stage here.
Lentils are affordable and can be turned into a healthy meal in minutes. Lentils are a superfood that provide at least nine essential vitamins and minerals, boost your energy, promote good gut health, weight loss and protect your heart.
Ingredients
- Medium Whole Wheat tortillas
For The Filling
- 1 cup of organic lentils, soaked for 2-8 hours
- 1/2 small onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 3 Tablespoons Tomato Sauce
- 1 Vegan, Low Sodium Bouillon Cube
- 2 Tablespoons Taco Seasoning (or use Cumin, Paprika and Chili Powder)
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
For The Salsa
- Tomatoes, cut into small pieces
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- Extra Virgin olive Oil
- Pink Himalayan Salt
- Black Pepper
Directions
1. Add soaked and drained lentils to a medium cooking pot.
2. Add 4 cups of water and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and add bouillon cube and dissolve it.
4. Add onion, garlic and seasoning.
5. Simmer until lentils are soft, about 15-30 minutes, depending on whether you use red or brown lentils….red lentils will take about 10-15 minutes and brown lentils will take about 20-30 minutes.
6. Drain the excess broth from the lentils through a sieve and save it in the refrigerator for another dish that requires water or broth.
7. Mash the lentils with a wooden masher until roughly puréed.
8. Spread the lentil mixture over each half of the tortillas. Fold in half.
9. Heat the Extra Virgin Olive in a large pan over medium heat. Place two of the quesadillas in the pan and cook for 1 – 2 minutes on each side, or until golden.
10. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining quesadillas.
11. To make the quick salsa, add the tomatoes, onion, salt, pepper, and a little olive oil. Mix. Done.
12. Cut the quesadillas into triangles and serve with the salsa.
Note
Soaking the lentils increases its nutritional value & absorption and deactivates the harmful compounds, which are complex oligosaccharides, a type of complex sugar that is responsible for bloating and gas.