Screw men. I’m marrying these enchiladas!
Kale is the new black and men are the new burnt orange (as if anyone actually likes that color). I have to say that I enjoy dating about as much as I enjoy gorgonzola cheese on my frisée salad. Like I’m not gonna be a betch and send it back, but I’m not gonna instagram it either.
Dating is the hot crop top that’s supposed to make you look skinny but kind of makes you look like a wide load.
Dating is the whole wheat chocolate chip muffin that’s actually a sneaky sugar bomb cupcake made with an eighth a cup of whole grain flour.
Dating is your grandma’s vintage turquoise wool sweater that’s supposed to be totally rad but actually feels like you have chicken pox.
Dating is like interviewing for a job that you don’t even know if you really want. Am I exaggerating here? Maybe I just need a system that sorts through the crap and leaves all the tall, dark and handsome bachelors on speed dial.
Is there an app for that?
I don’t think I’ll ever go on a dating website. Tinder offered enough shallow dating technology to last me a lifetime. I’m gonna be that old lady married to my whisk. I don’t even think it sounds all that bad. I’m just not a hundred percent confident that I could love a man as much as I love hummus with hot sauce. Or dark chocolate. I mean that would have to be one helluva smart, funny, sexy, ambitious, trustworthy, caring, honest, food-loving hunk. It’s not like I have high standards or anything.
Let’s chat about these beauties for a hot minute. They were inspired by my all-time fave pinto bean and swiss chard enchiladas, which I so fervently adore because I literally don’t get sick of them. Is that not a rarity in the dinner world? Each zesty batch makes twelve enchiladas and I have three per sitting, leaving me with four awesome meals. I always look forward to enchilada night. I douse ’em with extra salsa and cubed avocado and go ham. The soaked cashews give them this uber creamy texture that makes you forget all about the fact that they don’t have the typical cheese-laden filling. Lentils and kale may sound like bird food, but fear not–these are just PERFECT.
And we all need more excuses to scarf down kale, amiright?
I cooked my own lentils for these. That may sound like a pain, but you really just bring them to a simmer and then go watch Orange Is the New Black or swipe right on Tinder or whatever else you do with your thirty minutes of free time. If cooking legumes from scratch isn’t your jam, feel free to use pre-cooked lentils like the one’s from Trader Joe’s. Don’t worry, we won’t call you out for being lazy.
Why date when you can be in a relationship with food like this?
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Loaded with filling fiber from hearty lentils and kale, these creamy vegan enchiladas are sure to please!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked
- 3/4 cup dry lentils + 1 3/4 cups water (or 2 cups cooked lentils)
- 1/2 cup salsa verde (plus more for serving)
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 jalapeño, seeds and ribs removed (optional)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
- 3 leaves of kale, de-stemmed and torn into pieces
- 12 corn tortillas
- 1–8oz package of green enchilada sauce (I used Frontera)
- Cubed avocado, for serving
Instructions
- Place cashews in a bowl. Cover them with water and allow to sit for at least two hours or overnight. If you’re in a hurry, pour boiling water over them and let them sit for ten minutes.
- If using pre-cooked lentils, ignore this step. Rinse lentils with a fine-mesh sieve. Place lentils and water in medium pot. Bring lentils to a boil and then reduce heat to medium-low, or until lentils are simmering. Cook, uncovered, for about 20-30 minutes, or until tender. Drain any excess water.
- Preheat oven to 350F. Drain cashews. Combine cashews and salsa in a large food processor and blend for about a minute, or until smooth and creamy. Add in lentils, chopped pepper, jalapeño, salt, cumin and cayenne. Process until mixture is fairly smooth. Add in the torn kale and process just until the kale is broken down.
- Warm tortillas in the microwave for about 15 seconds.
- Using a 13×9 pan, pour just enough enchilada sauce to cover the bottom.
- Spoon filling into tortillas, fold them up, and place seam-side down on the pan. If the tortillas break, that’s ok. Once all enchiladas are all next to each other in the pan, cover them liberally with the rest of the enchilada sauce.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Serve with avocado and extra salsa.
Notes
Adapted from my pinto bean and swiss chard enchiladas
The winner of the Swanson’s Health Products giveaway is Deborah Neil!
Alexis @ Run Crush says
Bahaha I feel EXACTLY the same way about dating. It’s just painful enough to not be worth it. These enchiladas seem like a fabulous substitution for a man ;)
Alexis says
Right?! Enchiladas all around!!
Shashi @ runninsrilankan says
I adore lentils – what a genius idea to use them in enchiladas with kale!!!
P.S. I cannot wait for the blog post where you confess to meeting a guy who you will adore more than dark chocolate – one who is ” smart, funny, sexy, ambitious, trustworthy, caring, honest, food-loving hunk”! :)
Alexis says
I can’t wait, either!! The ironic thing is that I’m going on a date tonight…shhhh don’t tell!
Lauren says
This recipe looks amazing and I printed it immediately! But why do you say you’re “far from a feminist?” I’m a feminist who loves food, LOVES men, and proud of it ;) Feminists just want everyone to be equal regardless of gender – nothing scary about that! Thanks for all of the AMAZING ideas for vegetarian meals – about half of the recipes I pull out each week are from your blog.
Alexis says
Hey Lauren! So glad you love the blog :) See my comment above in response to me using the word “feminist.” Just a silly mistake!
Slt says
Alexis–
I hate to be that person but I love your blog so I want you to be aware– saying you’re far from
A feminist literally means that you’re far from believing that men and women are dual. Feminism doesn’t mean hating men or dating. It just means believing men and women are equals. Maybe you do already know that, but if you truly did not fit the definition of a feminist you probably wouldn’t have gotten an education. I say this not to incite debate, simply to inform and I wouldn’t have said anything if I wasn’t a big fan. And for the record, there’s nothing unfeminist about being a domestic goddess :)
Slt says
Men and women are EQUALS*** not dual oops!
April says
Hi Slt! I just want to chime in and say that this this is probably more of a semantics issue than anything. I know Alexis quite well and she is totally a strong, smart, and ambitious woman who has a good head on her shoulders and believes in equality of women, men, and everything inbetween. I think we probs all know this since we adore her blog and can feel her caring heart. :) The word “feminist” is largely misunderstood and while I, personally, totally embrace it and am proud to call myself one, I have lots of girlfriends who shy away from the word. AKA they are feminists but don’t even realize it. AKA you can still be a feminist and love men and lipgloss and shave your legs, like you said! There is so much negative connotation and confusion around the word, I think that’s the real issue here. I know you get it since your comment was very genuine and sweet. I hope we can chock this one up to a misunderstanding, and enjoy vegan enchiladas and love ourselves and others as different and equal beings. <3
Alexis says
Thanks for your comment, Slt. I’m glad you’re a fan of the blog! I apologize if I offended you when I claimed to not be a feminist–I’ve since deleted that part of the post because it was silly and unnecessary of me to say that. I of course wholeheartedly believe in equality and I feel quite silly for making myself come off any other way! Honestly, oftentimes I write what I’m thinking and it doesn’t always make sense…as in this case. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
Such a feminist. I’m still a fan of tinder (says the girl who is basically married). If only it had existed 3 years ago when I was a biddy in NYC and convinced boys to drive me home in limos and buy me entire pizzas…then end up with their iPhone…and have no idea what their name is to give it back….true story.
Alexis says
You love Tinder, and I love that you love Tinder. I think I need to hear WAY more details about this pizza limo story, bee tee dubs.
Brittany says
When I broke up with my last boyfriend a little over a year ago I knew it was time to finally focus on figuring out the whole “being single” thing. Now the idea of dating makes me dry heave. I’d rather date my whisk too, while taking photos of my cats doing stupid activities. As for these enchiladas…yes…just yes.
Alexis says
So glad we’re in the same boat, Brittany!
She Rocks Fitness says
OMG you crack me up! Want to grab some coffee and exchange some dating stories…I have some pretty comical ones that makes me sometimes wish I wrote them all down and started another blog just on that. ;) Since dating is a pain in the butt, at least we have really yummy food that makes us happy and healthy!
Alexis says
Yes PUH-lEASE. A dating blog sounds epics and hilarious…can I guest post?
Julia says
Dating is like looking forward to coming home to leftovers for dinner and discovering your roommate ate them all. Dating is like being out of coffee on a Monday morning. Dating is like drinking a bottle and a half of red wine and waking up the next day to realize you aren’t 17 anymore and hangovers are real. Dating is like being constipated.
Ugh. All we need is vegan enchos, wine, and good girl talk. That be it. Amen.
★★★★★
Alexis says
OMG. This weekend one of my roomies ate all my frozen nanners….I felt like I was on a date. Wine, ladies night, and green salsa are all we need in this world!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
Yay, I am SO excited to see these today!!! I am planning to make them this weekend!
Alexis says
I’m anxious to hear which version is your fave!!
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says
look at your photographssss :) salsa verde seals the deal for me.
Lee says
GIRLLLL. Your photography is improving so much!!
Alexis says
Stawwwppppp it! That means a LOT coming from you, girlfran :)
Handmade by Lorna says
Wow these look and sound yummy – never ate an enchillada before, might have to give these a try. Thank you for the recipe.
Alexis says
Give them a try! I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised :)
Darla says
Am soooo making these!! But will use my chard from the garden instead!! I love the super easy enchilada sauce in this recipe from “Forks Over Knives” http://www.forksoverknives.com/wp-content/uploads/Potato-Enchiladas.pdf
Alexis says
Yum! That enchilada sauce looks so great!
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
Ugh. Hate dating. I’ve clung to failing relationships in the past because of how much I dreaded the idea of getting back out there, which is horrible but all the awkwardness of getting to know someone in hopes of them being the one is just something that I like to avoid as much as possible. And girllll!!! Your pics are -gorgeous- :D
Alexis says
Me too! I always cling to comfort. Then when I finally let go, I’m always so glad I did :) Thanks pretty lady!
Erica {Coffee & Quinoa} says
I do not envy the Tinder thing, my friend. Although I know a few couples who have gotten MARRIED off it, believe it or not. But still… a lot of crap to filter through for a few good ones. At least you didn’t call these “better than sex” enchiladas :) I won’t go there, but they look amazing!
Alexis says
Okay, now I’m thinking about renaming these puppies! Those tinder marriages have my head shaking.
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
1. Those photos. I’d go vegan for them.
2. …..what happened to dating me and letting me take advantage of you to get a green card then dumping you?
[email protected] says
Thank god I’m married to a wonderful man who will chop any veggie I ask and always wash my dirty dishes. Plus he’s pretty good where it counts. TMI? Yeah probably. My bad.
The point is I don’t want to imagine ever having to date again. I don’t even know where I’d meet a new man these days. I’d probably adopt more cats, turn into a shut in and eat lots of these enchiladas. I might even make the lentil, what with all the time I’d save on not dating.
Alexis says
He sounds PERFECT. Does he have a brother?
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says
oh girl.. these look perfect. Give it time… you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince!
Alexis says
I love that frog kissing line!! So cute and very true, I’m sure :)
Cassie says
I was pretty certain I never wanted to date again… luckily the boy I had been crushing on since college just easily came back into my life and I didn’t have to do things like swipe right (or is it left?) on Tinder. If we hadn’t started chatting again, I would still be single as ever… dating is THE WORST.
Alexis says
I don’t even know if it’s swipe right or left. Maybe that’s why tinder didn’t work out for me…
Anoushe says
This is EXACTLY how I feel about dating! Especially since I try to be upfront and honest about not being into playing all those dating games, you know like waiting 3 days to text, act like you are not interested and unavailable blablabla. I make it clear that that is not me. If you like me, then show it, otherwise you are wasting my time. Guys appreciate my mind set as I tend to be someone who lives in the moment and would rather have loved and lost than never to have loved BUT (and this is a big BUT) even the guys impressed by this end up being lying idiots who play games…. I am sick of it. Why is being honest not valued anymore? I seriously give up.. maybe I should start playing games, because guys seem to like them .. so FRUSTRATING
Alexis says
I feel ya, my lady!! Guys can be SUPER frustrating. But sometimes there are diamonds in the rough…just takes some time :) In the mean time, let’s faceplant into these enchiladas!
Julia says
Wow! The stuff you wrote about dating sure generated a lot of comments! I don’t have anything to offer on that front, but I do have a question about the recipe. In step 6 you say to put the filling into the tortillas. Is the filling simply the lentils? I think I will make this dish this weekend. Thanks.
Alexis says
Hi Julia! Wow–so glad you pointed this out because I completely forgot to include when you add the lentils! They should be blended with the rest of the ingredients (see updated recipe). The filling is that blended mixture of everything. Hope that helps!
Tiffanie says
Made these for dinner tonight and everyone LOVED them! Made extras for a friend who said she wasn’t going to have time to make dinner tonight, I’m sure she and her husband will enjoy them too.
Alexis says
I’m so glad to hear that, Tiffanie!! Fabulous.
Anna says
I am a picky vegan who is not easy to impress. Browsing for new recipes, I found your website thinking “just another” add avocado to make it vegan” kinda blog with lentils being an answer for everything.
Boy, was I mistaken. Not only your recipes are amazing, your writing style is also very enjoyable. The enchiladas are superb! Made these and they were out of this world!
Thank you!!
★★★★★
Alexis says
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Anna! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the enchiladas. Aren’t cashews dreamy?!
Kelsy says
Made these last night with some friends … along with a pan of chicken enchiladas, and these definitely stole the show! They’re so good, and remarkably easy! I’m super excited to have leftovers for lunch today! Thanks for another fabulous recipe – I make your super easy crock pot casseroles all the time too. Next on my list is the ginger peanut lentil burgers – those are happening this weekend! Yum!
Alexis says
Awesome! I’m thrilled to hear that, Kelsy!
J says
Hi! These look awesome but I’m having some trouble finding vegan green enchilada sauce… The only frontier packets I can find have heavy cream in them. Does anyone have a store bought alternative they could recommend? (I’d make it from scratch but can’t get tomatillos where I live..)
Alexis says
Oops—didn’t realize it had milk in it. I’m not sure, sorry about that!
Diego Asensio says
Its awessome, here I enjoy dating about as much as I enjoy gorgonzola cheese on my frisée salad and i also want to share mywawavisit Mywawavisit with your readers.
★★★★