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Black Lentil Enchiladas with Zucchini and Homemade Enchilada Sauce | Naturally Ella
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Black Lentil Enchiladas with Zucchini

Flavorful summer enchiladas made with zucchini and black lentils along with an easy year-round homemade enchilada sauce. 
Cuisine dinner
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 4 servings
Calories 359kcal

Ingredients

Lentils

  • 1/2 cup uncooked black lentils
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin see note
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Enchiladas

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 small white onion diced
  • 1 small red pepper diced
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 small zucchini about 1 1/2 cups diced
  • 8 to 10 small corn tortillas
  • 4 ounces Monterrey Jack cheese

Chipotle Sauce

  • 1, 15 oz can whole tomatoes drained
  • 1/4 small white onion
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/2 chipotle in adobo sauce see note
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon coriander
  • 1/4 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro

Instructions

  • Rinse the black lentils and place in a medium pot. Add the water followed by the cumin and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until lentils are tender and water is absorbed, 25 minutes or so.
  • While the lentils are cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil followed by the diced onion, pepper, and salt. Saute for 4 to 5 minutes, then add the zucchini. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini is tender and browning. Stir in the cooked black lentils, taste, and adjust salt if needed.
  • While the filling ingredients are cooking, combine the ingredients for the sauce in a blender. Puree until smooth.
  • Preheat oven to 375˚F. In a 9”x13” roasting pan or 8”x8” roasting pan, pour ⅓ of the sauce into the bottom. Assemble the enchiladas by spreading a spoonful of black lentil mixture in the center of the tortilla. Sprinkle with a tablespoon of cheese. Roll and place seam-side down. Continue with remaining black bean mixture and tortillas.

Notes

Tips & Tricks: I prefer to use toasted, whole spices that I grind right before using. If you go this route, use the same amount of whole spices before grinding.
As for the chipotle- the sauce has a bit of a kick. Start with just a bit, taste, and adjust to your liking. You can also use chipotle powder in place of the chipotle in adobo. Start with 1/4 teaspoon and work your way up. 
Stock up: get the pantry ingredients you will need: zucchini, tortillas, black lentils
Nutrition:  see the information.

Nutrition

Calories: 359kcal | Carbohydrates: 44.3g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 14.1g | Saturated Fat: 6.2g | Cholesterol: 25.2mg | Sodium: 728mg | Fiber: 7.4g | Sugar: 3.7g