Tired of Chipotle?!

So, during "gluten-free January" we also decided to omit red and black beans, to see if it made any difference in how we felt. Sadly, this meant no more Chipotle. Lentils, however, stayed in our diet and this lentil "ground beef" was an accident that ended up working out quite well. This makes a really nice veggie option for stay-at-home burrito bowl meals. Of course, you can use ground beef here, but I just like the taste of lentils and refuse to take them out of my life for good.

The Lentils
Rinse and pick through a cup of lentils for the occasional rogue pebble (any variety of lentil will do, I used green). Lentils cook quicker in less water, so I use about 2 cups of water for 1 cup of lentils, bring them to a boil, then drop them to a simmer and watch them in case they need more water, for about 25-30 minutes. Once they are cooked, drain off any excess liquid and stir in some cayenne pepper, hot sauce, and cumin, coriander, and oregano to taste (we like these super spicy). The lentils kind of look like ground beef when you glance at them quick, and although the texture isn't the same, they are a fun substitute if you are tired of the ubiquitous black bean in every veg friendly Mexican option (lentils are also good if beans aren't so nice to your tummy). These lentils stay great in the fridge for a week and are really good for nachos, alongside eggs as huevos racheros, or whatever other use you may have for beans if you just aren't in a beany kind of mood.

The Veg!
Next, sautée a jalapeno or two, some sliced onions, bell peppers, garlic, spinach and/or mushrooms, or whatever mix of veggies you feel like or have on hand. Season these according to taste, again as spicy or seasoned as you like them, with cumin, oregano, cayenne, paprika, and coriander.

I cooked up some rice (flavored with cilantro and lime just like the real deal!), made some homemade guacamole and salsa, and topped the mix with a little baby greens mix. I personally like a fried egg smack dab on top of this bowl.

Feel like a wrap? Whether or not you are using lentils or meat, this mixture wrapped in kale, lettuce, or napa cabbage leaves is a great substitute for taco shells and I think it even tastes better.

Either way, with a little planning, you get complete control of your ingredients and you don't have to wait on line at Chipotle during the rush anymore!