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Vegan enchiladas served with a fresh tomato salsa, guacamole on a white plate with a fork.
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5 from 6 votes

Vegan Enchiladas

These delicious vegan enchiladas are fun but healthy, with a stuffing of smoky lentils and veggies. They are doused in a flavorful, easy, 10-minute enchilada sauce, smothered in vegan cheese and baked until the edges are crispy.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Lunch/Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 8 servings (two enchiladas each)
Calories: 346kcal
Author: Vaishali · Holy Cow Vegan

Equipment

  • Small saucepan for enchilada sauce
  • Big saucepan for lentil stuffing
  • Two baking dishes for 16 tortillas, or a very large one. I used two.

Ingredients

For the lentil stuffing

  • 1 teaspoon avocado oil or any neutral oil
  • 1 leek (green and white parts finely chopped. Can sub with an onion)
  • 1 large carrot (finely chopped)
  • 2 stalks celery (finely chopped)
  • 4 cloves garlic (crushed into a paste or finely minced)
  • 2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 cup brown lentils (dry, rinsed in running water)
  • 1 chipotle chili in adobo sauce (with 1 tablespoon of the adobo sauce. Use more or less based on your heat preference)
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • Salt and ground black pepper to taste.

For the enchilada sauce

Additional ingredients

  • 16 6-inch corn tortillas
  • 8 oz vegan mozzarella shreds (If soy-free or nut-free make sure you buy a vegan cheese labeled as such. Daiya makes nut-free and soy-free mozzarella shreds)
  • 2 tablespoon cilantro (for garnish)

For serving

  • Guacamole
  • Tomato salsa
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Make the lentil stuffing

  • Heat the oil in a saucepan. Add the leeks, carrots, celery, oregano and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and saute until the onions are transclucent and just beginning to brown, about five minutes.
    Carrots added to leeks in pan with ladle.
  • Add the cumin and oregano and stir it in.
    Cumin added to leeks and carrots.
  • Add lentils to the pot and stir in 3 cups water or vegetable stock. Let the lentils come to a boil. Cover and let them cook at a simmer for 15 minutes or until tender (they don't need to be mushy).
    Lentils added to greens and carrots for vegan enchilada stuffing.
  • Stir in the ancho chili and paprika. Leave the lid off this time and continue to cook the lentils until all of the visible moisture has evaporated. Set aside to cool.
    Cooked lentils for enchilada stuffing

Make the enchilada sauce

  • Whisk tomato paste, 2 cups water, smoked paprika, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, ground cumin and salt and ground black pepper in a bowl
    Spices and herbs added to enchilada sauce
  • Heat the oil in a small saucepan and add the flour. Cook, stirring, over medium-low heat until grainy and light brown.
    Roux for enchilada sauce cooking in saucepan.
  • Lower the heat further. Add the tomato-spice sauce in the bowl to the roux, whisking at the same time to break up any lumps. You can stop whisking once the sauce looks smooth.
    Enchilada sauce cooking on stove.
  • Once the sauce comes to a boil whisk once more and let it cook a couple of minutes before turning off. Set aside to cool.
    Prepared enchilada sauce.

Assemble the enchiladas

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit/190 degrees Celsius.
  • Divide half the lentil filling between the two baking dishes and spread it in an even layer in each dish. Make an assembly line with the tortillas, enchilada sauce and remaining half of the lentil stuffing.
  • Dip each tortilla into the enchilada sauce so it has a light coating of the sauce on both sides (if you prefer you can just use a spoon to smear sauce on both sides of the tortilla). Place the tortilla on a plate, spoon in two tablespoons of the lentil stuffing, and roll it up into a tight cylinder. Place it in the baking dish and repeat with the remaining tortillas. I could accommodate eight tortillas in each pf the two baking dishes I used, for a total of 16.
    Enchiladas assembled in white baking dish with vegan cheese sprinkled on top.
  • Sprinkle eight ounces of vegan mozzarella shreds on top of the enchiladas.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes turn on the broiler and let the enchiladas continue to cook until the cheese starts to brown and edges of the enchiladas look crispy, no more than three to five minutes. Keep a close eye on them as things can burn easily under the broiler.
    Baked vegan enchiladas in white baking dish with parsley garnish.
  • Garnish the enchiladas with cilantro. Serve hot with guacamole and salsa.

Notes

  • You can add more veggies to the lentil filling. Bell peppers of any color would be wonderful, as would zucchini, cabbage, kale, spinach or most quick-cooking veggies.
  • Make a quick guacamole to serve with the enchiladas by smushing two ripe, peeled and pitted avocadoes with a tablespoon of lemon juice or lime juice, half a teaspoon of cumin and salt to taste.
Storage instructions
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days.
  • For longer storage assemble the enchilada casserole, cover the baking dish tightly with cling wrap, and freeze. Thaw and bake before serving.
  • Store the baked casserole or leftovers in the freezer for up to three months. Defrost and reheat.

Nutrition

Serving: 2enchiladas | Calories: 346kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Potassium: 662mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2334IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 4mg