Ingredients:
2 C red lentils, rinsed and debris removed
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp red pepper flakes (omit for less spice)
1 tsp salt
Directions:
- Add 3 cups of water to a medium pot.
- Stir in the lentils and bring to a simmer. Let cook for 8-9 minutes.
- When the lentils are tender, drain.
- Gently mix the spices into the lentils.
- Serve with your favorite taco fixings! Enjoy!
Story:
Spiced with delicious taco seasonings, these lentil tacos are a healthier alternative to ground meat, made with only a few simple ingredients. Whip them up in just 20 minutes! The recipe can be adapted as a gluten-free or vegan entrée. Lentils, native to Greece and the Middle East, are from the pulse or legume family and are part of almost all cuisines.
Lentils are the easiest legume to prepare because they do not need to be soaked in water prior to cooking! A climate change fact: When rotating crops, regenerative farmers often plan lentils and other "pulses" in a fallow row on which animals can graze. Legumes, even green beans, add natural nitrogen fertilizer to the soil.
More Meatless Meal Resources
Near the end of Lent, several resources have surfaced for those who may wish to continue to limit meat consumption. Carrie Thompson, executive director of the Sustainability Institute and co-creator of the Green Goose Chase, told the La Crosse Tribune (3/28/2023) that for Americans, "the most impactful action individuals can take (to slow climate change) is to eat a plant-rich diet. This doesn't mean never eating meat again, but cutting meat from 1 or 2 meals a week not only has climate benefits, but it benefits your own health and well-being, too."
The Earthbeats section of NCR (National Catholic Reporter) provides Recipes for an Eco-Friendly Lent. Elizabeth Varga of "At Elizabeth's Table" shares the recipe pictured above along with other plant-based dishes.
A 2022 Mercy Meatless Mondays resource from the Sisters of Mercy has recipes, information and reflections on food and climate change. The Sisters of Mercy Justice Team encourages the Mercy Community to refrain from eating meat on Mondays, in addition to Fridays in Lent as is a Catholic tradition. Earthbeat also covers the Sisters of Mercy stance on eating with the planet in mind. This is one way to care for Earth, as meat production consumes large amounts of water and energy and produces more greenhouse gasses than a vegetarian diet.
Meatless Mondays is a global secular campaign offering recipes, including kid-friendly foods and info on the connection between food and climate change.
Finally, a 6-minute video called The Diet that Helps Reduce Climate Change by M. Sanjayan, CEO and researcher from Climate International presents an entertaining and fact-filled scientist's view.
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