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Guess who's back from their trip around the world?! We are back with an easy, dump-and-go meatless meal that is full of flavor? You've come to the right spot. This crockpot meal takes 5 minutes to put together, cooks all day, and has an insanely filling and flavorful stew ready when you get home! The combination of soft lentils and smoky chipotle will have you coming back for more!
One of my favorite things to ask people is what their favorite childhood comfort food is. The meal that brings them back to a time when they had no responsibility and everything was right in the world. For me, it's a frozen Jack's pizza (cut into squares!) and Velveeta mac & cheese- the perfect meal. For my husband, it is a hotdog and lentil soup................... (I know, right 🤔 ) it's not as bad as it sounds but it's not something I crave or could eat on a weekly basis as he could. I never grew up eating lentils. I honestly had no idea what they were until my husband introduced them to me via his hotdog lentil soup. I promise you this recipe does not resemble the hotdog lentil soup at all.
The Lowdown on Legumes
Legumes- beans, lentils, peas- often get a bad wrap because they are FILLED with fiber and can often cause gas if you are used to eating a low-fiber diet. I introduce legumes in small amounts and increased my consumption over time to avoid that painful bloating that can often happen. Not only do legumes help you stay regular, but their fiber helps make you feel fuller, faster!
LENTILS ARE SO GOOD FOR YOU! Let's break down their health benefits:
jam-packed with B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and potassium
1 cup of cooked lentils comes in at 230 calories, 17 g of protein, and 15 g (!!15!!) of fiber
They're also a great source of iron, folate, copper, and manganese!
Ingredient Breakdown
Lentils
Chipotle Peppers in Adobo
One of my all-time favorite ingredients. It adds such a smoky spicy flavor to dishes
Diced Tomatoes with Chilies
I use Rotel
San Marzano Tomatoes, whole peeled
You can also use crushed tomatoes. I prefer to crush them myself (it tastes better!)
Mirepoix
Onion, celery, and carrots. My favorite produce staple. It is the base of so many great recipes. I prefer to buy mine precut in a kit because we don't eat celery often in our house so this is less wasteful for us! Buy it precut or cut it yourself! If you cant find it with the produce, you can often find it in the frozen section
Broth- I used chicken broth because it’s what I had on hand but easily swap out vegetable broth!
Lime
Pantry Staples
Salt
Garlic Powder
Cumin
Balsalmic Glaze (the thick syrupy kind) or Sugar
This may seem weird but tomatoes are very acidic. Adding a little bit of sweetness helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes and helps take away that tin-can taste!
Optional Toppings
Sour Cream- regular or dairy free
Scallions
Cheese- regular or dairy free
Cilantro
Tortilla Chips
