Vegan Picadillo – Connoisseurus Veg

This vegan picadillo is made with spiced lentils and walnuts simmered up with juicy tomatoes, bell peppers, candy raisins and pimento-stuffed inexperienced olives. Serve over rice for a comforting, scrumptious and wholesome meal!

Generally, okay often, after I study some new-to -e meals merchandise, my response is to get actually excited and wish to veganize it. This could occur even when I do know nothing concerning the dish. I simply actually like taking part in with new taste combos and substances, and if someone likes it, there’s often one thing I can work with.
That was just about my response after I first discovered about picadillo, and as soon as I investigated, I needed to make a vegan model much more. It is principally a Latin American stew of floor beef with spices, olives and raisins.
I made a decision to create my vegan picadillo utilizing a mixture of lentils and walnuts rather than meat, and as anticipated, it was scrumptious. The combination of flavors and textures on this one was magnificent. It is easy to make, versatile, and nice for meal prep.
Leap to:
Components You may Want
- Lentils. We’re utilizing brown lentils. Inexperienced ought to work too, however will want barely longer to cook dinner. I do not suggest utilizing crimson lentils, which haven’t got fairly the appropriate texture for this dish.
- Olive oil. Use one other excessive warmth oil if you would like, although olive will give your picadillo one of the best taste.
- Onion.
- Garlic.
- Pink bell pepper.
- Chopped walnuts. You possibly can go away these out if you happen to want or have a nut allergy. They add a pleasant texture, however I’ve made the dish with out them and it was simply fantastic.
- Spices. You may want floor cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, cinnamon and cloves. Do not skimp on something, as the flavour mixture is magical!
- Canned diced tomatoes.
- Tomato sauce.
- Pink wine vinegar.
- Soy sauce. Be at liberty to make use of gluten-free tamari or liquid aminos as a substitute.
- Pimento-stuffed inexperienced olives.
- Raisins.
- Salt and pepper.
- Contemporary cilantro.
- Lime wedges. These are non-obligatory, however a squeeze of lime juice will improve the flavour of your vegan picadillo.
How It is Made
The next is an in depth picture tutorial on methods to make this dish. Scroll all the best way down if you would like to skip proper to the recipe!
Begin by cooking your lentils. You need them to be barely undercooked. You possibly can prep the remaining substances whereas the lentils simmer.

Warmth your oil in a skillet and add diced onion and bell pepper. Sweat the veggies simply till they soften up.

Add the walnuts, garlic and spices to the skillet. Sauté the combination for almost a minute, stirring the entire time and watching it like a hawk to keep away from burning something.

Stir within the cooked lentils, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, vinegar, and soy sauce. Let the combination simmer for about 10 minutes, which needs to be simply sufficient time for the lentils to complete cooking and the sauce to thicken up.

Take the skillet off of warmth and stir within the olives and raisins. Season the combination with some salt and pepper to style.

Your vegan picadillo is able to serve with a squeeze of recent lime juice!
Meal-Prep Suggestions
- The lentils will be cooked prematurely and saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days, or within the freezer for as much as 3 months.
- The onion and bell pepper will be diced prematurely and saved collectively in an hermetic container within the fridge.
Leftovers & Storage
Leftover vegan picadillo retains very properly and will be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
Continuously Requested Questions
Picadillo will be served so some ways! Pair it up with some cooked rice or quinoa, stuff it into tacos, or bake it in empanadas.
It may be! Merely use gluten-free tamari or liquid aminos as a substitute of soy sauce.
No. This dish is has a fancy taste profile with many spices, nevertheless it’s very gentle.
Extra Vegan Latin American Recipes
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Vegan Picadillo
This vegan picadillo is made with spiced lentils and walnuts simmered up with juicy tomatoes, bell peppers, candy raisins and pimento-stuffed inexperienced olives. Serve over rice for a comforting, scrumptious and wholesome meal!
Components
-
1
cup
dried brown lentils -
2
tablespoons
olive oil -
1
medium onion,
diced -
1
crimson bell pepper,
diced -
4
garlic cloves,
minced -
½
cup
chopped walnuts -
2
teaspoons
floor cumin -
1
teaspoon
smoked paprika -
1
teaspoon
dried oregano -
½
teaspoon
floor cinnamon -
Pinch
cloves -
1
(14 ounce/400 gram) can
diced tomatoes -
1
(8 ounce/236 ml) can
tomato sauce -
1
tablespoon
crimson wine vinegar -
1
tablespoon
soy sauce -
⅔
cup
pimento-stuffed inexperienced olives -
½
cup
raisins -
Salt and pepper,
to style -
Chopped recent cilantro,
for serving -
Lime wedges,
for serving (non-obligatory)
Directions
-
Place the lentils right into a small saucepan and canopy them with water. Place the pot over excessive warmth and produce the water to a boil.
-
Decrease the warmth and permit the lentils to simmer till they’re nearly absolutely cooked, however nonetheless a bit agency at their facilities, about 20 minutes.
-
Drain the lentils right into a colander.
-
Coat the underside of a giant skillet with the oil and place it over medium warmth. Add the onion and bell pepper.
-
Sweat the onion and pepper for about 5 minutes, till they start to melt, stirring regularly.
-
Add the garlic, walnuts, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, cinnamon and cloves. Sauté the combination for about 1 minute, stirring continually.
-
Stir within the cooked lentils, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, crimson wine vinegar, and soy sauce. Carry the combination to a simmer and cook dinner every little thing simply till the lentils are tender and the sauce thickens up a bit, about 10 minutes, stirring often.
-
Take away the skillet from warmth and stir within the olives and raisins. Season with salt and pepper to style.
-
Divide onto plates and serve with a sprinkle of recent cilantro and lime wedges.
Vitamin Info
Vegan Picadillo
Quantity Per Serving
Energy 305
Energy from Fats 119
% Day by day Worth*
Fats 13.2g20%
Saturated Fats 1.3g7%
Sodium 362mg15%
Potassium 682mg19%
Carbohydrates 38g13%
Fiber 13.2g53%
Sugar 11.2g12%
Protein 12.7g25%
Calcium 80mg8%
Iron 5mg28%
* % Day by day Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie weight-reduction plan.