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Faux Jack in the Box Tacos - your healthy, vegetarian alternative to Jack in the Box monster tacos!

Faux Tacos

Easy, cheap vegetarian/vegan tacos delicious enough that even your hardcore carnivores will love!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried lentils, just plain old green/brown
  • 3 cups water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 to 1 cup refried beans
  • 1/2 packet taco seasoning
  • corn tortillas - I like Tortilla Factory or Mission Extra Thin Corn tortillas
  • taco sauce/hot sauce of your choosing
  • sliced regular or vegan cheese, folded in half to make a triangle
  • lettuce, tomato, sour cream (sub for vegan)

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 400°.  In a medium sauce pan bring water to a boil. Add salt and lentils and simmer for 35 to 40 minutes, until tender. Don't over cook them and turn them into a pile of mush, but you do want them tender.

  2. When tender, add taco seasoning and refried beans to make a thick paste.  How much refried beans you use depends on how much water is left with your lentils. 

  3. Warm tortillas in the microwave to make them pliable and to prevent cracking. Place 1/4 cup filling in the tortilla, add hot sauce, and triangle of cheese. Fold over.
  4. Place on a cookie sheet sprayed with non stick spray or oil or place on parchment paper. Very lightly coat the side that's facing up with oil. Use your fingertips, for just that slightest coating. Cook for 12 minutes. I like to cook for 6, and flip them over, but it's not necessary. If you want it more crispy, you can cook for additional 2 minutes at a time.
  5. Pry open and add lettuce and more hot sauce if you like. Garnish with extras if that's how you roll.

Recipe Notes

As I said before, we have pan fried these and they are delicious that way as well. It does take a little longer because you have to do it in batches, depending on how many you're making. But if you want to go that route, heat a little oil up in a skillet. When it gets hot, pan fry. Flip so you can get both sides looking lovely.

I have the Delonghi so for mine, I set it on 4 for 4 minutes, flip then for 2 additional minutes. Perfection. Also, like I said, this is filling. I can only eat three of these. My wife eats two. This is perfect for tostadas as well!

If you are vegan, no you do not have to add the oil.  Just watch them carefully.