These smoky, spicy, hearty vegan enchiladas are filled with spinach, lentils and tonnes of flavour! Then they're smothered with a super simple, tasty, spicy enchilada sauce! #enchiladas #veganrecipes #plantbased #veganenchiladas #lentils #spinach #mexicanfood #spicyfood #jalapenos #vegancheese | Recipe on thecookandhim.com

Posted in Recipes on 08.03.2021

Vegan Enchiladas with Spinach and Lentils

prep: 20 mins / cook: 30 mins / inactive: 0 mins / total: 50 mins / quantity: 4 wraps Print recipe?

These smoky, spicy, hearty vegan enchiladas are filled with spinach, lentils and tonnes of flavour! Then they're smothered with a super simple, tasty, spicy enchilada sauce! #enchiladas #veganrecipes #plantbased #veganenchiladas #lentils #spinach #mexicanfood #spicyfood #jalapenos #vegancheese | Recipe on thecookandhim.com
These smoky, spicy, hearty vegan enchiladas are filled with spinach, lentils and tonnes of flavour! Then they're smothered with a super simple, tasty, spicy enchilada sauce! #enchiladas #veganrecipes #plantbased #veganenchiladas #lentils #spinach #mexicanfood #spicyfood #jalapenos #vegancheese | Recipe on thecookandhim.com

These smoky, spicy, hearty vegan enchiladas are filled with spinach, lentils and tonnes of flavour! Then they’re smothered with a super simple, tasty, spicy enchilada sauce!

So these vegan enchiladas came about after watching a tv show where a big family were at the table eating enchiladas.  Gosh I’m missing the simple joy of sharing food with loved ones.  Handing dishes round the table, chatting with mouths full, raucous laughter and dogs nudging knees to get your attention.  How are you all doing without all of that?  The dogs still nudge knees and Phil and I still laugh and talk but spending most of every day together doesn’t leave that much new stuff for us to talk about!

I’ve also been making far too much of the sweet stuff lately and wanted to bring some spicy pizazz to our weeknight meals without there being too much faff.  Because above all else, dear reader, I want you to make the recipes I work so hard on getting just right.  I don’t want you to have to worry that it’s not going to work.  And when a little more normality returns, and we can go back to enjoying meal times with more than just the people in our household, I want you to be able to relax, make something easy and SO tasty that everyone will love.  We can high five each other later after the washing up’s done 😉

These smoky, spicy, hearty vegan enchiladas are filled with spinach, lentils and tonnes of flavour! Then they're smothered with a super simple, tasty, spicy enchilada sauce! #enchiladas #veganrecipes #plantbased #veganenchiladas #lentils #spinach #mexicanfood #spicyfood #jalapenos #vegancheese | Recipe on thecookandhim.com

How to make these easy Mexican enchiladas:

Start with the sauce.  And this is about as uncomplicated as sauce making can get.  Simply heat a little oil in a saucepan then stir in the flour.  This ‘roux’ is what gives the finished sauce a lovely thick, silky consistency.  Then whisk in the passata and spices and sauce done!

These smoky, spicy, hearty vegan enchiladas are filled with spinach, lentils and tonnes of flavour! Then they're smothered with a super simple, tasty, spicy enchilada sauce! #enchiladas #veganrecipes #plantbased #veganenchiladas #lentils #spinach #mexicanfood #spicyfood #jalapenos #vegancheese | Recipe on thecookandhim.com

Make the enchilada filling.  Sauté the onion, garlic and chili in a pan or wok until just softened then stir in the walnuts, cooked lentils and all the spices and seasonings.  Then wilt in the spinach.  If your pan isn’t very big wilt in the spinach in a couple of stages.

These smoky, spicy, hearty vegan enchiladas are filled with spinach, lentils and tonnes of flavour! Then they're smothered with a super simple, tasty, spicy enchilada sauce! #enchiladas #veganrecipes #plantbased #veganenchiladas #lentils #spinach #mexicanfood #spicyfood #jalapenos #vegancheese | Recipe on thecookandhim.com

Pour a little of the enchilada sauce in the bottom of your baking dish.  This stops the tortillas from sticking to the dish once baked.

Lay out your tortilla wraps.  You can use your favourite soft wraps – wholemeal seeded ones are just as good as plain old white ones for these enchiladas!

These smoky, spicy, hearty vegan enchiladas are filled with spinach, lentils and tonnes of flavour! Then they're smothered with a super simple, tasty, spicy enchilada sauce! #enchiladas #veganrecipes #plantbased #veganenchiladas #lentils #spinach #mexicanfood #spicyfood #jalapenos #vegancheese | Recipe on thecookandhim.com

Divide the filling between the tortillas.  Spoon it into the middle of each wrap then fold them up like a burrito so that the filling is completely enclosed in the wrap.  Lay them on top of the sauce in your dish seam side down.

Spoon over the remaining enchilada sauce.  Cover as much of the tortillas as you can with the sauce then sprinkle on some grated vegan cheese.  I use a combination of grated cheddar and shredded mozzarella for flavour and stringiness.  Is that even a word?!

Bake until bubbling hot.  This take around 25-30 minutes.  You can also make the wraps up to the cooking part and store in the fridge until you’re ready to cook.   The enchiladas also make great leftovers – simply reheat until piping hot!

Phil declared these his new favourite thing.  Which is great because these are SO easy to rustle up and can be varied so easily – swap the lentils for any cooked beans you have and sub the walnuts for pecans, cashews or pistachios.  The tomato enchilada sauce can also be batch made and frozen, making this an even quicker thing to put together for when the days of entertaining return once more.  Or just, you know, coz it’s Monday and you’re feeling spicy 😉

These smoky, spicy, hearty vegan enchiladas are filled with spinach, lentils and tonnes of flavour! Then they're smothered with a super simple, tasty, spicy enchilada sauce! #enchiladas #veganrecipes #plantbased #veganenchiladas #lentils #spinach #mexicanfood #spicyfood #jalapenos #vegancheese | Recipe on thecookandhim.com

Looking for more easy weeknight meals?  These are our thoroughly tried and tested favourites (all vegan too!) …

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese – on such regular rotation in our house, mostly because it’s been freezing and Phil nearly always offers to cook this!

Sticky Sausage and Vegetable Tray Bake – one pan, 30 minutes, dinner done.

Sesame Noodles and Veggies – light but filling and SO tasty.

Creamy Lemon and Basil Pasta – the sauce can also be made ahead for even speedier weeknight cooking!

I’d also love to hear from you if you make these spicy Vegan Enchiladas!  Just leave a comment as it’s so helpful and I love to hear how the recipe worked out for you! Thank you so much!

Don’t forget to follow us on YouTube, Facebook or Pinterest for even more recipe inspiration and chat, competitions, behind the scenes and so much more!

Vegan Enchiladas with Spinach and Lentils

prep: 20 mins / cook: 30 mins / inactive: 0 mins / total: 50 mins / quantity: 4 wraps

Ingredients

Enchilada Sauce:

  • 1+ 1/2 tblsp olive oil
  • 1 tblsp plain flour
  • 1 cup (250 ml) passata
  • 1 cup (250 ml) vegetable stock
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp chili powder
  • pinch each of salt and pepper

Enchilada Filling:

  • 1 onion – peeled and finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic – peeled and crushed
  • 1/2 fresh chili – finely diced
  • 1 cup (110g) walnuts – finely chopped or whizzed in a food processor
  • 1 + 1/4 cups (260g) cooked lentils (roughly one 400g can drained)
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • handful fresh parsley – finely chopped (sub with 2 tsp dried parsley)
  • 3 tblsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 tblsp liquid aminos, soy sauce or tamari
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • good pinch each of salt and pepper
  • 3 large handfuls fresh spinach

4 large soft tortilla wraps

Handful of grated vegan cheese – I use a combination of grated cheddar and shredded mozzarella

Instructions

  1. Start with the sauce - heat the oil in a saucepan then stir in the flour until it looks like wet sand
  2. Whisk in the passata then the remaining sauce ingredients. Set aside while you make the filling
  3. For the filling saute the onion, garlic and chili in a large pan or wok until just softened
  4. Stir in the chopped walnuts, cooked lentils, oregano, parsley, nutritional yeast, aminos, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper until well mixed
  5. Wilt in the spinach - do it in a couple of stages if your pan isn't very big then remove from the heat
  6. Preheat your oven to 180 Fan / 200 C / 400 F / Gas 6
  7. Spoon in a little of the sauce to cover the bottom of a baking dish
  8. Lay the wraps out flat and divide the enchilada filling between the wraps, placing it in the centre
  9. Fold up the wraps like a burrito so that the filling is completely enclosed then lay each one on top of the sauce in the baking dish so that the seam side of the wrap is on the bottom
  10. Spoon over the remaining sauce, covering the tortillas then bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbling hot!
  11. Serve immediately

Notes

  • Double (or more!) the sauce ingredients as it freezes well and makes an even quicker weeknight meal to throw together!
  • Both the sauce and the filling can be make in advance of constructing and cooking the enchiladas
  • The cooked enchiladas also make great leftovers - cool and chill then reheat until piping hot
Vegan Enchiladas with Spinach and Lentils

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Hello there!  I’m Sam, devoted dog mum to Nooch and Baxter and your go-to vegan foodie on a mission to make plant-based eating a delicious adventure!  Join me as I whip up mouthwatering recipes that celebrate FLAVOUR.  From cozy comfort foods to vibrant salads and decadent desserts, there’s something for everyone in my kitchen.

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