Spicy Mexican Red Lentils Recipe - easy vegetarian chili alternative! (2024)

April 15, 2016 by Denise 59 Comments

Jump to Recipe

This spicy Mexican red lentilsrecipe makes for a hearty, healthy meal. Spicy and comforting, this is the perfect vegetarian chili alternative.

You might also like thisvegetarian chili recipe!

Spicy Mexican Red Lentils Recipe - easy vegetarian chili alternative! (1)

I’ve been craving lentils for quite a while now. I know that seems like a weird thing to crave but I really, really like them. However sometimes they are hard on my stomach and so I haven’t had them for a long time. And you know when you can’t have something you want it more. Or is that just me?

Anyway I decided to give them a try again and OMG this was delicious! Even my hubby who doesn’t care for lentils thought it was really tasty. So if lentils are your friend, give this spicy Mexican red lentils recipe a try.

Spicy Mexican Red Lentils Recipe - easy vegetarian chili alternative! (2)

How Do You Cook Dry Red Lentils?

When using dry red lentils you always want to use 3 cups of liquid (water, broth, etc) to 1 cup of dry lentils. The lentils will absorb the liquid. Bring the lentils and water to a boil and then cover and reduce heat. Simmer until the lentils are tender which will usually take about 15 – 20 minutes if lentils are whole. Split lentils will take less time.

Spicy Mexican Red Lentils Recipe - easy vegetarian chili alternative! (3)

Are Lentils Healthy For You?

Lentils are a good source of plant protein and very popular in a vegetarian diet. They are an inexpensive food that can be used in a variety of ways. The nutrition of 1 cup of uncooked lentils red lentils:

22g protein
10g fiber
40mg calcium
6mg iron
60mg potassium

Difference Between Red Lentils And Brown Lentils

Red lentils tend to be mild and may become slightly mushy when cooked down so they are often used in soups and stews. Yellow lentils are similar to red lentils.

Brown lentils and green lentils hold their shape better than the red or yellow. They are milder in flavor but often used in veggie burgers, in salads or soups.To learn more check out this excellent lentils article in Cooking Light.

Spicy Mexican Red Lentils Recipe - easy vegetarian chili alternative! (4)

This Red Lentils Recipe Is Spicy!

Now let me tell you, this is spicy. Not necessarily hot spicy but rather spicy spicy. 😉 I like it this way, because then you can eat it with cool and creamy sour cream to counterbalance the spices. Yum!

It is super simple and only takes about 25 minutes. To me it tastes very much like a vegetarian chili. I’ve made turkey chili and veggie chili in the past but I like this dish the best.

Below are the ingredients I used which were: dried red lentils, onions, garlic, a can of diced tomatoes and a whole lotta spices.

Spicy Mexican Red Lentils Recipe - easy vegetarian chili alternative! (5)

Let’s Make SomeSpicy Mexican Lentils

This is very easy to make. Start by browning some onion in a soup pot with a little oil.

Spicy Mexican Red Lentils Recipe - easy vegetarian chili alternative! (6)

While that’s cooking rinse your lentils. Then when the onions start to brown add the red lentils along with the rest of the ingredients to the pot.

Spicy Mexican Red Lentils Recipe - easy vegetarian chili alternative! (7)

When the mixture starts to boil, turn it down so it’s simmering and cook for 10-15 minutes until the lentils are tender.

Spicy Mexican Red Lentils Recipe - easy vegetarian chili alternative! (8)

How To Eat This Vegetarian Chili

I like to eat this lentil dish as I would regular chili and that would be over rice or as is. If I eat it as is, I like to put a dollop of sour cream and a little cilantro on top. The sour cream balances the spiciness of this chili

I like to eat chili with rice but you can also mix in some macaroni noodles to have a vegetarian beef a roni type dish.

Spicy Mexican Red Lentils Recipe - easy vegetarian chili alternative! (9)

Well this was just a quick little post for you today. After the success of this dish, I had a slew of lentil recipes I wanted to try but unfortunately I’m going to have to pace myself. I ate this for lunch and dinner and it was a bit too much for my belly.

In the meantime I hope you give this a try because it was quite yummy. Enjoy!

The nutritional information for 1 serving is:
248 cals / 3.4g fat / 42.2g carbs / 9.4g fiber / 12.9g protein

Mexican Spice Red Lentils

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

This spicy Mexican red lentils dish is a hearty, healthy meal. Spicy and comforting, this is the perfect vegetarian chili alternative.

Ingredients

1 cup red lentils, uncooked (dry)
3 cups water
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 cup onions, chopped
14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
1 ½ teaspoons cumin
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
1 Tablespoon onion powder
1 Tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cayenne powder
1 teaspoon crushed garlic

Instructions

Add your olive oil and onions to a pot and cook until they are starting to brown.
In the meantime rinse your lentils and set aside.
When the onions start to brown, add the rest of the ingredients and bring to boil.
Once boiling, turn down the heat to a simmer.
Cook for 10-15 minutes or until lentils are tender.
Garnish with sour cream and cilantro if using.

More Recipes

Peanut Butter Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream
Slow Cooker Greek Chicken
Easy Banana Bread Keto Granola Recipe
Roasted Shredded Brussel Sprouts

for your weekly recipe fix.

Reader Interactions

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. You should always do your own calculations if you are concerned about the accuracy of this or any recipe. I use the Lose It app for all of my nutritional information because I have for years.

Comments

Shanda
August 24, 2020 at 11:38 am

Could you use green lentils ?
Reply
- Denise
  August 24, 2020 at 2:10 pm
  
  Hi Shanda, I have never done that and green lentils do have a different texture. You might have to cook them longer and they won’t get mushy. I found this out…
  “You can also use green lentils but they don’t turn “mushy” and hold their shape better. This may or may not be a desirable result depending on how you are using them.”
  https://www.gourmetsleuth.com/ingredients/detail/red-lentils
  Good luck!
  Reply
Val
April 19, 2020 at 5:43 pm

That was sooooo good! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Reply
- Denise
  April 20, 2020 at 6:40 am
  
  So glad you liked it Val.
  Reply
Marisa F. Stewart
August 23, 2019 at 6:47 am

Beautiful photos and I want to do I swan dive right into that bowl. I have two kinds of lentils in the pantry and I am going to use the red to make this chili. I love the spices you used in it. I’m now craving lentil chili.
Reply
Veena Azmanov
August 22, 2019 at 12:24 am
See Also
Easy Yorkshire Pudding Recipe with Onion Gravy Recipe Easy crispy vegan gluten-free chicken nuggets recipe - Munchyesta 30 Hearty and Comforting Vegan Soup Recipes Stuffed Butternut Squash Recipe

A treat to my vegetarian friends. Healthy and delicious.
Reply
- Denise
  August 22, 2019 at 3:10 pm
  
  It is tasty!
  Reply
Jolina
August 21, 2019 at 12:29 pm

We love lentils too. I think we have all the colours in our pantry right now lol! This looks hearty and comfy and definitely tasty!
Reply
- Denise
  August 22, 2019 at 3:11 pm
  
  That sounds lovely Jolina!
  Reply
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
August 21, 2019 at 8:56 am

Love cooking with lentils. This looks hearty and delicious. Perfect for making a big batch and putting some in the freezer too.
Reply
- Denise
  August 22, 2019 at 3:11 pm
  
  Great idea Gloria!
  Reply
Robyn Brooks
June 19, 2019 at 3:51 pm

So Yum! Next time I am going to throw some beans in there 🙂
Reply
- Denise
  June 19, 2019 at 4:47 pm
  
  Sounds like a fine idea!
  Reply
Don
May 20, 2019 at 4:24 pm

Been looking for a great easy lentil recipe.
I think I’ve found just that. Trying to go to a more plant based diet, not vegan but more plant based. Cooked up great, smells amazing, tastes even better. Might drain tomatoes next time or reduce water by half cup. Also might add grilled tilapia on top for and added flavor profile. Thanks for the great meal. 😄
Reply
- Denise
  May 21, 2019 at 6:17 am
  
  Hi Don, I like the idea of grilled tilapia with this. So glad you liked it!
  Reply
Adina
May 13, 2019 at 7:26 pm

Mine came out a little too watery, perhaps because i used fresh tomatoes. So I added some tomato paste and a little sriracha sauce and shredded Mexican cheese blend – enjoying!
Reply
- Denise
  May 14, 2019 at 6:31 am
  
  Hi Adina, sorry to hear yours didn’t work out quite right. I do think it was the fresh tomatoes but it sounds like you found a good fix! Thanks for sharing your tips.
  Reply
Emily
May 09, 2019 at 7:55 pm

This is so GOOD! I wanted to have a recipe for red lentils and saw this. I made it tonight and am so glad I did. It was so easy and quick. I definitely want to play around with adding more/different ingredients. Though, I need to get a bigger saucepan. LOL
Reply
- Denise
  May 10, 2019 at 7:09 am
  
  Hi Emily I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for coming back to comment….I really appreciate it!
  Reply
Smswim
April 12, 2019 at 1:30 pm

Can I substitute fresh tomatoes for the canned?
Reply
- Denise
  April 12, 2019 at 4:23 pm
  
  Sure. I don’t see how it would hurt.
  Reply
Anna
March 20, 2019 at 11:30 am

This sounds yummy! I would definitely make it again! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Reply
Olga
March 14, 2019 at 2:10 pm

Denise, bravo! What a great idea! Love this. I’m sure this is incredibly delicious!
Reply
See Also
Juicy Shredded Chicken Birria Tacos Recipe
Alyssa
March 14, 2019 at 6:39 am

Denise, thanks! This looks so simple to make, yet looking really satisfying and tasty!
Reply
Linda
February 28, 2019 at 9:21 pm

I used my home canned stewed tomatoes I’m trying to stay vegan so I was going to have it with avocado on top and give my husband sour cream too. Then I realized I can’t eat tomatoey stuff at nite. So I just put a little over some leftover rice to tone it down and put the avocado on top. It was delicious
Reply
- Denise
  March 01, 2019 at 7:26 am
  
  Hi Linda,
  Thanks for sharing your tips! That sounds really good. I haven’t had this dish in a while because lentils sometimes bother my stomach but the way your ate it sounds yummy! Glad you liked it!
  Reply
Olga
February 16, 2019 at 9:03 pm

This turned out to be delicious and so far my favorite lentil recipe! Thank you for sharing such a wonderful recipe!
Reply
- Denise
  February 17, 2019 at 6:36 pm
  
  Hi Olga, I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to come back and comment!
  Reply
Tiffany
February 15, 2019 at 12:56 pm

What makes this not Vegan?
Reply
- Denise
  February 16, 2019 at 7:33 am
  
  Hi Tiffany, I don’t know much about vegan cooking but I don’t see where it wouldn’t be vegan.
  Reply
- Samantha
  March 07, 2019 at 11:11 am
  
  It would only not be vegan if you chose to use sour cream. Love love love this recipe with a yummy cashew “sour cream” though!
  Reply
Cathy
January 30, 2019 at 11:24 pm

Hi there,
Do you know what size can of diced tomatoes you use?
Thank you!
Reply
- Denise
  January 31, 2019 at 6:41 am
  
  Hi Cathy,
  It’s a regular can of diced tomatoes….approximately 14.5 oz can. Good luck!
  Reply
Alexandra
January 08, 2019 at 2:05 am

Is this being made with canned lentils or with uncooked lentils? If I was going to make it with canned do I need all the water
Reply
- Denise
  January 09, 2019 at 10:46 am
  
  Hi Alexandra, I made this dish with dry lentils. If you use canned you will not need the water, I don’t think. I’ve never had canned lentils though so use your best judgment. But the water in this recipe is to cook the lentils. Hope that helps!
  Reply
Tif
July 26, 2018 at 8:40 pm

I just made this and it’s so good. You are right about spicy, but I like it. I definitely hunk next time I’ll add black beans and peppers and eat it with cauliflower rice. This will be a saved recipe thank you
Reply
- Denise
  July 28, 2018 at 6:58 am
  
  Hi Tif, glad you liked it and your ideas sound delicious! Let me know how it turns out!
  Reply
Lorene
July 16, 2018 at 6:22 pm

OMG! The best new recipe I have tried. Both my husband & I loved it & it was very filling. And I am not a huge fan of chili.
I used fire roasted tomatoes with garlic, and omitted the fresh garlic. Also threw in some black beans. I mixed the dry ingredients in a separate bowl, added 3/4 during the cooking process, & reserved the rest for sprinkling on top of individual potions.
Topped mine with Mexican cheese, raw onions, sour cream, reserved spices & avocado. My husband did the same, but swapped jalapeños for the onions. It’s a definite keeper!
Reply
- Denise
  July 17, 2018 at 7:51 am
  
  Hi Lorene,
  Thanks for stopping back and giving my readers your tips. Your toppings sound awesome! I’ll be sure to try that next time. So glad you enjoyed it!
  Reply
Mary Sosa
June 05, 2018 at 8:22 am

Loved it! My son is vegetarian and wanted reds lentils for lunch this week. I truthfully don’t eat lentils but made the recipe for his lunch this week. Wow! I was so good I’m actually going to make this at home. Great recipe! I think I am going to be eating red lentils 🐸
Reply
- Denise
  June 05, 2018 at 9:26 am
  
  So glad you liked them Mary! Lentils are good and so filling. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
  Reply
Sherry
May 03, 2018 at 7:39 pm

Oh wow! I just stumbled on this recipe and WOW! I am in love with this recipe. I made it as directed but sautéed onions in veggie broth. Added multi color peppers and some diced carrots. Mixed black beans after it was done cooking. Nice spice. Def a keeper. Thank you!
Reply
- Denise
  May 04, 2018 at 6:49 am
  
  Hi Sherry,
  So glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to comment and for sharing your version. I think my readers always like to hear how other people made it.
  Have a great weekend!
  Denise
  Reply
Ash
April 27, 2018 at 9:07 pm

Recently went vegan and this is AMAZING! I added a 1/4 tsp of ground coriander and did a full tsp of cayanne sooo good!
Reply
- Denise
  April 28, 2018 at 6:19 am
  
  Hi Ashlyn, that sounds great! I’ll have to try it that way next time. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
  Reply
Tab
April 17, 2018 at 1:26 pm

Can I replace diced tomatoes to fire roasted tomatoes for extra flavor?
Reply
- Denise
  April 19, 2018 at 11:53 am
  
  Sure! Let me know how it turns out!
  Reply
Rebecca
March 09, 2018 at 11:31 pm

Is a serving a cup?
Reply
- Denise
  March 10, 2018 at 9:25 am
  
  Hi Rebecca,
  This is an older post and I couldn’t remember what the serving size was. So I remade it this morning and it is a 1 cup serving.
  Hope that helps!
  Reply
Cindy
January 05, 2018 at 8:51 pm

What about this in an instant pot? How long?
Reply
- Denise
  January 06, 2018 at 5:26 pm
  
  Hi Cindy, I’m not sure. Red lentils tend to cook very easily and might get too mushy in the pressure cooker. I would venture 5 – 7 minutes but I have not tried it to be honest. Good luck!
  Reply
Maurice
October 20, 2017 at 9:33 am

I put all the ingredients in my rice cooker and let it do all the work. And for a little extra heat, I use a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies. This is an excellent recipe and a good go-to during the week. 🙂
Reply
- Denise
  October 22, 2017 at 4:51 pm
  
  What a great idea! Thanks for sharing Maurice!
  Reply
Emma
July 31, 2017 at 1:10 pm

Can I make it in the slow cooker
Reply
- Denise
  August 01, 2017 at 7:19 am
  
  Hi Emma, I don’t see why not but I have never tried it. I just wouldn’t know how long to cook it for. But my gut instinct would be to say yes. Please let me know if you do and the results. I’d love to hear about it!
  Reply
Abe Munder
August 09, 2016 at 3:45 pm

One of our faves! It’s in our regular rotation. Right now for health reasons I’m following some pretty strict calorie restriction, and being able to enjoy a full bowl (260 calories) of this yesterday was such a godsend. Thanks!
Reply
- Denise
  August 09, 2016 at 8:09 pm
  
  Thanks for the wonderful comment! You made my day. I’m glad you liked it as much as I did.
  Reply
Caroline
April 15, 2016 at 8:07 pm

These look really tasty – I love lentils now and then myself but I’d more often have dahl or similar so this is a nice alternative.
Reply
Kristen
April 15, 2016 at 8:13 am

Oh Denise, I love lentils myself and this dish is the perfect thing for me to make and eat on for lunch during the week. YUM!
Reply

Spicy Mexican Red Lentils Recipe - easy vegetarian chili alternative! (2024)

FAQs

What's a substitute for red lentils? ›

yellow lentils (an almost perfect substitute)
brown lentils (a pretty acceptable substitute)
yellow split peas (an okay substitute)
mung beans (these MIGHT be as high as number 2)
green split peas (increase the spice quantity if you use these)

Jun 19, 2013

Can I substitute beans for lentils? ›

Can I use another dried bean, like navy beans, instead of lentils? Technically, yes. For navy beans, I would recommend an overnight soak in water before cooking. Your cooking time on the stove will be around an hour to an hour and a half.

Get More Info ›

How to make and eat lentils? ›

To prepare lentils, first rinse them in a strainer. Next, place one cup of lentils in a large pot with 2½ cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain well.

What do lentils do to your body? ›

Lentils have plenty of folate, iron and vitamin B1, which also support your heart health. Lentils may be associated with a lower risk of heart disease, by lowering bad cholesterol and blood pressure. One study found that eating lentils led to greater reductions in blood pressure than eating chickpeas, peas or beans.