Lentil Avocado Quesadillas

I made these quesadillas by happenstance while trying to use up some extra Lentil Walnut Taco “Meat” from our Lentil Walnut Tacos and  and they are too good not to share here!

They’re simple, flavorful and so satisfying.

And they come together quickly or can be made partially ahead, making them perfect on busy weekdays for a simple, satisfying lunch or dinner!

Let’s take a closer look.  It’s..

• a nutrient dense, seasoned lentil walnut mix
• creamy avocado, and
• your favorite melty cheese
• sandwiched between your favorite gluten-free tortillas and cooked to crispy perfection!
• topped with tomato salsa, optional but recommended!

Back Story…

These came about because I had leftover lentil walnut taco “meat” from our Lentil Walnut Tacos.

My husband and I love adding the extra lentil walnut “meat” to our lunch salad, but one day I was particularly hungry and craving a quesadilla, so I made these quesadillas using the leftover lentil walnut taco meat, added some Monterrey jack cheese, avocado and these were created!

Topped with a little salsa it was the most flavorful, nourishing and satisfying meal!

This was also an example of how we embrace the “cook once, eat twice or more” mentality in our day to day life. We love making dishes that leave us some leftover ingredients that can be repurposed into another meal!

So let’s make these quesadilla…

There is a cooking video on this page so you can see how easy it is to make these quesadillas.

As with all my recipes, there is a printable recipe on the bottom of the page with exact measurements and directions.

All you need is:

Seasoned Lentil Walnut Mix (details below)

Monterrey Jack Cheese (or your favorite dairy-free cheese)

Avocado

Tomato Salsa (pre-made or homemade – best recipe below!)

Let’s take a closer look at the Lentil Walnut Mix…

The lentil walnut filling is essentially like a vegan taco “meat”.

It is essentially two ingredients (lentils and walnuts) + some spices mixed up in the food processor.

Together, the walnuts mixed with the lentils give it a “meaty” feel which will be loved by omnivores and vegetarians

us it is nutrient dense and so delicious!

All you need:

Cooked french lentils

walnuts

cumin

oregano,

chili powder

onion powder

and salt.

All you do is pulse it all together in a food processor!

Pro tip: if you love lentil and want a meatier feel, we reserve some of the lentils to stir in after so they are whole and not pulse.

And this lentil walnut mix is perfect for meal prep! You can make the lentils ahead or the entire mix ahead and it stays well in the refrigerator for several days.

Recipe for the Lentil Walnut filling is from my friend Corey at The Vegan Six.

I get so many simple and delicious plant based ideas from Corey and I’m super excited that Corey let me share her lentil taco filling recipe with you.  If you’re looking for more whole foods, plant-based recipes (mostly gluten free or easily adapted), definitely check out Corey!

NOTE to Celiac Friends about Lentils: Gluten-Free Watchdog has recently done more testing on lentils and cross contamination continues to be a potential issue.  So WASH LENTILS BEFORE COOKING and pick through them or errant wheat and barley.  For more, click here for the Gluten-Free Watchdog post.

We are often asked about our gluten-free tortillas…

There are lots of gluten-free tortillas on the market. We have tried many of them!

My son and I hands down love Siete Foods Almond Flour Tortillas. (close second their chickpea and their cashew tortillas). They work well for wraps and quesadillas, holding together well and getting nice and crispy! They are also grain-free and we love the flavor — not gritty or grainy.

My husband likes Siete Foods and Mission gluten-free.

Once you have all your ingredients, it’s time to make the quesadillas…

Lightly oil an pan, place down one tortilla and let cook for a minute or two until is starts to bubble and change color. This will help make sure it gets crispy.

Top with cheese first, then the lentil walnut mix and then avocado.

Top with a second tortilla. Lightly brush the second tortilla with oil, then carefully flip the quesadilla. I like to use a spatula and gently hold the top of the quesadilla with my other hand when flipping.

The melting cheese will help it stay together as you flip it!

For serving, we love topping it with a tomato salsa.

The salsa isn’t necessary but I think it adds the best finishing touch!

You can use a pre-made salsa as I did here. I used one I had picked up at the farmer’s market.

Or you can make your own salsa.

On the printable recipe, I’ll add our favorite salsa recipe from reprinted with permission from Clean Monday Meals.  We think it’s as good as any salsa we’ve ordered out! So delicious!

No matter what kind of salsa you use, the meal comes together in minutes and is super fresh tasting, nourishing and so delicious!

I hope you love them as much as we do!

Scroll down for recipe and leave a comment if you make it.