Mexican Lentil Bake, fantastic as part of a main meal or to pop into a lunch box.
When Rory first started solids I developed a lot of recipes that made doing BLW (baby led weaning) easier when out and about. Although he ate what we ate at home, I often found it difficult to find something to order for him when we were at a restaurant. I wanted healthy, finger foods that limited mess and that would taste great hot or cold. Fast forward a couple of years and I am now revisiting all these recipes again but this time for packing into Finn’s school lunch box.
One recipe that I like to make a lot is my curried lentil bake. I like it because I can make it and serve it with a salad / vegetables in the evening and then pack the left overs in the pack lunch box. I recently received a comment from a reader (Hi Amanda, if you are reading) who had said that she loves lentil bakes and would like to see some more variations on the blog. She suggested a Mexican version and a Kale and Mushroom version. I loved the sound of a Mexican Lentil Bake so here it is!
I kept the base recipe the same but replaced the curry powder with smoked paprika, cumin, oregano and fresh corriander (cilantro). Instead of the carrot I added red pepper and replaced the potato with kidney beans.
Mexican Lentil Bake
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 red onion (finely chopped)
- 1 celery stalk (finely chopped)
- 1 garlic clove (minced)
- 1 red bell pepper (finely chopped)
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 cups stock
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup red split lentils
- 1 410g can kidney beans (drained)
- 3 eggs (lightly beaten)
- 1/3 Packed Cup 40g grated cheddar cheese
- 1 tbsp chopped coriander (cilantro)
Instructions
- Pre heat oven to 180C/350F/Gas4
- Heat oil in pan over a medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, celery and pepper then reduce the heat to low and cook for approx. 10 mins (until softened.)
- Add the smoked paprika, cumin and oregano and cook for a further minute
Add the lentils, puree and stock, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low. Allow to simmer until cooked (lentils soft and stock absorbed) (approx. 20 mins)
- Once lentils are cooked, allow to cool slightly then add the kidney beans, eggs, cheese and corriander. Stir until combined.
- Place the mixture in a greased, ovenproof dish (mine was 10" x 7.5")
- Bake in the oven for 30-40 mins or until set and golden (mine took 35 mins) but timings will vary with ovens.
- Slice and serve.
Thank you so much for your recipes! I’ve made lots of them- they are great for making in advance and freezing for easy packed lunches for daycare. Please keep blogging! xo
Hi Meredith, messages like this mean so much to me. Thanks for taking the time to tell me and I hope you keep enjoying the recipes!
Great recipe Amy! I’m planning on making this as I love using lentils in almost everything ?
Thanks Marta! Enjoy xx
Ahhh just went to make this but don’t see where to add the tomato paste in? And is it cheddar cheese you use?
Hi Danielle, sorry. I have updated the recipe now. It is cheddar cheese and you put the paste in with the lentils and stock. Enjoy!
I love it! Can’t wait to try it out!
Enjoy!!!
Fantastic recipe! My little one loves this just as much as the curry lentil bake. Love the fact I can make big batch up and put it in the freezer until I need a slice.
Brilliant!! Thank you! I pop it in the freezer too and add it to my son’s lunch box!
Hi! I am loving your recipes but was wondering if I can leave out the cheese since we are allergic? Thank you!!
Hi Anna, Thank you! I’d say this would still work well without the cheese. I’ve not tried so can’t say for sure though.
The recipe sounds tasty. I was just wondering what kind of lentils you use (green, red), and if I should cook them first.
Thank you!
Hi Yavvie,
I used red split lentils – I have updated the recipe now – thanks for pointing that out to me.
There is no need to pre cook.
Hope you enjoy,
Amy
Can any type of lentils be used? I have a trio of green, brown and black.
Hi Viki, I’m not sure how other lentils will work to be honest. I have only tried it with the red split lentils. As other lentils hold their shape more when cooked I have a feeling it wouldn’t work as well.
I noticed you used chia “eggs” for the your chickpea sticks. Any idea how chia eggs would work in this recipe (or any other egg sub)?
Hi Destiny, I have never tried chia egg in this recipe. A reader used chia egg in my curried lentil bake and said that it didn’t hold up as nicely as in my pictures but it held together well when cold.
Love your recipes. Wish I could make them but most contain egg which my daughter can’t eat. Could you recommend an alternative I could use instead of egg?
Hi Sorrell, I love this chart https://www.vivahealth.org.uk/resources/vegan-egg-replacers-wallchart for egg replacement ideas. I would also add to the list a chia egg. A few people have tried a chia egg in this recipe but it didn’t firm up as much as it does with the egg. They still enjoyed it though. Without experimenting myself I can’t say what would work best in this recipe, sorry.
Thanks Amy! Am thinking this would be a great main dish to serve with a salad. Looking forward to trying it.
Thanks Kay, it would go great with salad! Enjoy 🙂
This is so tasty! My husband and I love it and it is hearty and filling. Thanks for the recipe!
Brilliant, so happy you and your husband loved it! Thanks for taking the time to rate and give feedback 🙂
Can you freeze these and defrost for lunches etc?
Yes, I pop them in my son’s lunch box straight from the freezer and they are defrosted by lunch (we are in Australia)
Hiya! I made this tonight, followed the recipe, however I baked it in a pan lined with baking paper. It has set on top but turned out super soft and slightly mushy. Very moist still and it was in the over for nearly 50 minutes. Could this be because of the pan and baking paper or was the lentil mixture likely too wet when I added the ingredients and poured into pan?
Hi Sandra, Sorry you didn’t have much success with the recipe, did your mixture seem very wet when you poured it into the pan? If you have a look at my curried version of this lentil bake you can get a better idea of what the mixture looked like before I baked it, I also have a video so you can see the steps better. It is a similar base recipe to this Mexican Lentil bake. https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/curried-lentil-bake/
EXCELLENT! My little one loves it. Lentils are also an excellent source of fiber, so when my little one needs a little help to ‘get things moving’, a square of this does the trick!
Thank you, Gillian! I’m glad your little one likes it (and that it helps her out from time to time!)
I only have black beans. Should work, right?
Hi Dani, to replace the kidney beans? Yes that should work, enjoy 🙂
It worked perfectly and we all enjoyed! This will definitely be a staple in our meal rotation. Thank you!