Catfish Out of Water

I am constantly on the go. We all know what that is like sometimes! Particularly this year between work and pets and life and a global pandemic? We all sometimes barely have time to eat. And it can be easy to grab an unhealthy snack or fast food on the run. But it's easier to refrain from falling into these habits when you have quick and easy go to meals! This lentil and habanero burrito recipe is perfect for a delicious meal on the go

Having food to toss together is essential. A lot of the time lunch for me is the meal that falls by the wayside. I need something that's quick and easy for lunch that I can preferably eat while running off!

And burritos are great for that. They take about 15 minutes to make. You can utilize any number of leftovers or pre-made grains or legumes. Plus you can make it a little fancy by grilling the tortilla on the skillet. Add a little dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt and some hot sauce? There truly is nothing better! I lived the majority of my summer this year making lentil burrito after quinoa burrito after rice and beans burrito. There truly is nothing better!

Gallery

Variations of Quinoa & Habanero Burrito

I absolutely adore a good quinoa and habanero burrito. It might not be the most traditional of burrito ingredients. And I do make quite a few rice burritos. But lentils are a great alternative! The heartiness of quinoa is quite similar to rice and pairs perfectly with Mexican and Latin American inspired dishes. Especially since quinoa did originate in Latin America and is a staple in many dishes of the area.

Burrito w/ Fried Tofu & Sweet Potato Quinoa

Burrito w/ Sweet Potato Quinoa & Black Beans

Burrito w/ Quinoa, Calabaza Squash, & Tofu

Burrito w/ Sweet Potato & Habanero Quinoa

This lentil burrito recipe is quick and easy to throw together on the run. Deliciously packed with lentils, sweet potatoes, and habaneros, it's the perfect meal in a hurry or when you just want something delicious without having to put too much effort into it! It's also one of my favorite things to make for lunch.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Latin American, Mexican

Servings 4 cups

Equipment

• Skillet w/ Lid (Preferably Cast Iron)
• Stovetop

Ingredients

  

Sweet Potato Quinoa

• 4 cloves roasted garlic (or 2 cloves unroasted garlic)
• 1 sweet potato diced
• 5 yellow tomatoes quartered
• 1/2 shallot minced
• 2 habaneros minced
• dash salt
• dash pepper
• 1/4 tsp. cumin
• 1/4 tsp. coriander
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. mustard
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne
• 2 tsp. olive oil
• c. royal quinoa
• 4 c. water

Burrito

• 1/3 c. sweet potato quinoa
• 1 tortilla shell
• splash water
• dollop greek yogurt (optional, omit or substitute for vegan recipe)
• dollop enchilada sauce (optional)

Instructions

 

Prepare Ingredients

• Cook Sweet Potato Quinoa. This takes less than an hour and requires a rice cooker or stove. You can also easily create a different flavor profile or utilize the produce that you have on hand. I almost always keep a batch of quinoa in the fridge for exactly this purpose. I used sweet potatoes, habaneros, shallots, roasted garlic, and royal quinoa for this recipe today.
• The hot sauces that I've used for this recipe aren't actually hot sauce. They're enchilada sauces, one made out of Red Chilis and Jalapeños and one made out of Ghost Peppers. Each recipe takes less than an hour and requires an air fryer and a large pot on the stove. They mostly utilize peppers, tomatoes, onions, and garlic.

Cook Tortilla

• Preheat the pan on medium-high. If you aren't using cast iron, make sure to lightly oil the pan to prevent sticking.
• Wet both sides of the tortilla and add to the preheated pan. Cook for 4-6 minutes, or until the bottom begins to brown.
• Remove the tortilla from heat and turn the stove off. Add toppings and fold the burrito.
• Turn the stove back up to medium and add the tortilla to the skillet immediately, before it preheats. Cook for about 4 minutes, or until the bottom begins to brown. Rotate until all sides are cooked.

  The first side will likely take longer to cook than the subsequent sides, which may toast in as little as 2 minutes. Adjust the temperature if it's cooking too quickly and burning or too slowly and cracking.
• Top with Greek yogurt and hot sauce of choice. I like to use Greek yogurt because it's oftentimes healthier than sour cream and pairs well with the nutty flavor of the quinoa. Omit or substitute with a vegan alternative for an entirely animal-product free recipe.
• Serve immediately. You can reheat burritos by lightly wetting them and reheating, but they are never quite the same as they are fresh!

Tips, Tricks, & Notes

• For a more in-depth article on burritos, check out my article on The Fundamentals of Making Burritos. I highly suggest using cast iron and there is precise temperature that works best for cooking at that may vary slightly depending on your stovetop and type of skillet. If you're having trouble rolling the burrito without cracking, there are solutions for this as well!