Vegan Taco Lettuce Boats

The one thing I love the most when it comes to dinner, is a quick and simple meal.

Seeing how my little one is sick... I needed to make a filling, easy meal yet again!

So bare with me... my picture is absolutely terrible -I know- but making a dinner while pleasing a sick child is some work!

This took little to no time at all, and had a great end result. 

Seriously, the longest thing that took place was me trying to snap a picture whilst drooling from starvation and sadly ending up in utter defeat. You can forgive me, right?

Any who. Here's that terrible picture I speak of, and the recipe is down below!

Ingredients:

Romaine Lettuce (around 8 leaves)
1 Roma tomato -sliced
1 Lime -wedged
1 Avocado -prepped to your pleasing
1/4 White onion -diced
1 Tbsp cilantro -chopped
1 40oz can of pinto beans
Your favorite taco seasonings (my homemade taco seasoning is below)
1/3 cup quinoa
Tahini sauce (to drizzle)
water as needed

Taco Seasonings: 

1 Tbsp. Chili Powder1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder1/4 tsp. Onion Powder1/4 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes1/4 tsp. Dried Oregano1/2 tsp. Paprika1 1/2 tsp. Ground Cumin1 tsp. Sea Salt1 tsp. Black Pepper (optional)

Directions:

1. Drain and rinse your pinto beans, then place in a medium pot over med/high heat with around 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil, and stir constantly. Once most of the liquid is gone, lower to a simmer and stir and mash. When mashed to your liking, turn off and set aside. (you may add salt, pepper and garlic powder when first placed in pot, but I find that there is already a lot of flavor in this dish, so it's not necessary)

2. In a small pot place your quinoa and water and cook following the directions on your package. When the quinoa is finished cooking, add your taco seasonings and 1 tbsp at a time of water until well combined.

3. While your quinoa and beans are cooking, prep your veggies. (I like to have it "buffet style" so you can pick and choose how much of what you want on your lettuce boat. Typically all of it is in the same bowl -no need for fanciness here!-)

4. Assemble your lettuce boats! I typically start with the smashed beans, then the quinoa and then whatever veggies you would like. The finishing touch is a light drizzle of tahini straight from the jar and it just adds a creaminess that these beg for! Squeeze a lime over and enjoy!

For my family this made enough for my husband to have 3 of these, I had 2, our son had about 1/2 of one and we have enough for my husband's lunch tomorrow! *score!*.