Lentil Patties, Step by Step

One of my favorite things to do with lentils is lentil patties. They are cheap, easy, and the kids even eat them! What more could you ask for. They aren't my fastest meal (there are a few steps and it takes time between each step), but they freeze very well. Make a big batch, and then in the future you can just pull out 1 or 2 for a quick meal.

Take one cup of lentils, rinse them well and change the water a couple of times. Put them in a pot with fresh water, boil, and then simmer for about 20 - 30 minutes. You want them cooked, but not lentil soup. Finding the right water / flame combination to get them soft enough without burning the bottom or winding up with lentil soup takes a bit of practice. I use about 2x the water as dried lentils, and sometimes have to add a bit more. Don't forget they expand a lot! Use a big pot.

Dry, one cup


Yum... cooking away


Cooling


When they are done it will be a thick mixture that looks like it might have been pureed. Dump it out of the pot and into a container, and let cool.

Once cool (it should only take about 20 minutes), add 2 eggs & half a cup of breadcrumbs. Add whatever seasonings you like in ground beef (I use soy sauce, ketchup and garlic powder). Stir it all around and make sure it's mixed well. It should be fairly thick.

Form patties and place on cookie sheet. They tend to stick, so I use baking paper. You can also use a bit of oil. Bake on 350F / 180C for about 15 minutes until they are slightly browned on top. Remove from oven and cool on a rack. Enjoy!