Hi guys! Hope you all are having a great day. Today I have a yummy and very easy recipe to share. Lentil burgers! 🙂
They are one of my favourite things to cook! First, because they are so easy to make and second because I can always cut up some potatoes, season them well, bake them until golden brown and I get to eat burgers and fries, ha!
This recipe is 100% oil and flour-free and super healthy for you. Lentils are an amazing source of protein. They boost your energy, decrease your risk for heart disease, regulate blood sugar levels, and they are very cheap!
Now, I am not into exact measurements (because I eyeball everything I cook) so I will describe generally the ingredients I use and how I prepare them so you can get an idea. I am confident you will not have any issues. You can add your own favourite seasonings.
Let’s start! 😀
Ingredients:
Lentils.
Oat flour (just add regular oats to your food processor or blender) and just process them for a few minutes until they look like flour).
Finely chopped onion.
Chopped pimento peppers (finely too).
Bell peppers. (also chopped small)
Salt.
Black pepper.
Red chili flakes or cayenne pepper (optional if you are not into hot/spicy food).
Flax seeds (optional).
BBQ sauce (optional).
Homemade Ketchup (optional).
Mustard (optional).
Water.
PREPARATION
The first thing you need to do is rinse your lentils and clean them well. I usually buy it in a pack and I ALWAYS find a pebble or two, so this process is very important. Always ensure to clean them well.
The quantity depends on how many burgers you’re making. If it is just for yourself and it is your first time making them, just take a handful of dry lentils. After cleaning them well, add some water to cover them completely and let them cook. You want the lentils to be extremely soft (so don’t be afraid to let them cook for a long while if necessary).
After they are done, rinse them completely and place the cooked lentils in a bowl. Take a masher (the one you use for mashed potatoes) and start mashing them. You just want some of the lentils to be mushy but at the same time you don’t want all of them to be that way, you still want the great texture of those lentils. So just mash them a little bit.
Then, add the finely chopped onion, pimento, bell peppers , season with salt and black pepper, red pepper chili flakes or cayenne pepper (if you like things very spicy, optional) and a little bit of flax seeds (a couple of tablespoons)(optional). Mix everything thoroughly.
Add a little bit of BBQ sauce, a little homemade ketchup and a bit of mustard. Mix everything well. You want the mixture to be wet and well-seasoned, not dry so taste and adjust according to that.
Using your hands, try to mix everything to ensure all the lentils have all the seasonings, onions, etc.
Now take your oat flour and add it to the lentil mixture a bit at the time and mix everything with your hand. The oat flour is your binding agent since this is a Vegan burger you will not be using any eggs. So the amount of oat flour depends on how much lentils you have.
The key is to put a little bit at the time and mix with your hands. You know you put enough, when you can actually make a ball with the lentil mixture without the mixture falling apart.
Take a non-stick pan and let it heat for a few minutes on medium heat. Shape the patties with your hands very carefully, the thickish the better and do not disturb them at all for a few minutes while they are cooking or they will fall apart.
Make sure the heat is on medium-low. If you feel the pan is drying them a lot and they might stick, just sprinkle a couple of teaspoons of water in the pan.
If you observe that the edges are getting very brown, take a spatula and very carefully peek to see if they are getting nice and crusty. That’s what you want! You see, a good crust on a lentil burger is KEY for the success of the recipe and flavour!
Once you see that it formed a super nice crust, very carefully turn them over. If you have issues, just try to cook one or two at the same time instead of trying to be a hero. Lol
Now, some people like their lentil burgers thick…I rather them very thin and crispy because I do not like the sensation of the soft lentils inside.
So this is what I do: When I flip them, I take the spatula and very carefully (on the crispy side and while they are cooking) I flat them out until they are as thin as I want them to be.
Let them cook undisturbed until they are super brown and flip them over several times until they reach the colour and consistency I want.
And that’s about it! 🙂
Hope you enjoy the recipe of today and please do not forget to follow me on Instagram, Twitter and subscribe to my YouTube channel (help me reach 100 subscribers!).
Happy eating. 😉
