Falafel is a kind of croquette originating in the Middle East, whose consumption has spread throughout the world, being one of the most famous vegetarian dishes. Traditionally, it is made from chickpeas, but there are other versions, for example, with broad beans, beans or this one with lentils that I share to make a delicious lentil falafel you need very few ingredients and its preparation is very simple. It is very important to soak the legumes well, since they are used without prior cooking, only by grinding them with the rest of the components. For this lentil falafel to have the same traditional touch as the chickpea falafel, don’t forget to add a good amount of coriander, cumin and garlic.
This is a filling and protein-rich dish of vegetable origin, which can be served as a starter or as part of a main course. You can accompany this lentil falafel with a delicious yogurt sauce, hummus or tahini sauce and serve it in pita bread or on the plate with a salad. In any case, read on to find out how to make lentil falafel.
Ingredients to make Lentil Falafel:
- 300 grams of lentils
- 1 onion
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 1 bunch of parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin grain
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 pinch of pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- For the yogurt sauce
- 1 plain soy yogurt
- 1 splash of soy sauce
- 1 garlic clove crushed
- 1 teaspoon dill
- 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 pinch of salt
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How to make Lentil Falafel:
1.Soak the lentils the night before. Prepare the other ingredients to cook the lentil falafel faster.
2.Drain the lentils well with the help of a strainer, trying to remove as much water as possible.
3.Once completely drained, place the lentils in the blender jar.
4.Grind the lentils into a thick paste and place in a bowl. If you don’t have a blender, you can use a blender, electric hand mixer, or mortar to mash them manually.
5.On the other hand, crush the chopped onion, garlic and cilantro, also in the blender if possible.
6.Mix the crushed vegetables with the lentils to continue making the vegan falafel dough.
7.Add the cumin powder and grains, salt, pepper and yeast. Mix well so that all the ingredients of the lentil falafel recipe are integrated.
8.Take small portions of dough with your hands and form some balls.
9.Heat a pan with plenty of oil and fry each lentil falafel until golden brown. Remove the balls from the pan with a slotted spoon and place them on kitchen paper to remove excess oil.
10.To prepare the sauce, blend the yogurt with all the other ingredients until you get a homogeneous mixture.
11.As an option, serve the lentil falafel with a salad and yogurt sauce. Without a doubt, an exquisite vegan recipe. Remember that it can also be accompanied with pita bread.
We have prepared the fried lentil falafel recipe, but it can also be cooked in the oven, thus reducing the amount of oil and, therefore, calories. To do this, you just have to follow these steps:
- Place the balls on a baking tray previously greased or lined with baking paper.
- Add a splash of oil on top and bake in a preheated oven at 150ºC for approximately 20 minutes.
