Lentils are an essential food in our diets, since they are rich in vegetable proteins and carbohydrates that provide us with energy, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C and E, minerals, folic acid, fiber and antioxidants. The intake of legumes in our diet should be 3 days a week and we do not always comply with this recommendation. Nowadays, cooking has come a long way and there are many less traditional ways to consume legumes. One of those great ways is in a hamburger format, and this time, we have opted for these healthy vegan lentil burgers. They are very easy to make, you need few ingredients and you can also freeze them and always have them in the freezer to prepare quick and nutritious meals.
Stay with us to find out how to make lentil burgers and discover a simple trick to make the recipe even healthier.
Ingredients to make Vegan Lentil Burgers:
- 200 grams of cooked lentils
- 1 onion
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tablespoons of concentrated tomato puree
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 pinch of black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 tablespoons whole meal flour or breadcrumbs
- 1 carrot (optional)
- 1 stick of celery (optional)
How to make Vegan Lentil Burgers:
1.Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. If you decide to add celery and carrots to the ingredient list for your lentil burgers, chop those up as well.
2.Heat the tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan and, when hot, add the onion and minced garlic and sauté both ingredients, stirring from time to time. In case of using celery and carrot, add them too.
3.Rinse the lentils if they are already cooked. Let them drain and place them in a bowl together with the poached onion and garlic (also the celery and carrot if you have included them), the two tablespoons of tomato paste, the cumin and a little salt and pepper. Mix well.
You can make your own tomato puree by mashing and cooking 2-3 tomatoes.
Trick: We have used already cooked brown lentils, which are smaller and it is not necessary to grind the mixture. If you use another type of lentils, then we recommend you crush everything.
4.Gradually incorporate the whole wheat flour, since you may not need all of it or you may even need to add a little more. Make sure that you have slightly sticky dough, but that the lentil burgers can be formed. Do not exceed much in the amount of flour so that you do not have dry hamburgers. Mix well.
Tip: You can use a gluten-free flour to make it suitable for coeliac. Also, you can use breadcrumbs.
5.Form the lentil and vegetable patties with your hands. You can also help yourself with a plating ring by putting a portion of dough inside, flattening it well with a spoon and carefully removing the ring. When you have them, you can cook the vegan lentil burgers in two ways: in a pan or in the oven. For the first option, heat a little oil in a pan and cook them on both sides until they are golden (don’t use too much oil, as if you were grilling them). To make the baked lentil burgers, place them on a tray lined with parchment paper and cook at 200ºC (with the oven already hot), with heat up and down, for 15 minutes or until you see that they have compacted. Don’t overdo them so they don’t dry out.
6.And now you have the vegan lentil burgers ready! Whether you have cooked them on the grill or in the oven, this recipe for lentil burgers is healthy, easy and delicious. Plus, it’s loaded with nutrients, making it great for kids. You can serve them as they are, accompanied by a salad or put them on the typical hamburger bun with the typical filling. It’s up to you.
