Fry

Lentil Meatballs with No Meat and a Surprise Center

by:
December 27, 2010
0
0 Ratings
  • Serves a crowd
Author Notes

I love lentil salads and soups. There are so many great recipes for salads and soups that I thought that I would parse the ingredients that make up these recipes and put them back together in a new presentation . —dymnyno

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 pound green lentils
  • 2 tablespoons finely minced garlic
  • 4 tablespoons finely minced cilantro
  • 1 + teaspoon cumin (to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon zest
  • 1 eggs, lightly beaten
  • feta cheese(about 1/2 tsp for each fritter)
  • 4 tablespoons panko/bread crumbs
  • olive oil
  • Greek yoghurt
Directions
  1. Rinse and check the lentils for foreign objects (like rocks!).
  2. Cook in enough water to cover the lentils by about an inch. Cook until very tender. 30 min to an hour depending on age of lentils, etc. Watch them carefully.
  3. Cook until very dry, stir with a wooden spoon.
  4. Mash completely with a wooden spoon. Don't make a smooth paste...you should see some whole lentils in the mix.
  5. Add the egg, garlic, cilantro, cumin, zest, and panko. Mix completely, taste , and add more cumin if needed.
  6. Form the "dough" into golf ball sized fritters. As you are forming the fritters, put a piece of feta (about 1/2 tsp) into each and form the fritter around the cheese center.
  7. Roll the fritters into panko that is in a dish or flat surfact and coat the entire fritter.
  8. Fry the fritters in olive oil that is about 1/2 inch deep. I use a high sided pan to minimize splatter of oil. Fry the fritters until all sides are golden browned.
  9. Serve with Greek yoghurt that is garnished with lemon zest and chopped cilantro. Or, use them instead of meatballs with a nice tomato sauce and pasta.
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11 Reviews

aquarius May 7, 2012
Love anything that even resembles a meatball -- can't wait to make these.
 
boulangere May 1, 2011
Mmmmmm. Going into the Pastas, Grains, and Legumes curriculum next week.
 
testkitchenette December 28, 2010
Love these! They will be gracing my New Year's nibble table for sure!
 
dymnyno December 28, 2010
Thanks! I just made a batch and found that they even taste good cold.
 
aargersi December 28, 2010
Yum, now I want a fritter. Love the surprise center!
 
dymnyno December 28, 2010
The feta gives the fritter a salty tang.
 
Sagegreen December 28, 2010
Great delicious idea!
 
gingerroot December 27, 2010
I love these flavors with lentils, and a fritter with a feta surprise - deliciously clever!
 
vvvanessa December 27, 2010
lentil fritter=brilliant!
 
Lizthechef December 27, 2010
Your clever, creative recipes never fail to amaze me - where do you come up with these ideas? Lentil fritters?!
 
hardlikearmour December 27, 2010
Yum! I don't see these entered yet.