Creamy Lentil Patties with Lemon and Parsley Recipe
These Lentil Patties are a flavorful and protein-packed dish made with lentils, parmesan, herbs, and spices. They can be cooked pan-fried, oven-baked, or air-fried to a crispy golden brown and are perfect served with lemon wedges and your favorite sauces or sides.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-20 minutes depending on method
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 patties (serves 12)
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cans (15 oz each) lentils, drained
- 1 egg
- ½ cup parmesan, grated
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or chickpea flour)
- ¼ cup parsley, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 wedges lemon (for serving)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for cooking)
Instructions
- Blend ingredients: In a food processor, combine the drained lentils, egg, grated parmesan, flour, chopped parsley, chopped onion, grated garlic, ground cumin, ground coriander, salt, and black pepper. Pulse a few times until the mixture is coarsely chopped and well combined, being careful not to overblend to maintain some texture.
- Shape patties: Using your hands or a cookie cutter, form the mixture into 12 evenly sized patties. Arrange them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Press down the mixture gently with the back of a teaspoon to shape the patties firmly.
- Cook patties: Choose your preferred cooking method:
- Pan-fried: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Fry the patties for about 5 minutes on each side until they develop a golden, crispy crust.
- Oven-baked: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Brush the patties lightly with olive oil and bake them on the parchment-lined tray for 20 minutes or until golden brown, flipping halfway through for even color.
- Air-fried: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Lightly brush the air fryer basket with olive oil to prevent sticking. Arrange the patties in the basket without overlapping. Brush the tops with olive oil and air fry for 10 minutes or until the patties are more brown than golden.
- Serve with sauce: Serve the lentil patties hot with lemon wedges to squeeze over the top. They pair wonderfully with tzatziki, marinara sauce, saffron rice, couscous, or pita bread for a complete meal.
Notes
- Do not overblend the lentil mixture to keep a nice texture in the patties.
- If using chickpea flour instead of all-purpose flour, the patties will have a slightly nuttier flavor and be gluten-free.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, adding more salt or spices if desired before shaping.
- For a vegan version, replace the egg with a flax egg or mashed potato.
- Leftover patties can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
