Lentil Pasties Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400°F.
• Roll out the pastry and cut out 6 circles 8in in diameter.
• Heat the oil and cook the onions and carrots slowly in it until soft.
• Take off the heat and stir in the spices, tomato paste, lentils and seasoning. Divide the mixture between the six circles and crimp the edges together.
• Brush with a little of the beaten egg. Put on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes until the pastry is golden. Serve hot or cold.

Steps:

• Put the split Bengal gram in a small heatproof bowl, cover with boiling water from the kettle and leave to soak for 3 hrs or ideally overnight, if you have the time.
• Melt the ghee in a flameproof casserole over a medium heat and fry the onions for 7-10 mins until starting to turn golden. Add the lamb mince. Peel the whole garlic cloves and tip these into the dish along with the ginger and cook, stirring often, for 10 mins more until any liquid from the lamb evaporates. Drain the soaked Bengal gram and add this to the dish with the chilli powder, garam masala and black cumin seeds or ground cumin.
• Pour over 300ml hot water to just barely cover the mince, cover with a lid, reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 mins until the mince is tender. Remove the lid and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until all the water has evaporated and the Bengal gram is tender. By now, the mince will be dry and crumbly in texture. Spread the mixture out on a baking tray and leave to cool completely before transferring to a large food processor.
• Add the beaten egg, lime juice, coriander and green chillies to the processor and blend until smooth. Using damp hands, roll the lamb mixture into about 20 walnut-sized balls. Flatten each ball in your palm into a 4cm patty (with a thickness of 1cm) using your fingers. Transfer to a baking tray lined with baking parchment and chill for 30 mins.
• For the mint raita, mix the yogurt with the garlic, mint, cumin and sugar and add enough lime juice to sharpen the flavour. Taste for seasoning, then set aside.
• Heat 2 tbsp oil in a heavy-based frying pan over a medium heat and fry the kebabs in batches for 3-4 mins on each side until browned. Pour off the excess oil between batches and wipe the pan clean with kitchen towel before adding fresh oil. Drain the kebabs on kitchen paper and serve warm with the mint raita.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Unroll the pastry and cut into 24 squares. Divide the lentils and feta between the pastry squares, leaving a border around the edge. Beat the egg and brush a little of it onto the edges of the pastry, then pinch together to seal in a cross shape at the top. Transfer the pastries to a large baking sheet, brush with the remaining beaten egg and bake for 20 mins until golden. Serve as a starter with dressed leaves.

Steps:

• Place lentils and water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain.
• In a large bowl, mix together the cooked lentils, milk, wheat and barley cereal, eggs and walnuts. Season with onion soup mix and poultry seasoning. Mix well using your hands, as the mixture will be very thick. Let stand for 30 minutes, or refrigerate overnight.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Use an ice cream scoop to portion out balls of the lentil mixture. Drop the scoops into bread crumbs, and coat while flattening into patties. Fry burgers in the hot skillet until nicely browned on both sides, about 5 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the patties.

Steps:

• Combine lentils, celery, carrot, water and spices in large saucepan.
• Bring to boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for about 20 minutes or until mixture thickens; cool.
• Stir in half of the breadcrumbs.
• Shape mixture into patties (makes about 8); toss in flour.
• Dip in egg, then in combined remaining breadcrumbs and parsley.
• (Can be made one day ahead at this stage and refrigerated, covered, or frozen for up to 6 months).
• Heat oil in large non-stick frypan; cook patties until well browned both sides. Drain on absorbent paper and serve as desired.

Steps:

• Bring lentils, stock, 1 3/4 cups water, onion, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat; simmer, adding water as needed (about 1/2 cup at a time) to prevent lentils from drying out, until they are tender, about 30 minutes. Discard onion, thyme, and bay leaf; set lentils aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shallots, and cook, stirring often, until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Add mushrooms; cook until mushrooms have softened completely and shallots are deep-golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add sherry, stirring to scrape up browned bits. Remove from heat.
• Reserve 2 heaping tablespoons of shallot mixture for garnish; refrigerate, covered, until ready to use. Process remaining shallot mixture, the lentils, and nuts in a food processor until coarsely combined. Transfer to a large bowl, and stir in the egg whites.
• Line a 5-by-10-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing 3 inches to hang over each long side. Spoon lentil mixture into pan, and fold plastic over top. Top with another loaf pan filled with heavy cans. Refrigerate 4 hours (or overnight).
• To serve, unwrap top, and invert onto a platter. Bring to room temperature. Garnish with reserved shallot mixture and thyme sprigs. Serve with crackers.