Lentil Sliders

Ladies and gentlemen it is that time of the year when I cannot think of anything else other than football. When the topic of football comes up how can the food get left behind??? I personally think the words gameday food and burgers go hand in hand. When I say burgers most of you are going to think about all kinds of meat burgers instead of Lentil Sliders. But these mini bites of delicious goodness are going to waste no time in changing everyone’s mind.

Yes y’all heard that right people… a guy from India can actually come to USA and get completely hooked onto America’s favorite pastime. My obsession with football started very early on in my stay here. I was doing my Masters at the University of South Carolina (USC) in Columbia, SC. Columbia is a very small college town where the USC football team is the only team of note. So you have a situation where most of your professors and the people around you are season ticket holders who watch football every weekend. In short football is the best conversation starter. That meant I had to learn the nuances of the game quiet fast or risk feeling like a person who gets left out in every conversation.

Luckily for me I had good teachers around me and once I understood the game I fell for it hook, line and sinker. My roommate and I were regulars at every USC home game. Now I am at a point where I have a favorite NFL team which is the Green Bay Packers (I don’t know if I am doing the right thing rooting for the rivals of the Dallas Cowboys.. laughs!!!). The Packers were playing this weekend so I just had to do something about my burger cravings. There is a supermarket right across the street from my apartment but I was simply not going to walk over to get any meat for my burgers. So the only option left was a meatless burger. This was when my wife reminded me that I had been wanting to make a lentil burger for a few months. Fortunately I had the right kind of lentils at home so I simply mashed those lentils added a few spices and voila I had a delicious burger.

I am not joking. This recipe is indeed that simple.

In a medium sauce pan add lentils and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil and simmer until the lentils are fully softened (Should be at least 30 minutes). Drain the water and mash well with a potato masher.

When the lentils are cooking, melt one tbsp butter in a pan. Add onion, carrots, mushrooms and saute until veggies are soft and tender. Remove from heat. Set aside to cool.

Combine lentils, vegetable mixture, red chili, turmeric, cumin powder, chat masala, lemon juice, coriander and salt in a large bowl. Stir in egg, bread crumbs and mix thoroughly.

Divide the lentil mixture into equal portions. Shape them in round slider patties. Cover and refrigerate for an hour.

Heat oil in a sauté pan. Once the oil is hot, cook the patties, until crisp and golden brown on both the sides.

For spread: In a grinder add coriander, mayo, garlic and lemon juice. Grind to make a smooth paste. Apply spread on the lower half of the slider bun.

Place the patties on a bun with lettuce, sliced tomatoes and onions.

My Packers lost today but I would like to think that the sliders did not. What do you think?? Do let me know in the comments section.

Serve with french fries.

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Lentil Sliders

Spicy Lentil Sliders with a creamy Cilantro Mayo.

5 from 1 vote

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Ingredients

  

Patty

• 1 cup Lentils Chana Dal/Split Bengal Gram
• 1 Small Onion finely chopped
• 1 Carrot finely chopped
• 10 Mushroom florets finely chopped
• ¼ cup Bread Crumbs
• 1 Large Egg
• ¾ tsp Cumin Powder
• 1 tsp Red Chili Powder
• ½ tsp Chat Masala
• ½ tsp Turmeric Powder
• 4 tsp Lemon Juice
• Salt: To taste
• Oil
• Butter

Spread

• 4 tbsp Mayo
• ½ cup Coriander
• ½ Garlic
• 2 tsp Lemon Juice

Toppings

• 1 Slice Pepper jack cheese of your choice
• 1 Slice Tomato
• 1 Slice Onion
• 1 Slice Lettuce

Instructions

 

• In a medium sauce pan add lentils and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil and simmer until the lentils are fully softened. Drain the water and mash well with a potato masher.
• Melt one tbsp butter in a pan. Add onion, carrots, mushrooms and saute until veggies are soft and tender. Remove from heat. Set aside to cool.
• Combine lentils, vegetable mixture, red chili, turmeric, cumin powder, chat masala, lemon juice, coriander and salt in a large bowl
• Stir in egg, bread crumbs and mix thoroughly.
• Divide the lentil mixture into equal portions. Shape them in round thick patties. Cover and refrigerate for an hour.
• Heat oil in a sauté pan, once the oil is shimmering, cook the veggie burger, until crisp and golden brown on both the sides.

Spread

• In a blender add coriander, mayo, garlic and lemon juice. Blend to make a smooth paste.
• Apply spread on the lower half of the slider bun. Place the patties on a bun with lettuce, sliced tomato and onion.
• Serve with french fries.

Note

• You can make breadcrumbs at home by placing a bun in a food processor and process until coarse crumbs form.
• The lentil burgers can be made ahead and refrigerated overnight.

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