Lentil Spring Rolls
I need to come to terms with the fact that my crazy work schedule is simply not going to let up for at least the next 2 months. One way out of this predicament is coming up with some quick and easy recipes. For a crazy person like me who loves to twist things up, simplifying things just doesn’t come easy (CHUCKLES!!!). But I made the effort and came up with these “LENTIL SPRING ROLLS”.
As far as I am concerned another hectic week has passed in the blink of an eye. That is what happens when you are working on a very important project. In addition to that I had few other deadlines to meet. So I felt like I was coming home everyday just to eat and sleep. My daily ritual was “WAKEUP, WORK, SLEEP.. REPEAT!!!!. Then I come home Thursday evening and wifey dear reminded me that our kitchen was empty and we needed to go grocery shopping.
My first reaction was a loud GROAN since I had to go WORK and had absolutely no time. But we ended up in the grocery store the very next day. The reason is going to be obvious to everyone. I had to eat to be able to work.. (CHUCKLES!!). On a serious note the timing of this trip to the grocery store was also perfect for me. Under the pressure of my work I had simply forgotten about the recipe for my weekend post. So what better way to get inspired than to be surrounded by fresh ingredients in the grocery store??
My inspiration for this dish came from a very unlikely source. An ingredient that I had never touched in my whole life “RICE PAPER”. The moment my eyes fell on the packet of rice paper I knew I was going to make spring rolls. The only thing left was to figure out the filling. This is when my mind went into overdrive and came up with another unlikely ingredient; LENTILS. I had recently come across a recipe for “LENTIL CHAAT” and decided to use that as a base for my rolls.
The first thing to do is to cook the lentils. So heat a pot over medium heat, add rinsed red lentils and 2 cups of water. Cover and simmer until cooked. Drain the water. While cooking the lentils I was careful in maintaining the shape of the lentils. Alternatively you can mash them up also.
Since a chaat was my inspiration I added lemon juice, chaat masala, cumin powder, serrano chili to the lentils. Garnish with cilantro. Season with salt. Prep the veggies of your choice for the filling. I used carrots, red cabbage and spinach.
Now we are ready to assemble. Keep in mind rice paper is soft and tears easily. So be gentle in making these rolls.
Pour water in a bowl, large enough to dip a sheet of rice paper. Place a rice paper in the water and let it soak for 30 sec. Remove from the water, shake off the excess and place on a flat surface.
Note : Do not place on a wood surface, use a plastic or ceramic.
Spoon red lentil mixture to the bottom 1/3 of the rice paper, top it with carrots, red cabbage and spinach leaves. Do not over-stuff. Gently pull the bottom of the rice paper over the filling, tuck the filling in and roll. Fold in the sides of the rice paper. Gently but tightly roll like a burrito.
Place on the serving plate with your choice of chutney/dip. I made a simple mint chutney to dip these rolls in. For the chutney blend yogurt, mint leaves, cilantro leaves, chili, garlic in a food processor. Season with salt and dry mango powder.
I love to spoon mint chutney on every bite of spring roll.
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Lentil Spring Rolls
Ingredients
Red Lentil Mixture
- 1 cup Red Lentils
- 2 tsp Lemon Juice
- ¾ tsp Chaat Masala
- ¾ tsp Cumin Powder coarsely ground dry roasted cumin seeds
- 1 Serrano chili deseeded and finely chopped
- ½ cup Cilantro
- Salt as per taste
Mint Chutney
- 1 cup Mint Leaves
- ½ cup Cilantro Leaves
- ½ cup Greek Yogurt
- ½ Serrano Chili
- ½ tsp Dry Mango Powder
- 1 Garlic Clove
- Salt as per taste
Rolls
- Rice Paper
- 2 Carrots julienne
- 1 cup Red Cabbage chopped
- 10 Spinach Leaves
Instructions
- Heat a pot over medium heat, add rinsed red lentils and 2 cup of water. Cover and simmer until cooked. Drain the water.
- In a bowl add cooked red lentils, lemon juice, chaat masala, cumin powder, serrano chili, cilantro, salt and mix.
- Pour water in a bowl, large enough to dip a sheet of rice paper.
- Place a rice paper in the water and let it soak for 30 sec. Remove from the water, shake off the excess and place on a flat surface.
- Spoon red lentil mixture to the bottom 1/3 of the rice paper, top it with carrots, red cabbage and spinach leaves.
- Gently pull the bottom of the rice paper over the filling, tuck the filling in and roll. Fold in the sides of the rice paper. Gently but tightly roll like a burrito.
- Enjoy with a dip of your choice.
Mint Chutney
- In a food processor add yogurt, mint leaves, cilantro leaves, chili, garlic and give a pulse. Season
- with salt and dry mango powder.
I know what it’s like to be so busy that you barely have time to eat! Many of my blog posts are written on my phone, during my short daily trip on The L to work. Usually, my diet falls to unmentionably horrible fast foods at times like that, so I’m so glad to see a quick recipe for something that looks so fresh and so wonderful. Thanks!
Wow jeff. Kudos to you for being able to write a post on your commute. I don’t think I will be able to do that because I get easily distracted.. 🙂
I’ve never used rice paper before. I will need to give it a try. I really like the sound of lentils in these spring rolls.
Do give rice paper a try Kathy. It is quiet a unique ingredient.. 🙂
Your color combinations for these spring rolls are wonderful. It is said that we eat with our eyes first and all the vibrant colors of the veggies combined with the lentils in these spring rolls are definitely eye catching. I bet they taste as good as they look.
I never believed in the concept of eating with your eyes first. But seeing the beautiful pictures of you and the other bloggers I am a firm believer now.. 🙂
I guess you are not the only one whose routine is WAKEUP. WORK. SLEEP. REPEAT. Many of us are in the same boat! Lentil filling sounds like a genius idea. These look so beautiful and YUM.
Thanks Anu..
I used to work a crazy busy schedule like that. Not fun, although sometimes you just have to. Anyway, glad you carved out some time to make this. Really good! Inspired dish — thanks.
You are right John. The only reason I am working long hours is because of this project. As for the dish then it was certainly a first for me working with rice paper. I must say I need a little practice with wrapping these rolls. 🙂
Healthy kick start …I have never tried rice paper yet.. But I am sure it tastes awesome.. Also request you to share some Frankie recipes as well.☺
Go for it Priya. Rice paper is definitely something different. And will definitely try to put up a frankie recipe as soon as I can. 🙂
I could eat fresh spring rolls every day and not get tired of them. I always do a traditional Thai version but will try your recipe next time. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hope you like it karrie..
Rahul, if my schedule was as crazy as yours is, I’d be falling back on tried and true recipes! Bravo to you for experimenting even with limited time on your hands! You really did an excellent job coming up with these spring rolls – adding that Red Lentil Mixture to these along with those crunchy veggies makes for one tasty roll – ooh and another great idea to smother these with that mint chutney! Here’s hoping your next two months aren’t too crazy!
Thank you shashi for the kind words. However I must say having a wife who is equally involved in the blog helps out a lot. As for the rolls then I just wanted to something different with the lentils and these rolls turned out ok.. 🙂
Rahul, these spring rolls during spring is colorful and need of the hour. Have never seen rice papers and always i looked eagerly at rice paper rolls. Hope to get some soon and make such rolls.
Do try it Smitha. Rice paper takes a bit of practice to work with but it isn’t too incredibly difficult.
Rahul, these fresh spring rolls are just what I needed to kick off the warm weather here. Love that you included lentils as well–such a unique ingredient. These sound just perfect with mint chutney. 😉
At least you have got warm weather there demeter. The weather has been pretty depressing here and the one thing that might make it better are the cookies/brownies that you make.. 🙂
I totally love the lentil filling…these spring rolls are so colourful, and packed full of goodness and flavour. An excellent recipe!
Thanks Angie. You can try making chaat the same way.. Just add a little tamarind and you will have a salad/ chaat Indian style.. 🙂
These are awesome! I love spring rolls, but never would have thought to add red lentils – must try soon 🙂
Hope you like it Megan…
LOVE this lentil filling for your spring rolls! I have no idea how you keep up with a blog AND work outside the home. You must have lots of energy 🙂
The only reason I can do this Liz is because I have a lovely wife who helps out a lot.. 🙂
Oh, I LOVE spring rolls and lentils, but I’ve never thought of combining the two! Genius move, buddy!! Can’t wait to try these! Cheers!
For some reason I have been obsessed with eating healthy for the past few weeks which was the whole reason for this recipe. I am telling you cheyanne this is not going to last long.. 🙂
I am so impressed with your grocery shopping idea hunting! I would have a meltdown of indecision if I tried to come up with a recipe at the grocery store! 😉
These look like you came up with a good one. I’ve never made spring rolls from scratch, but they sound delicious, especially with that mint chutney.
I hear you tracy. Those indecisive moments happen to me a lot too. This was just one of the rare moments where I thought of something and actually stuck to it. 🙂