Meatballs, meatballs, I want meatballs! Yes, but I already know about them like the back of my hand. This time I want to taste something exotic. I want something more adventurous! It is time for meatless balls. Let’s go vegetarian and try spicy lentil balls.
I love the vegetarian version of balls, and it’s time to expand my repertoire. Today I’m offering you coral lentil balls!
This is a classic of Indian cuisine, an excellent surprise. Seeing or should I say tasting the result, it’s a real delight. If you try it, you will end up adopting it. You would be wrong to deprive yourself of it.
Pick some lentils, coriander, and a bit of (Bulgarian) yoghurt for the sauce. And you’ll have a delicious dish to amaze your palate and your friends. Let’s get on with the recipe and enjoy the meal.
Spicy lentil balls
For 20 dumplings -Difficulty: easy
Preparation 10 min – Resting time 2 h 30 – Cooking time 10 min
- 150 g of coral lentils
- 1 red onion
- 1 clove of garlic
- about ten sprigs of fresh coriander
- a nice pinch of chilli powder
- a tsp of cumin seeds
- a pinch of turmeric
- 2 tbsp chickpea flour
- Vegetable oil
- Salt
Bulgarian style tzatziki: yoghurt or cottage cheese, cucumber, garlic and dill.
Rinse the lentils and leave them to soak in a large volume of cold water for 2 hours. Then drain the lentils and mix them with the turmeric, chilli powder, garlic clove, onion cut into 8 wedges, coriander (with stems) and a good pinch of salt.
Then add the cumin seeds and chickpea flour. Leave the dough to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature. The dough should be homogeneous, but not quite smooth and a little wet.
Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a frying pan. Shape the lentils balls with a tablespoon and drop them into the hot oil. Brown for 2 minutes on each side. Serve hot with yoghurt or cottage cheese or with Bulgarian sauce or one of your choice.
You can serve it with Bulgarian style tzatziki: grate half a cucumber, add salt and leave to stand for 15 minutes before squeezing out the excess water. Then add 6 tablespoons of yoghurt or cottage cheese, a chopped clove of garlic and the chopped dill. Mix and serve chilled with the spicy lentil balls.
