Crispy Fried Lentil Patties Recipe (2024)

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Lentils are one of the most versatile protein options you can add to your menu. This easy lentil patties recipe is going to transform your menu. Not only are they ready in just 30-minutes, but they also are flavorful, packed with protein, and versatile to serve alone or as a sandwich.

Crispy Fried Lentil Patties Recipe (1)
Jump to:
  • Lentil Patties Recipe
  • What is the Best Lentil For This Recipe?
  • Do I Need to Soak Lentils Before Cooking Them?
  • Can I Use Canned Lentils?
  • Can I Use Different Herbs?
  • How do You Serve Lentil Patties?
  • Are These Lentil Patties Vegan?
  • Ingredients
  • Handy Kitchen Tools
  • How to Make Homemade Lentil Patties
  • More Vegetarian Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe

Lentil Patties Recipe

I have tried a number of different lentil burgers and patties, and these are some of the most flavorful. I like something mild so they can go with any toppings, but they shouldn't be bland.

If you like lentils and need more ideas of how to use them in your menu, make sure you check out this spicy red lentil curry recipe or this flavorful chicken Dhansak curry with lentils. Both are an excellent ways to use those extra dry lentils.

What is the Best Lentil For This Recipe?

I prefer using red lentils in recipes like this because they cook faster and soften easier. So, I can have them ready in no time rather than waiting hours for them to cook.

If you don't mind a longer cooking time, then green lentils are another popular option found in most markets. While black lentils are common in some areas, they are not easy to find in markets so not a great choice for this recipe.

Crispy Fried Lentil Patties Recipe (2)

Do I Need to Soak Lentils Before Cooking Them?

No. One of the benefits of using dry lentils is that they do not need to be soaked. They typically cook to a softened texture anywhere between 20 and 45 minutes. This depends upon your desired texture and the type of lentils.

For this recipe, red lentils are used which can take as little as 10 minutes up to 30-minutes to cook. They do not need to be mushy for this recipe, just cooked through and tender.

Can I Use Canned Lentils?

You can use canned lentils if you want for this recipe. They will be softer than cooking them on your own and thus may be a bit more moist and mushy in the patty.

If you use canned lentils, make sure to rinse and drain them well before adding to the rest of the recipe. If you fin the patties are too moist, you can add additional flour by the tablespoon until they are formable.

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Can I Use Different Herbs?

Of course, you can mix up the flavor profile if you prefer. I like using Italian seasonings because they are delicious and readily available in my kitchen. That doesn't mean they are the only options to add to this recipe. Below are some other flavor profiles to try.

  • Taco, fajita, or burrito seasoning blends.
  • Greek seasoning blend.
  • Cajun seasoning blend.
  • Basic salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
  • Curry powder, turmeric, and garam masala.

How do You Serve Lentil Patties?

While these are a bit more Italian in flavor, they aren't overbearing so they can go from your hamburger bun with mayonnaise to on top of pasta with my homemade pasta sauce. Below are some great ideas for how to use this recipe in unique ways.

  • Replace a meat burger and top with any traditional burger toppings including condiments, lettuce, tomato, avocado, or grilled onions and peppers.
  • Serve with Indian chutney's or sauces as an appetizer.
  • Top with jalapeno dip or blue cheese dip for a unique flavor and difference in textures.
  • Wrap in a pita with tzatziki, feta, lettuce, and tomato.
  • Use in any wrap in place of meats.
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Are These Lentil Patties Vegan?

As listed below, these are naturally plant-based and 100% vegan. If you choose to add Parmesan cheese to the mixture or cook in butter, then they are no longer vegan friendly.

Ingredients

  • Vegetable oil
  • Lentils (red)
  • Yellow onion
  • Garlic cloves
  • Fresh thyme
  • All-purpose flour
  • Italian seasoning
  • Paprika
  • Salt
  • Breadcrumbs
  • Fresh parsley

How to Make Homemade Lentil Patties

In a medium saucepan, add the rinsed lentils with ½ teaspoon salt, and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium heat.

Once boiling, continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes, until lentils are softened.

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Drain excess liquid from the lentils and set them aside.

In a medium skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until just turning translucent.

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Add the minced garlic and fresh time to the skillet and stir to combine then remove from heat.

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Place ⅔ of the cooked lentils into a blender or use an immersion blender to puree until mostly smooth.

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In a large bowl, add the whole and pureed lentils, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, fresh parsley, flour, and breadcrumbs together until combined completely.

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Lightly oil the palms of your hands, then divide the mixture into the number of patties you want, and shape them.

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In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Place the patties into the oil in a single layer, being careful not to crowd the pan. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden and crisp on the outside and heated through.

Remove and drain on paper towels, then repeat until all patties are cooked.

Crispy Fried Lentil Patties Recipe (12)

More Vegetarian Recipes

If you like having an arsenal of vegetarian recipes on hand to serve friends and family, look no further! We have some great options to add to your menu. Flavors from around the world create tasty meals that nobody will realize are meat-free. Bookmark, pin, or print the recipes below for your menu!

  • Rich Vegetarian Mushroom Stroganoff Recipe
  • Comforting Dutch Oven Vegetable Stew Recipe
  • The Best Veg Manchurian Recipe with Gravy
  • Easy Dutch Oven Cabbage Vegetable Soup
  • 5-Ingredient Spicy Garlic Pasta
  • Delicious Kerala Egg Curry Recipe

📖 Recipe

Yield: 6

Crispy Fried Lentil Patties Recipe

Crispy Fried Lentil Patties Recipe (13)

A fried lentil patties recipe is the perfect protein-packed and delicious dish that is ideal for meat-eaters and the vegetarians at your dinner table!

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time20 minutes

Total Time30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dry red lentils
  • 1 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 6 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 ½ teaspoons fresh thyme
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • ¾ cup breadcrumbs
  • 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, add the rinsed lentils with ½ teaspoon salt, and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
  2. Once boiling, continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes, until lentils are softened. Crispy Fried Lentil Patties Recipe (14)
  3. Drain excess liquid from the lentils and set them aside.
  4. In a medium skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until just turning translucent.
  5. Add the minced garlic and fresh time to the skillet and stir to combine then remove from heat. Crispy Fried Lentil Patties Recipe (15)
  6. Place ⅔ of the cooked lentils into a blender or use an immersion blender to puree until mostly smooth.
  7. In a large bowl, add the whole and pureed lentils, Italian seasoning, paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, fresh parsley, flour, and breadcrumbs together until combined completely. Crispy Fried Lentil Patties Recipe (16)
  8. Lightly oil the palms of your hands, then divide the mixture into the number of patties you want, and shape them. Crispy Fried Lentil Patties Recipe (17)
  9. In a large skillet, heat 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium heat. Place the patties into the oil in a single layer, being careful not to crowd the pan. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden and crisp on the outside and heated through.
  10. Remove and drain on paper towels, then repeat until all patties are cooked. Crispy Fried Lentil Patties Recipe (18)

Notes

Make the patties ahead of time and freeze on a baking sheet for 2 hours, then move to a freezer storage bag. Pull out and fry when ready to serve.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 428Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 459mgCarbohydrates: 56gFiber: 9gSugar: 2gProtein: 18g

Crispy Fried Lentil Patties Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you get lentils to stick together? ›

Breadcrumbs. These add body to the lentil patties and help bind everything together. Regular or panko breadcrumbs both work well in this.

What if lentil patties are too wet? ›

Blend the lentil mixture until the mixture is uniform and the texture is like a course meal that can form a soft patty shape. If your mixture is too wet and not holding together, stir in some flour. Blend in 1-2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour or gluten-free all-purpose flour to the mixture.

What if lentil burgers are too dry? ›

If it's too dry, add bean-cooking or other liquid. In either case, add the ingredient 1 tablespoon at a time and pulse (or mash) after each addition. Lightly wet your hands and shape the mixture into 4 large or 8 small patties. Put them on the baking sheet.

What is lentil burger made of? ›

Place the ingredients into a canister: Add the drained lentils, garlic, shallot, carrot, tomato paste, cilantro, salt, and black pepper to a food processor. Pulse until the ingredients are well combined and the mixture holds together, scraping the sides of the canister as needed.

What happens if you don't soak lentils before cooking? ›

Here's why soaking lentils is important

Fact 1: Soaking lentils improves digestion and nutrition absorption as it can neutralise lectins and phytates present that may cause gas and bloating. Fact 2: Soaking lentils also reduces its cooking time. It also brings prana (life) into the legume.

Why do lentils need to be soaked before cooking? ›

Soaking naturally deactivates the harmful compounds and activates all the goodness of the seed and increases its nutritional value manifold. The process of soaking removes the gas-causing elements from the lentils. While legumes contain complex oligosaccharides, a type of complex sugar responsible for bloating and gas.

How do you keep lentil burgers from falling apart? ›

Without a binder, your burger might completely crumble and fall apart the second it hits the grill or when you bite into it. → Follow this tip: Veggie burgers need a sturdy binder to hold everything together. This can be anything from eggs to a mixture of ground flax and water, wheat germ, breadcrumbs, or oats.

How do you keep patties moist? ›

How to Make Juicy Burgers Perfectly Every Time
  1. Tip #1: Pick an 80/20 Beef-to-Fat Ratio. ...
  2. Tip #2: Salt Right Before Cooking. ...
  3. Tip #3: Baste with Butter. ...
  4. Tip #4: Don't Press on the Patties While They Cook. ...
  5. Tip #5: Let the Burgers Rest. ...
  6. More Tips for Making a Juicy Burger.
Jan 26, 2022

Why are my patties dry? ›

One common reason is using meat with a low fat content. Lean meat can result in dry burgers, so choosing meat with a higher fat content can help. Overcooking the burgers can also lead to dryness, so be mindful of the cooking time and temperature.

How do you make veggie patties stick together? ›

Breadcrumbs: Help hold our burgers together. Veggie and bean burgers don't hold together as well as meat burgers, but the breadcrumbs in this recipe help a lot! Eggs or flax eggs: I make this recipe with eggs, but we have tested it with homemade flax eggs, and they work!

Can lentils cause stomach pain? ›

Another reason that lentils are known for causing gas and bloating is because they are high in what's called raffinose. Raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFO) are known to cause stomach discomfort and bloating because the human body lacks the enzyme required to break them down within the digestive tract.

Are lentils good for your gut? ›

Lentils are rich in a type of fiber that helps your digestive system work as it should and fuels good bacteria in your gut. Fiber may also help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. “Fiber plays an important role in regulating our bowels and protecting the immune system,” says Homan.

Why is lentil as anything closing? ›

All three Melbourne locations of Lentil As Anything, the pay-what-you-feel restaurant that opened in 2000, will permanently close their doors on February 27. Founder Shanaka Fernando cited a downturn in trade, loss of volunteers and repayment of debts as the reasons for the decision.

Are lentils healthier than beef? ›

Pound for pound, raw lentils have more protein than steak. While not as protein-dense once cooked, they pack even more iron than meat, in addition to other vitamins and minerals.

Which lentils to replace ground beef? ›

Add 1 cup of dry lentils plus 2 cups broth or water when the tomatoes/tomato sauce are added to the pot, then simmer until the lentils are tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Red lentils work well because they break down as they cook and thicken the sauce, but brown or green lentils could also work.

Why did my lentils fall apart? ›

Cooking them at a rapid simmer can lead to them splitting their skins from the pressure and thus lead to mushy results. Follow this tip: Trust that a gentle simmer will cook the lentils perfectly. Bring the pot to a rapid simmer first, then reduce the heat to low so that the pot just barely bubbles.

How do you keep lentils from splitting? ›

Place lentils in a large pot with at least 2 inches of unsalted liquid covering them. Bring to a rapid simmer. Reduce heat to very low, so only slow bubbles appear. Cook your lentils uncovered on low heat for 20-45 minutes (based on the variety) to plump them up while avoiding split skins and mushy results.

How do you keep lentils from breaking? ›

Red lentils cook the most quickly, in just 15-20 minutes. A slightly shorter cooking time will help them to keep their shape, while a longer cooking time will cause them to start breaking down – which is brilliant for a creamy dal or lentil soup.

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