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Vegetarian, Meal soups and plant based

Red lentil patties with herb yogurt and rice

Red lentil patties are a vegetarian dish for 4 people, ready in 45 minutes, easy to make, for €1.60 per serving. Mashed red lentils and grated carrots bind with egg and flour, then get pan fried until golden. The key is flattening the patties well so they cook through without staying soft in the middle.

Golden red lentil and carrot patties, with a fresh herb yogurt and rice, a vegetarian dinner that actually fills you up.

Red lentil patties with herb yogurt and rice
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.60
Calories per person
600 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter
The kids
They generally like it

These patties have the soft melt of well cooked red lentils, the sweetness of grated carrot, and a golden edge that turns crisp in the pan. Cumin warms the mix without taking over, and the herb yogurt adds the freshness that a dish this dense would otherwise miss. Basmati rice soaks up the lemon that drips from the sauce and rounds out the plate without weighing it down.

This is the kind of dinner that works on a busy weeknight with no fuss, but it also holds its own on a Sunday if you have guests who eat little meat. Kids generally like the patty shape better than a lentil curry, and they can dip their pieces into the yogurt. Mon Chou built this recipe to be filling without meat, using ingredients most kitchens already have on hand.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Red lentilsoften in the pantry 200 g
  • Flouroften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Ground cuminoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Basmati riceoften in the pantry 250 g
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Carrots 2
  • Onion 1
  • Egg 1
  • Mint and chives 1 sprigs
  • Lemon 1

Dairy

  • Greek yogurt 4 pot

Allergens Gluten, Eggs, Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the red lentils in unsalted water until they mash easily, then drain them. 12 min

    They cook fast, keep an eye on them.

  2. Grate the carrots, chop the onion, and mix with the lentils, egg, flour, cumin, salt, and pepper. 5 min

    Mash the lentils roughly so they hold together.

  3. Shape into patties and brown them in the oil, four minutes on each side. 10 min

    Flatten them well so they cook through.

  4. Mix the yogurt with the chopped herbs, the zest, and a little lemon juice, season with salt and pepper.

    Grate a bit of zest in, it flavors the yogurt.

  5. Cook the rice in salted water, drain it, and serve with the patties and the sauce. 11 min

    Rinse the rice before cooking, it stays fluffier.

Our tips to get it right

  • Drain the lentils well after cooking, too much water keeps the patties from holding together while frying.
  • Heat the oil before adding the patties, they brown better and stick less to the pan.
  • If the mixture feels too soft, add another tablespoon of flour rather than overworking it.

The variations

  • Swap the wheat flour for rice flour or cornstarch for a gluten free version.
  • For an egg free version, use a tablespoon of ground flaxseed mixed with three tablespoons of water, left to sit for ten minutes before stirring it in.
  • For kids, shape smaller patties, like flattened meatballs, they cook faster and are easy to eat with fingers.

What to serve it with

  • A cool cucumber salad
  • Warm flatbread
  • Mint tea

Storage

The patties keep for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a closed container. They freeze well raw or cooked, then reheat in a pan or oven to keep their crust. The herb yogurt can be made a day ahead, it only gets more flavorful.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the patty mixture ahead of time?

Yes, you can make it the day before and keep it in the fridge in a closed container. Let it sit at room temperature for ten minutes before shaping so it's easier to work with.

Do red lentil patties freeze well?

Yes, both raw and cooked patties freeze well. Thaw raw patties in the fridge before cooking, and reheat cooked ones straight in the pan.

What can I use instead of red lentils?

Well cooked, mashed green lentils work too, though they give a slightly firmer texture. Skip canned lentils that are too wet, they make the mixture soggy.

How do you keep the patties from falling apart while cooking?

Let the mixture rest for ten minutes before shaping the patties, it thickens and holds together better. Flatten each patty well and flip it gently only once.

How long does it take to make red lentil patties with herb yogurt and rice?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in red lentil patties with herb yogurt and rice?

About 600 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does red lentil patties with herb yogurt and rice cost?

About €1.60 per serving, or €6.40 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, eggs, lactose. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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