Ingredients

2 cans (15 oz each) lentils, drained

1 egg

½ cup parmesan, grated

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or chickpea flour)

¼ cup parsley, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, grated

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon salt

⅛ teaspoon black pepper

4 wedges lemon, for serving

Olive oil, for cooking

Instructions

Step 1: In a food processor, combine the drained lentils, egg, parmesan, flour, parsley, onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, salt, and black pepper. Pulse a few times until the mixture is coarsely chopped and well combined. Avoid overblending to keep some texture.

Step 2: Shape the mixture into 12 even patties. You can form them by hand or use a cookie cutter. Press the mixture firmly with the back of a teaspoon to compact the patties, then place them on a parchment-lined baking tray.

Step 3: Choose your cooking method:

Pan-fried: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Fry patties for 5 minutes on each side until golden brown, turning once.
Oven-baked: Brush patties with olive oil and bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes or until golden and crisp.
Air-fried: Lightly oil your air fryer basket, arrange patties in a single layer, brush with olive oil, and air fry at 400°F (200°C) for about 10 minutes until nicely browned.

Step 4: Serve the lentil patties warm with lemon wedges to squeeze over them. They pair beautifully with tzatziki, marinara sauce, saffron rice, couscous, or pita bread.

Tips & Variations

For a gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with chickpea flour or gluten-free flour blend.

Add finely chopped spinach or grated carrot for extra color and nutrition.

Adjust the spices to taste by adding a pinch of chili flakes for a bit of heat.

Use fresh parmesan or a vegetarian hard cheese alternative to keep the flavor robust.

FAQs

Can I make lentil patties vegan?

Yes, you can replace the egg with a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water) and use a vegan Parmesan substitute or nutritional yeast.

How do I prevent the patties from falling apart?

Be careful not to overprocess the lentils and ensure the mixture is compact when shaping patties. Using enough binding ingredients like egg and flour is essential for holding them together during cooking.