Lentil Meatballs with Thermomix are very easy to make, yet they can give a gourmet twist to your dinner party! Serve them as main with a side of steamed veggies, as a side dish to dip in gravy, or as finger-food at a party, and be sure to impress everyone with something unique, healthy and really nice.
Did you know in Italy lentils are the traditional good-luck meal for new year's eve? Well, as you can imagine, we don't just sit down to eat a boring bowl of lentils before going to the party, but we get together with friends and families to organise a huge feast, or "cenone" (big dinner) to keep us busy until midnight. The courses can vary in number, size and menu, but an authentic Italian new year's eve cenone always features lentils, generally served with pork. According to old popular beliefs, lentils are supposed to bring richness and health and are traditionally served on the last night of the year as a way to wish good luck for the new year that's about to start.
Why am I telling you this story? Because every year on the first of January I wake up to a whole lot of left-over lentils, and I have to figure out what to do with them!
If you're fond of lentils you certainly know the delicious lentil soup recipe, too.
Ingredients
- 150 g dry lentils- 1 carrot
- 50 g extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 pinch cumin
- salt to taste
- pepper as needed
- 2 eggs
- ½ tsp of baking powder
- 70 g sesame seeds
- peanut oil to taste for frying
Let's cook
Soak 150 g of lentils in water for a few hours.Place 1 washed and cleaned carrot in the mixing bowl mix 5 Sec. Speed 7.
Add 40 g of extra virgin olive oil, 1 clove of garlic and brown 3 Min. 100C Speed 2.
Drain the lentils and add them to the mixing bowl. Cook 20 Min. 100C Speed 1.
Check that the lentils are cooked. If necessary, extend the cooking time.
Remove the garlic clove, add 1 tbsp of cornstarch, 1 pinch of cumin, salt to taste, pepper to taste and blend 10 Sec. Speed 8.
Collect at the bottom and repeat.
Add 1 egg, 10 g of extra virgin olive oil, ½ tsp of baking powder and mix10 Sec. Speed 5.
Form meatballs with the dough, pass them in 1 beaten egg and then in 70 g of sesame seeds.
Fry in plenty of boiling peanut oil.
Drain and dry on absorbent kitchen paper.
Serve the meatballs hot.
Translated from the Italian recipe
Copyright: Polpette di lenticchie from Thermomix Recipes
Photocredit: Thermomix Recipes
Tips
Work in advance: prepare the meatballs, store them in the refrigerator and heat them in the oven a few minutes at 180C just before serving.Translated from the Italian recipe
Copyright: Polpette di lenticchie from Thermomix Recipes
Photocredit: Thermomix Recipes