From Vegetarian Planet, by Didi Emmons
1/2 cup dried red or brown lentils
1 1/2 tbsps olive oil
1 cup chopped leeks
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
8 slices stale or toasted sandwich bread
2 garlic cloves, minced
12 ounces fresh spinach, well-washed and stems removed, or one 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, with excess water squeezed out
20 toasted whole almonds
1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Yogurt Citrus Sauce
2 tbsp finely chopped onion
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp grated orange rind
3/4 cup plain yogurt (use non-fat, low-fat, or whole)
3 tbsp flour
1 1/2 tsp olive oil
Cover the lentils with about 2 cups of water in a small pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover the pan, and simmer until the lentils are tender - about 20 minutes. Drain lentils when tender and set aside. Heat 1 1/2 tsp olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy bottomed skillet, and add the onion (leeks). Saute for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, then add the vinegar and stir for a few seconds. Transfer onion and vinegar mixture to a large bowl and wipe skillet. In a food processor, place the bread slices, torn into pieces, and pulse until they form crumbs. Add 1 tbsp olive oil to the wiped skillet, and heat over medium heat. Add garlic and bread crumbs and cook, stirring occasionally, about 5-8 minutes, until bread crumbs are crisp and golden brown. Add toasted crumbs to the bowl with the onion. Place the spinach in a dry skillet over medium high heat and cook stirring frequently, until the spinach has wilted, then chop spinach and add to onions and crumbs. Place cooked lentils and almonds in the food processor and pulse till chopped fine. Add mixture to the bowl of onions and spinach. Add bell pepper, salt, and black pepper, mix thoroughly to combine. Form 8 cakes from the spinach mixture. Place flour on a plate and dredge the cakes in flour on both sides. Heat 1 1/2 tsps olive oil in large skillet over medium high heat and fry the cakes on both sides, about 3 minutes on each side.
Combine the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Serve cakes hot with sauce on the side.
rate
email
print
link to this page
