Let’s Make Some Lentil Fritters!

As a Vegan myself, I am a huge fan of using Lentils as a plant-based protein source. I have used Lentils in the past in so many different recipes for myself and really wanted to try to incorporate them into my little guys meals. Lentils are very small and would be difficult for a baby to chew as they are so in this recipe we will puree them so these Fritters are perfect for Baby Led Weaning. This recipe can be easily altered to fit your little one’s favorite veggies like swapping the Zucchini for a Carrot or adding in bits of Broccoli. These are super yummy and incredibly healthy!

Why Lentils?

As I mentioned earlier, my favorite part about Lentils are that they are an excellent plant-based protein source. Protein is incredibly beneficial for our growing babies. Lentils are also a great source of essential amino acids such as isoleucine and lysine. They are specifically great for babies as Lentils are packed with fiber and vitamins while remaining low in fat, cholesterol and sodium.

Ingredients:

• One Cup Red Lentils

• One Tablespoon Unsweetened Plain Almond Milk

• One Lemon Wedge

• One Zucchini

• 1/3 Cup Chopped Broccoli

• 1/4 Cup Flour (Use more if your batter is too loose)

• Garlic Powder

• Paprika

How to Make Them:

Boil Lentils for about 10 minutes.

Drain Lentils and add them to a Food Processor along with one tablespoon of unsweetened plain Almond Milk and let them blend until they are a creamy and smooth consistency, set aside. The texture should be similar to Hummus.

Peel and grate one Zucchini and finely chop your Broccoli. Add the Zucchini and the Broccoli into a pan with some olive oil on medium heat. To that pan you can add some Lemon Juice, Garlic Powder, and Paprika. Saute that for three minutes then let it cool.

Now you can get your Lentil mixture into a large bowl and add in your sauteed veggies and your flour. If the batter is too loose add in additional flour. Mix everything together and we are ready to cook our fritters.

Get a large pan onto medium heat with some olive oil or cooking spray in it. Once the pan is hot, you can start putting your mixture into the pan (I like to use a small cookie dough scoop to get them on the pan). These will generally take about five minutes to cook on each side and you are done!

Hope your little one loves them!