Lentil Patties
Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, these lentil patties are the kind of recipe that quietly becomes a staple. Inspired by the crispy lentil veggie patties from Dr. Vegan, this version is hearty, budget-friendly, and endlessly versatile.
People might think that food bloggers are all in competition with one another, but that couldn’t be further from true! I love supporting other plant-based content creators and cookbook authors. I’ve also been lucky to experience this support myself, with my cookbooks and recipes.
Today, I want to give a shout out to Dr. Vegan and his incredible lentil patties recipe that inspired this vegan sub sandwich!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This recipe is perfect for batch cooking. It yields 20 lentil patties, great for weekly meal prep, a backyard BBQ, or filling your freezer.
- You wouldn’t believe that these are made in the oven! They get super crispy without frying, with a light coating of oil and a bit of patience.
- You only need simple, affordable ingredients to make these lentil patties. Great for cooking on a budget.
- Works just as well in sandwiches, wraps, or even as a snack! You can choose how to serve your lentil patties every step of the way.
Key Ingredients
- Brown lentils make up the hearty base that gives structure and substance. Make sure to use dry lentils!
- Potato is a superhero ingredient that helps bind everything together and keep the patties tender.
- Carrot and red onion add sweetness and natural depth of flavor.
- Breadcrumbs absorb moisture and help the patties hold their shape.
- Herbs and spices (can be customized) complement the lentil base and make this recipe worth cooking in the first place!
Hack It!
- Gluten-free? Use gluten-free breadcrumbs, polenta or oat flour to bind your lentil patties instead.
- Customize your flavors by tweaking the seasoning. I kept things basic with garlic, paprika, and parsley but you can create different flavor profiles with cumin, chili, nutritional yeast, allspice, or even curry powder.
- Air fryer for the win! If you don’t have an oven or want to bake without oil, cook your lentil patties in an air fryer.
- Pair your lentil patties with your favorite sauce, veggies, and “vehicle” like bread, wraps, grain bowls, or salads.
How to Make Lentil Patties
Step 1: In a deep frying pan, add the lentils, potato, red onion and carrot. Fill with vegetable broth, until at least an inch over the lentils.
Step 2: Cover the pan with a lid and bring to a boil. Then, lower to simmer for approximately 40 minutes, adding more water as needed until the lentils are soft to the touch and the potato is mashable.
Step 3: Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Using a potato masher, mash until the mixture has a very thick texture, similar to that of oatmeal or a deconstructed veggie burger.
Step 4: Now, add the bread crumbs, parsley, spices and avocado oil to the mixture. Using clean hands, combine until evenly mixed.
In the meantime, preheat the air fryer or your oven to 400F. Line a sheet pan with parchment.
Step 5: Using your hands again, form the mixture into approximately 20 patties, the size of about half of your palm. Depending on how you use them, you can shape them round or oval.
Step 6: Transfer to the sheet pan, spray with oil, and air fry for 12-13 minutes, flipping half way through. Alternatively, bake it the oven for 20-25 minutes until the patties are crispy on the outside.
Frequently Asked Questions
Serve in a wrap, or on a sub with tomato, lettuce, red onion as desired. You can also shape them as burgers or small falafel balls and serve accordingly.
Store cooked patties in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Absolutely! Once you shape your lentil patties, stack them with a bit of parchment paper in between and freeze in a sealed container or wrap.
Dry lentils work best for texture here. Canned lentils may be too soft and wet. Plus, you have to cook the potatoes and carrots anyway!
I like to use Chosen Foods avocado oil as it has the most neutral flavor.
More Plant-Based Sandwich Fillings
- Dill Pickle Tofu Sandwich
- Loaded Veggie Sandwich
- Vegan Chicken Salad
- Vegan Shawarma
- Fried Vegan Chicken
If you enjoy meal planning and want a supportive community, join our Plant Cooking Club on Substack! It’s all about eating more plants – and fiber, too.
The Recipe: Lentil Patties
Ingredients
- 2 cups brown lentils, dry
- 1 yellow potato, large, peeled
- 1 red onion, peeled
- 1 carrot, peeled
- 4½ cups vegetable broth, enough to cover the ingredients
For the mixture
- 1 cup breadcrumbs, use gluten-free if needed
- 1 cup parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp Chosen Foods Avocado Oil, or olive oil
To serve
- sub bread
- tomatoes
- lettuce
- red onion
Equipment
- Parchment Paper
Instructions
- In a deep frying pan, add the lentils, potato, red onion and carrot. Fill with vegetable broth, until at least an inch over the lentils. Cover, bring to a boil, then lower to simmer for approximately 40 minutes, adding more water as needed until the lentils are soft to the touch and the potato is mashable.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Using a potato masher, mash until the mixture has a very thick texture, similar to that of oatmeal or a deconstructed veggie burger.
- In the meantime, preheat the air fryer or your oven to 400F. Line a sheet pan with parchment.
- Now, add the bread crumbs, parsley, spices and olive oil to the mixture, and using clean hands, combine until evenly mixed.
- Now, again using your hands, form the mixture into approximately 20 oval patties, the size of about half of your palm. Think kind of like a flattened falafel ball.
- Transfer to the sheet pan, spray with oil, and air fry for 12 to 13 minutes, flipping half way through.
- Serve in a wrap, or on a sub with tomato, lettuce, red onion as desired.
Notes
- Gluten-free? Use gluten-free breadcrumbs, polenta or oat flour to bind your lentil patties instead.
- Customize your flavors by tweaking the seasoning. I kept things basic with garlic, paprika, and parsley but you can create different flavor profiles with cumin, chili, nutritional yeast, allspice, or even curry powder.
- Air fryer for the win! If you don’t have an oven or want to bake without oil, cook your lentil patties in an air fryer.
- Pair your lentil patties with your favorite sauce, veggies, and “vehicle” like bread, wraps, grain bowls, or salads.