Crispy Lentil Balls with Lemon & Lettuce
Turkish-style red lentil fritters that crisp up in minutes—no oven needed. Tangy, nutty, and perfect for snacking straight off the pan with fresh lemon and lettuce.
- Total time
- 12 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 185
- Protein
- 7g
Ingredients
- 1 cup red lentils (dried)
- 1.5 cups water
- ½ cup bulgur (fine)
- 4 tbsp olive oil (for pan-frying)
- 1 whole lemon (zested + juiced)
- 1 small handful lettuce leaves (butter or romaine)
Instructions
- 1
Boil red lentils in water until completely soft and broken down, about 6 minutes. Drain well.
- 2
Stir bulgur, lemon zest, salt, and pepper into the warm lentils until a thick paste forms.
- 3
Cool the mixture for 1 minute, then wet your hands and roll into 1.5-inch balls (you'll make about 12).
- 4
Heat olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high until it shimmers, about 1 minute.
- 5
Working in batches, pan-fry the balls 2 minutes per side until deep golden brown and crispy.
- 6
Serve hot on lettuce leaves with lemon slices and a drizzle of pan juices.
Tools you’ll need
- medium saucepan
- 10-inch skillet
- wooden spoon
- paper towels
- small plate
Cook smarter
Get matched recipes for what’s in your fridge
CookSnap is a free iOS app that finds real recipes from the ingredients you already have. No more grocery-list aspirations.
