Chef Gretchen's Triple Lentil Bites

Lentil Festival Samples-3.jpg

Triple Lentil Bites

SPROUTED LENTILS:
Ingredients:
1 ½ cup raw lentils
Instructions:
Place raw lentils in a glass jar with enough water to cover, and cover the jar with a kitchen towel. Soak the lentils overnight, then rinse and drain. 
Store the lentils in a warm place, and repeat rinsing and draining twice daily until they sprout (about three days.)

SUNNY LENTIL DIP
Ingredients:
3 cups cooked red lentils (about 1½ cup uncooked)
½ cup tomato paste
2 tbs. minced jalapenos
3 tbs. lemon juice
¾ cup water
¼ cup coconut oil
¼ cup olive oil
2 tsp. ground coriander
1 tbs. ginger, minced
4 tsp. garlic, minced
1 ½ tsp. cumin
1 ½ tsp. garam masala
½ tsp. turmeric
1 ½ tsp. salt
1 cup cilantro, minced
½ cup green onion, minced
Instructions:
Add coconut oil and olive oil to a saucepan and slowly add each spice. Saute spices until they are fragrant, about three minutes. 
In a food processor, combine the spice blend with tomato paste, minced jalapeños, cooked red lentils, lemon juice and water. Blend until smooth. Add the cilantro and onions and pulse until well incorporated.  

CURRIED LENTIL SOCCA
Ingredients:
1 cup lentil flour
1 cup garbanzo flour
2 cups water
½ cup melted coconut oil
2 tsp. salt, generous pinch of pepper
¼ cup toasted, unsweetened, fine shred coconut
2 tsp. curry powder
½ tsp. coriander
¼ cup minced cilantro
2 tsp. lime juice
Instructions:
Whisk all ingredients together until smooth. Let the mixture rest for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight in the fridge. If you decide to leave it in the fridge, it will develop a sourdough characteristic!
To cook, heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a non-stick skillet, and drop batter in as you would a pancake. (These can be as big or small as you’d like!) Fry until golden brown, then flip. Cut into wedges if desired.

COCONUT CREMA:
Ingredients:
1 cup coconut yogurt
½ tbs. Lime juice
1 tbs. coconut milk
Instructions:
Whisk ingredients together, adding more lime juice or coconut milk as necessary until similar to sour cream.

To assemble, top each piece of socca with a dollop of lentil dip and a sprinkle of sprouted lentils. We finished each bite with  drizzle of coconut crema, and topped it all off with a sprig of cilantro.

Serves 4-6 as a light appetizer or 8-10 as passed bites as pictured here.