Recipe: Kumara & Lentil patties

Serves: 4

Prep: 15mins + 30mins to chill

Cooking: 40mins

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• 800g kumara - peeled, cut into 2cm pieces
• 2 tblsp vegetable or olive oil, plus extra to shallow fry
• 1 medium brown onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 400g can brown lentils
• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 tblsp milk
• 2 cups breadcrumbs
• Mixed green salad, to serve
• 250g low-fat sour cream
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 2 tblsp chopped coriander

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1. Preheat oven to 200degC/180degC fan forced.  Place kumara on large baking tray.  Drizzle with 1tblsp oil; season with salt & pepper.  Roast for 20mins or until golden.
2. Heat 1 tblsp remaining oil in large frying pan over moderately high heat.  Add onion; cook and stir for 5mins or until soft.  Add garlic and cinnamon; cook and stir for 2mins or until fragrant.  Transfer mixture to a large heatproof bowl.  Add lentils and kumara; mash coarsely.  Season with salt & pepper; cool.  Shape into 8 patties.  Place on large plate.  Cover with plastic food wrap; chill for 30mins.  Make sour cream dressing (combine 250g low-fat sour cream, 1 clove crushed garlic & 2 tblsp chopped coriander in a small bowl).
3. Place flour on plate.  Whisk egg and milk in a shallow bowl.  Place breadcrumbs on a separate plate.  Coat patties in flour; shake off excess.  Dip in egg, then coat evenly in breadcrumbs.  Pour extra oil into a large frying pan to 3cm deep.  Heat over moderate heat (oil is ready when a cube of bread crisps without absorbing oil).  Shallow-fry patties, in batches, for 2-3mins each side or until golden brown.  Serve with dressing and salad.

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Tips: chilling patties before crumbing makes them firm and easier to crumb.

Recipe from: Recipes+ (Dec 2009, p.49)

We used spinach leaves for the salad with a wee bit of balsamic vinegar drizzled on top.  Also, serving with mango chutney & plain sour cream worked a treat.  I think adding some chilli would deffo add to the flavour - if you enjoy chilli, that is :)  These would work well as smaller patties served as a side to a light indian dish.