Enhance potato pancakes with nutritious red lentils
Potato pancakes are an ideal recipe for a cheap and tasty dinner for the whole family. One simple addition will enhance their flavour and make them more filling and nutritious.
It may seem that you don't need to add anything special to the pancakes—just a few potatoes, an onion, and some flour, and you can start frying. However, the traditional recipe can be further perfected by adding red lentils to the mix. It has long been known that this is a healthy and tasty product, but few people have paired it with pancakes. Lentils work remarkably well in this role.
Properties of Red Lentils
Red lentils are an excellent source of protein, making them a great alternative to meat, especially for vegetarians and vegans. Protein is essential for tissue building and repair, hormone production, and maintaining healthy bones and muscles. The fibre in lentils improves digestive system function, prevents constipation, and alleviates feelings of fullness. Additionally, it helps regulate blood sugar levels.
Red lentils are rich in B vitamins (especially folic acid), iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. These nutrients are essential for the proper functioning of the body, supporting the nervous system, boosting immunity, and aiding in the production of red blood cells.
Potato pancakes with lentils
While lentils work great in a leading role, they also perform brilliantly in potato pancakes. They become more filling and nutritious. It's a simple way to sneak more protein into your diet.
Ingredients:
- 1 kilogram of potatoes,
- 1 onion,
- 100 grams lentils,
- 1 egg,
- 1 tablespoon of milk,
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour,
- 1 tablespoon potato starch,
- salt and pepper to taste,
- oil for frying.
Instructions:
- Thoroughly rinse the lentils using a sieve. Boil water in a pot, add the lentils.
- Cook for about 15–20 minutes. After this time, drain and set aside to cool well.
- Peel, wash, and grate the potatoes and onion using a fine grater. Squeeze out excess water.
- Add the cooked lentils, crack in an egg, add flour, pour in milk, and season with salt and pepper.
- Mix everything thoroughly.
- Heat oil in a pan and place portions of the mixture.
- Fry on both sides until the pancakes are golden brown.
- Place on a piece of kitchen towel to remove excess oil.
Serve the ready pancakes with your favourite toppings. Enjoy!
