698. Lentil and Carrot Kebabs

Foodiemonday/bloghop & MEGA BLOGGING MARATHON -SEPT 2017
#80TH BLOGGING MARATHON
THEME: PROTEIN RICH DISHES/LENTILS
DAY:15
While writing this post, I was feeling a bit uncomfortable presenting 2 events together. And then I thought why not as my recipe takes care of both.
So let me talk about both the events.
The FoodieMonday/Bloghop is a close knit group of 15 who take turns to decide on a weekly theme. We prepare the dish accordingly and our posts go live every Monday. We also post it on our Facebook page tagging all the members.Simple and straight forward. The initiator of this group is Waagmi who blogs at Cooking is Funn. This week Alka who blogs at Culinary Xpress chose lentils as our #110 theme.
It was apt that if I’m preparing a lentil dish then it should be shared on the mega Blogging Marathon as the theme is Protein Rich Dishes.
Blogging Marathon started by Srivalli who blogs at Spicing Your Life is where a group of bloggers get together every month and for at least 2 weeks blog recipes on different themes for 3 consecutive days. She runs the Mega Blogging Marathon twice a year where the participants blog recipes on the chosen theme for the whole month i.e. from Monday to Saturday with Sundays being the rest days. So basically 26 recipes have to be posted for the theme, one each day.
I recently joined the Blogging Marathon and thoroughly enjoy the varied themes. I’m taking part in the Mega Marathon for the first time. I just plunged into the deep end of the pool not knowing what’s ahead. Planning, researching and more planning is what I’ve learnt from this event.
Its from both these groups that I’ve made some good friends, got to know other bloggers and all are a friendly and helpful bunch. There is no question that both groups are unique.
Coming to today’s recipe, I decided to make lentil and carrot kebabs. Masoor or lentils is a great substitute for meat in any dish. Lentils are a good source of protein and high in fiber. They are easy to prepare, have a nutty earthy taste, rich in magnesium and a good source of iron too. Kebabs which originate from the Middle Eastern Cuisine are basically cooked, grilled meat dishes. As the popularity of this spread to the other Asian countries and some European countries, varieties of kebabs too grew, adapting to the needs of the individual places, tastes and ingredients available. Kebabs can be on skewers, either as meat pieces or ground meat or seafood. Along with that vegetables and fruits were added. There are other variety of kebabs that are not on skewers but are shaped round or oval and grilled, baked or fried.
In India, kebabs became popular during the Mughal Era and some were developed to serve to the vegetarian population where the meat was replaced by lentils, paneer and starchy vegetables.
I got the idea of making lentil and carrot kebabs from here. You know how usually kebabs are served with sliced onions, tomatoes and other veggies, some eat it some leave it. I decided to serve a nice minty chili salsa on top of the kebab.That way everyone had the kebab and the salad too. A great dish to serve as a starter or a snack. Serve with chutneys, flavored yogurt of your choice. I made a nice coriander, chili, mint yogurt dip.
Protein sources in this recipe are lentils, chickpea flour
By no means am I claiming or supporting any sort of fad diet that are the latest craze in the fitness world. I’m just trying to include non meat non fish dishes from which you can get your protein source.
LENTIL AND CARROT KEBABS
Makes 20 – depending on the size
1 cup cooked lentils (whole masoor)
2 cups peeled and diced carrots or 3 big ones
½ cup diced onion
6-8 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced
¼ cup chopped fresh coriander
¼ cup chopped mint
½ – ¾ cup bread crumbs or coarsely ground oats
¼ cup chickpea flour (besan), dry roast it on a tawa, skillet or a pan
1-1¼tsp salt
1 tsp fennel powder
¼ tsp turmeric powder
¼ tsp cardamom powder
¼ tsp mace powder
¼ tsp cinnamon powder
¼ tsp clove powder
1 tsp coriander powder
½ tsp pepper powder
½ tsp cumin powder
½ -1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp ginger paste
1-2 tsp chilli paste or use 2-3 finely chopped chillis
2 tbsp lemon juice
1tbsp oil
salsa:
2 tomatoes
1medium onion
10-12 mint leaves
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp red chilli powder
Extra oil for greasing and for shallow frying
- I soaked ½ a cup of lentils for 30 minutes and then cooked them till done. Be careful that they don’t get overcooked.
- Drain out the water from the lentils. Spread the lentils on a kitchen towel so that all the water gets absorbed.
- Steam diced carrots till done.
- Heat oil in a pan and fry the onion and garlic till the onions begin to brown.
- Take the pan off the heat. Add ginger and chili paste. Mix well.
- Process the cooked lentils, carrots and onion mixture into a coarse mixture using a food processor.
- Take out the mixture into a bowl.
- Add rest of the ingredients.
- Mix it well.
- Grease a plate or tray with some oil.
- Take a tablespoonful of the mixture and roll it into a round flattish shape.
- Repeat step 11 till the mixture gets over.
- Heat some oil in a skillet, frying pan or tawa over medium heat.
- Cook the kebabs on both sides till its golden brown.
- Serve it hot with some salsa and chutney or yogurt dip as a snack.
- Adjust spices according to your taste.
- Dry roast the chickpea flour till you get a pleasant smell of the flour. Make sure to dry roast it over low flame.
- I’d used brown bread crumbs.
Day 3 – Moong and Spinach Muthia
Day 4 – Paneer and Naan Bites
Day 5 – Veggie Shepherd’s Pie
Day 6 – Nectarine and French Bean Quinoa Salad
Day 7 – Tofu Wraps
Day 8 – Sai Bhaji
Day 9 – Veg Protein Burrito Bowl
Day 10 – Palak Pakodi Chaat
Day 11 – Phyllo Cheesecake Cups
Day 12 – Garlicky Broccoli Quinoa
Day 13 – Quinoa Lapsi
Day 14 – Caprese Stuffed Portobello
Check out what other Mega Blogging Marathoners have made for Day 15:
https://static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js
25 Comments
Srividhya Gopalakrishnan
September 18, 2017 at 5:23 pm
Glad you were able to send this recipe to both events. Perfect recipe and love the addition of carrots.
Sharmila- The Happie Friends Potpourri corner
September 18, 2017 at 5:29 pm
Kebabs are always rich ,and that too with lentils and carrots it is absolutely yummy!!
Aruna
September 18, 2017 at 5:38 pm
Great share, Mayuri! I love Tikkis and this is another one for me to try. 🙂
Saswati Hota
September 18, 2017 at 6:01 pm
Lentil kebabs with a yogurt dip and salsa…dee I am so hungry right now…Delish share.
Sowmya :)
September 18, 2017 at 6:15 pm
Lentils and carrots sound like a perfect kebab combination for kids. Looks very inviting.
Priya Suresh
September 18, 2017 at 7:26 pm
Those kebabs looks extremely gorgeous and very pleasing. Lovely presentation as well, am sure my tastebuds will definitely fell in love with these kebabs.
vaishali sabnani
September 18, 2017 at 11:20 pm
The kebabs look fantastic , and I love the idea of topping them with salad . It looks dressy and would give a delicious and a tangy twist . Great pic !
thegalnxtdoor
September 19, 2017 at 4:38 am
This looks amazing! I'm going to try this out for sure. Do you use whole black masoor or the orange one?
thegalnxtdoor
September 19, 2017 at 4:39 am
Great share! Bookmarking it, to try out later. 🙂
Do you use whole black masoor or the orange one?
Poonam Bachhav
September 19, 2017 at 4:42 am
Yummilicious share Di !
Sujata Roy
September 19, 2017 at 5:07 am
Great share Mayuri. You made the kebab nutritious by adding masur dal and carrot. Healthy and delicious. Planning to make it soon.
Gayathri Kumar
September 19, 2017 at 5:43 am
I love the addition of masoor and carrots in kebabs. The salsa on top must give a nice flavour punch to the whole dish.
THE FOOD SAMARITAN.
September 19, 2017 at 9:38 am
Yummy Kebabs!Wanna take the whole plate.
Srivalli
September 19, 2017 at 10:03 am
Those kebabs look stunning Mayuri and I enjoyed reading your thoughts on the events and the groups..I am glad we have our group..:)..
krispykadhai
September 19, 2017 at 10:34 am
Lovely share Mayuri di! 🙂
Archana Potdar
September 19, 2017 at 1:24 pm
My kids do not like cooked carrots so this is a perfect way to feed them cooked carrots. As for tikkis they are crazy about them and will eat anything as tikki. Thanks Mayuri this takes care of tiffin box blues too.
Sapana Behl
September 19, 2017 at 2:33 pm
The kebab looks so tempting and I love your way of serving. Don't be so hard on yourself, cooking as per theme for different groups is what we bloggers do.
Anlet Prince – Annslittlecorner
September 19, 2017 at 4:48 pm
this is a favourite snack. Nutritious and filling.
preeti gupta
September 20, 2017 at 10:42 am
Love your kebabs looks delicious with addition of salad.
Kalyani
September 21, 2017 at 10:51 am
they look so good – i love kebabs of any form, n YES I am trying to get into that foodie monday blog group forever now – sounds so elusive for an invite !
firsttimercook
September 25, 2017 at 5:44 am
So good share di 👌👌, I just love it
rajani
September 26, 2017 at 9:06 pm
Mint and chili salad sounds like a good combination with those kebabs. Love the presentation and the thought you have put into this.
veena krishnakumar
October 1, 2017 at 7:38 am
Lovely share Mayuri and these kebabs looks super awesome. And I am happy to be a part of both the groups too
Ruchi Indu
October 4, 2017 at 4:50 am
Lovely tikkis. Need paav buns now to have these..
Nalini's Kitchen
October 4, 2017 at 7:58 pm
Kebab looks so tempting,guilt free and filling snack.