These pancakes are easy and inexpensive to make and taste quite good! They are light, thin, and perfect with a variety of savory dishes or in place of bread for a sandwich. The lentils are full of protein and fiber, which makes them "diabetic friendly" and, frankly, good for non-diabetics. That said, you do have to limit how many you eat if you're diabetic (as with everything else!). I include some simple spices in the pancakes, but you can vary them to suit your own tastes. You will need to pre-soak some red lentils and grind them in a blender or food processor, but it's worth the extra step (see below). Want the pancakes for breakfast? Go ahead. Consider topping them with an egg and/or cheese for a different, savory-style pancake! Enjoy!
Lentil Pancakes -- Makes 4
1 cup of lentil puree (see below)
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon of onion powder
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
1/2 teaspoon of dried parsley flakes
1/4 teaspoon of dried dill
1 teaspoon of baking powder
2 - 3 teaspoons of milk
In a medium bowl whisk all the ingredients listed above until they are completely blended. Heat a small, non-stick skillet over medium heat and spritz the skillet with canola or olive oil (or brush on the oil). When the skillet is hot, pour on about 1/4 of the batter and spread out the batter with the back of a spoon or with a spatula (the pancakes should be thin, not thick, so add a little more milk if the batter is too thick). Cook the pancakes for a few minutes or until the tops have lost their shine, and/or the edges are cooked. Flip the pancakes and cook them for another minute or two.
Lentil Puree
1 1/2 cups of red lentils
Very hot/boiling water to cover
Rinse the lentils well in a sieve or colander. Soak the lentils for a few hours in the hot water. Drain them well, then put them in a blender or food processor. Add 1/2 cup of water to the lentils then pulse or blend them until you have a smooth paste. You can store the extra lentil puree covered in the refrigerator to use later in the week.
