Air Fryer Red Lentil Kebab
Delicious tasting Air Fried Red Lentil Kebab is a very flavorful, hearty, and healthy recipe. These are made with protein rich red lentils, ginger, garlic, red onions, carrots, peppers, and some aromatic spices. The nutrient packed kebabs are gluten-free and vegan friendly.
If you are a falafel fan then you will definitely love these red lentil kebabs. I am sure you will enjoy every bite which is bursting with amazing flavors. Additionally these are air fried with minimal oil which makes them a guilt free snack to enjoy with a cup of tea.
This quick and easy recipe makes an amazing appetizer for get-togethers with some green chutney or ketchup. Incorporate them in your veggie rice or quinoa bowl, enjoy them with some hummus, wraps, or sandwiches for a satisfying meal option. The possibilities are endless with this air fried red lentil kebab recipe.
Red lentils are one of the most versatile legumes with various health benefits. Nutrient rich red lentils are an excellent source of plant based proteins and are high in fiber for a balanced healthy diet. They also contain antioxidants, iron, and folate. When these legumes are combined with onions, garlic, carrots, and bell peppers, they enhance the flavors and health benefits.
Traditionally kebabs are pan or deep fried with generous amounts of oil but thanks to the modern world for discovering air fryers. I have recently bought an amazing stainless steel air fryer to make a lot of food at the same time.
Soaking the split red lentils and blending them into a coarse texture gives the red lentil kebab the best taste. Frying them in an air fryer to perfection is very important for crispy tasting kebabs.
I have combined red onions, carrots, and orange bell peppers to enhance the color of these cute red lentil kebabs but feel free to add some other veggies. You can incorporate some spinach, cabbage, or potatoes.
The combination of all these ingredients make these kebabs more flavorful and tasty. They make a perfect make-ahead recipe to serve on busy weekdays. I am including some of the interesting meal ideas using these red lentil kebabs later in the post.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- Split red lentils
- Onions
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Carrots
- Bell peppers
- Cilantro
- Lime juice
- Red chili powder
- Coriander powder
- Cumin powder
- Garam masala
- Salt
- Oil
Air Fryer Red Lentil Kebab Step By Step Recipe
Preparing The Lentils
Triple wash the lentils and soak them in 1 cup of water for 1 hour. Discard all the water by transferring them to the colander.
Transfer them to a chopper or food processor. Add some sliced ginger and garlic and grind the mixture into a coarse texture.
Preparing The Veggies
In a pan, heat 1 tsp oil, add chopped onions, bell peppers, and sauté them for 3 minutes on medium heat.
Transfer the shredded carrots and sauté them for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and add some chopped cilantro leaves. Set the veggies aside.
Once the veggies are cool down to room temperature, transfer the lentil mixture, lime juice, salt and spices, and mix everything together.
Shaping The Kebab
Line a parchment paper or aluminum foil to a baking pan or use the air fryer basket, brush the paper with ½ tbsp oil, and set aside.
Preheat the air fryer to 400℉/200℃
Grease your hands with a few drops of oil, take some mixture to form into an oblong/oval shape. Set the kebab on a baking tray.
Repeat the process with the remaining mixture and make 15 kebabs out of it. Set all the kebabs on a baking tray without overcrowding them. If you have a small air fryer, cook the kebab in batches by adding 4-5 at a time.
Brush some remaining oil on the top of the kebabs. Air fry them for 7-8 minutes without disturbing them. Take out the pan from the oven and wait for 30-40 seconds before flipping them.
Gently flip each kebab using a spatula or fork. Bake the kebab for another 4-5 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
Take them out of the oven and let them sit in the baking tray for 3-5 minutes.
Tips For Making Air Fryer Red Lentil Kebab
- Soak the split red lentil for 1 hour in a cup of water for the best texture in the kebab. If you add more water while soaking them, make sure to remove all the water from them before mixing.
- Grind the mixture into a coarse texture is important for best tasting kebab.
- Finely chop or grate the carrots, peppers, onions, and cilantro so they will bind in the mixture well. Use a chopper or food processor for convenience.
- Cook the veggies on medium heat. It helps them retain their color and turn tender and a bit crunchy.
- Red lentil kebabs are mildly spicy – do not make the mixture too spicy. Add all the spices moderately for best testing kebabs.
- Use an air fryer basket or tray and arrange the kebabs without overcrowding them. Brush some oil over them and air fry them until golden brown and crispy.
Variations
- You can add some other veggies like boiled potatoes or cabbage in the recipe as well. Make sure to grate or chop them into small pieces.
- Add 1 tbsp of chickpea flour in the mixture for binding the mixture.
- Shape the kebab into a round shape like a pattie to use them in burgers or sandwiches.
- Make them completely oil free without adding any oil in the recipe.
- Pan fry them with a little oil and keep cooking them on low to medium heat for 20-30 minutes by flipping them after 15 minutes.
- Shallow fry or deep fry them for best tasting red lentil kebab.
How To Store Air Fryer Red Lentil Kebab?
These kebabs can be stored in the refrigerator for 4 days in an airtight container. Reheat them on a skillet or in the oven for the crispy texture.
Store them in an airtight container or freezer safe bag for 2 months. Reheat them in the air fryer or oven to 350℉/175℃ for 3-4 minutes. You can pan fry them on medium heat before serving them.
How To Serve Air Fryer Red Lentil Kebab?
You can serve these red lentil kebab for breakfast, a snack, or as an appetizer with some tomato ketchup or green chutney.
These kebabs make a great quick meal option when you prepare them in a large quantity to use them later. You can break them into small pieces and add them into the wraps, frankies, and sandwiches for a quick and nutrition rich meal.
Use some plain parathas, spread mint coriander chutney or avocado crema, mayo, sautéed veggies like mix bell peppers and onions, and 2 cutlets in each to make an amazing tasting wrap.
Shape them into a round patty shape for the best crispy burger experience along with a milkshake, fries, sweet potato fries, or chips.
Enjoy them in a rice or quinoa bowl with some oven roasted veggies, tofu sticks or with some spinach dal and rice.
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Recipe Card
Air Fryer Red Lentil Kebab
Equipment
- Air Fryer/Oven
- Food Process/Chopper
Ingredients
- 1 cup Split Red Lentils masoor dal
- 1 small Red onion finely chopped
- 1/4 inch Ginger sliced
- 3 medium Garlic cloves sliced
- 2 medium Carrots shredded
- 1/2 medium Orange bell pepper finely chopped
- 2 tbsp Cilantro chopped
- 1/2 tsp Lime juice
- 1 tsp Red chilli powder
- 1 tsp Coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp Cumin powder
- 1/4 tsp Garam masala
- 1 tsp Salt or as required
- 1 tbsp Oil divided
Instructions
Preparing The Lentils
- Triple wash the lentils and soak them in 1 cup of water for 1 hour. Discard all the water by transferring them to the colander.
- Transfer them to a chopper or food processor. Add some sliced ginger and garlic and grind the mixture into a coarse texture.
Preparing The Veggies
- In a pan, heat 1 tsp oil, add chopped onions, bell peppers, and sauté them for 3 minutes on medium heat.
- Transfer the shredded carrots and sauté them for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and add some chopped cilantro leaves. Set the veggies aside.
- Once the veggies are cool down to room temperature, transfer the lentil mixture, lime juice, salt and spices, and mix everything together.
Shaping The Kebab
- Line a parchment paper or aluminum foil to a baking pan or use the air fryer basket, brush the paper with ½ tbsp oil, and set aside.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400℉/200℃
- Grease your hands with a few drops of oil, take some mixture to form into an oblong/oval shape. Set the kebab on a baking tray.
- Repeat the process with the remaining mixture and make 15 kebabs out of it. Set all the kebabs on a baking tray without overcrowding them. If you have a small air fryer, cook the kebab in batches by adding 4-5 at a time.
- Brush some remaining oil on the top of the kebabs. Air fry them for 7-8 minutes without disturbing them. Take out the pan from the oven and wait for 30-40 seconds before flipping them.
- Gently flip each kebab using a spatula or fork. Bake the kebab for another 4-5 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
- Take them out of the oven and let them sit in the baking tray for 3-5 minutes.
Notes
- Soak the split red lentil for 1 hour in a cup of water for the best texture in the kebab. If you add more water while soaking them, make sure to remove all the water from them before mixing.
- Grind the mixture into a coarse texture is important for best tasting kebab.
- Finely chop or grate the carrots, peppers, onions, and cilantro so they will bind in the mixture well. Use a chopper or food processor for convenience.
- Cook the veggies on medium heat. It helps them retain their color and turn tender and a bit crunchy.
- Red lentil kebabs are mildly spicy – do not make the mixture too spicy. Add all the spices moderately for best testing kebabs.
- Use an air fryer basket or tray and arrange the kebabs without overcrowding them. Brush some oil over them and air fry them until golden brown and crispy.
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