One of the most consumed foods in Egypt is falafel. It is always served fried and is made with peeled beans. Additionally, it is made using chickpeas throughout the Levant region, primarily in Syria and Lebanon. Red lentils were used in my recipe, and baking was employed in place of the conventional cooking method (frying). It has been quite satisfying to develop a creative meal using lentils rather than beans.
| Prep Time: | 35 mins |
| Cook Time: | 20 mins |
| Additional Time: | 2 hrs |
| Total Time: | 2 hrs 55 mins |
| Servings: | 4 |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 cup red lentils
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 1 onion, quartered
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled
- ½ bunch fresh parsley
- ½ bunch fresh cilantro
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
- ⅓ cup oil
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon chile powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
- salt to taste
- 1 cup yogurt
- 4 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- salt to taste
- ¾ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1 tomato, cubed
- ¼ cup sliced olives
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
- 2 teaspoons minced green onion
Instructions
- Place red lentils in a bowl and cover with water. Let soak until softened, about 2 hours. Drain.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and grease with 2 teaspoons oil.
- Place lentils in a food processor with onion, garlic, 1/2 bunch parsley, cilantro, and 1/4 cup green onions; pulse until finely ground.
- Transfer lentil mixture to a large bowl. Add 1/3 cup oil, egg, baking powder, black pepper, chile powder, cumin, coriander, and salt; mix until well-blended. Spread dough to 1/4-inch thickness onto prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden and firm, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven.
- Combine yogurt, lemon juice, tahini, and salt in a small bowl; mix well until sauce is smooth.
- Layer sauce, Cheddar cheese, tomato, olives, 1 tablespoon parsley, and 2 teaspoons green onion on top of baked dough.
- Return to the oven and bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.
- Substitute chickpeas or fava beans for the lentils if preferred.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 556 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 42 g |
| Cholesterol | 72 mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 17 g |
| Protein | 25 g |
| Saturated Fat | 9 g |
| Sodium | 428 mg |
| Sugars | 8 g |
| Fat | 33 g |
| Unsaturated Fat | 0 g |
Reviews
Very interesting and quite unique answer for flatbread. It’s so easy to put together, too. As a pizza, it is tasty. It’s best eaten with a fork because it remains a bit soft and pliable. I served half of the flatbread with the yogurt sauce and toppings on the side. Definitely an incomparable addition to your table and definitely guest-worthy. Thank you for the recipe.