Cooking the Channel: Bal's Lentil Cookies

By: Michelle Buffardi

Lentils are high in protein and fiber and are one of the best vegetable sources of iron out there. They're popular in India, the Mediterranean, Pakistan and the Middle East, and are easily found in any neighborhood grocery store in the United States. Lentils are also inexpensive, so a great pantry item for families to stock up on. But once your pantry is full, will your kids eat these little legumes? Maybe.

Easy ways to get your kids to eat lentils:

1. Bribery: "Eat these lentils, Darling, and you can finally get a puppy!"

2. Threats: "You'll finish your lentils, Johnny, if we have to sit at the table all night!"

3. Punishment: "If you don't finish your lentils, there will be no TV for a month!"

4: Bake them into cookies: "Another cookie, dear?"

Which would you prefer?

Let's just say you go with option 4. Bal Arneson, Spice Goddess and lover of legumes, created these cookies that are so loaded with tasty stuff -- chocolate chips, almonds, pumpkin seeds -- that the kids won't even notice the lentils. In fact, neither will the grownups, so when you make these, be sure you make enough to slip into everyone's lunch bag.

Ingredients
  • 1 cup mixed lentils
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup quick rolled oats
  • 1 cup slivered almonds
  • 1 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions

Cook the lentils in boiling water for 35 minutes. Strain the lentils and crush with a fork.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a cookie sheet or line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

In a bowl, cream the crushed cooked lentils, butter, and brown sugar together and then add the egg and blend. Add the flour, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir in the oats, slivered almonds, pumpkin seeds, and chocolate chips and mix well.

Drop the cookies by the spoonful onto the prepared baking sheet and flatten. Bake the cookies for 13 to 18 minutes and allow to cool on a baking rack.

Yield: 24 cookies (or 12 large)

Bal's Lentil Cookies are one of the most popular recipes on Cooking Channel, meaning you're looking at it.  But has anyone made these cookies? Let us know what you think!

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