Sizzling Snacks with 11 bean and lentils that can be served as appetizers/snacks/breakfast/ lunch. If you have this batter ready, they are endless possibilities.

These are vegan and gluten free.

For a while, we were dabbling with the idea of coming up with a simple base mixture for creating multiple items. During the recent trip to our neighborhood grocery store, we were looking at ten (10) different beans - something that is not uncommon in Indian stores. A small light bulb turned on in my mind. Why not create a bean + lentil mixture to create a high-protein, fiber-rich, and nutrient-rich snack option for vegetarians.

I returned home, and I saw the same beans in my pantry. (It was also about time to clean up my pantry for the new year! :-)) With this base mixture, I could foresee that we could make -

• Kebabs
• Pakodi
• Adai
• Burger Patty
• Vada

Other Sizzling Snack possibilities with 11 bean

• Cutlets with this 11 bean and bread
• Vegetable and bean kofta
• Bean nuggets
• Tikki with potato and 11 beans

Side dishes using this 11 bean

• Spicy Tamarind Gravy with pakodas
• Vada curry, side dish for dosa

Why 11 beans and lentils?

We wanted to have 10 beans and lentils but after adding and soaking we realized accidentally we put 11 beans and lentils and we liked the combination so much and we didnt want to change.

You can use any number of beans or if you dont like any particular bean and lentil skip those beans . Try to avoid black bean as it tastes different when ground.

These are Sizzling Snacks with 11 bean:

1. Kebabs

These are so flavorful and pretty easy to pull together and a total crowd-pleaser. These are typically made with meat, but this vegetarian version is equally delicious.

These kebabs are made from a mixture of beans and lentils – good, wholesome ingredients with your favorite spices and herbs.

Also, we can use these kebabs as a filling for Kathi rolls.

2. Pakodi (pakoda, pokaro):

They are different names to deep-fried fritters that are popular across India. These are served as teatime snacks.

3. Adai:

4. Patty:

You can eat these patties without any bread. On the other hand, you can make a burger/sandwich using this patty.

5. Vada:

Its a popular South Indian Tea snack. It has a crispy crunch on the outside and is softer inside with full of flavor.

Serve with cilantro jalapeno sauce or a bang-bang sauce.

Bean based high protein snack

• Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, lunch, Snack

Ingredients

• Beans and lentils: 2 cups I took equal ratio
• Ginger: 1 inch
• Garlic small ones: 3-4
• Red chillies: 4
• Salt to taste
• Fennel/cumin seeds: 1 teaspoon

Instructions

• How to make the Magic bean and lentil mixture?
• Wash and soak your beans overnight or for up to twelve hours in enough water to cover them by at least 3-4 inches. Drain the beans in a colander.
• In a mixer/food processor, grind red chilies, fennel/jeera, ginger, garlic and salt to a coarse paste
• Then add soaked beans and grind it to little coarse paste
• Take out the mixture into the bowl

For making vada

• Transfer the bean mixture to a bowl. Add finely chopped onion, green chili, curry leaves, and coriander leaves .
• Mix all ingredients well. Grease your palms with oil and divide mixture into equal portions. Take each portion of mixture and shape like vadas and Place them in a plate.
• Heat oil in a deep-frying pan over medium flame. When oil is medium hot, slide 2-3 Vada’s in oil from the side of pan and deep fry them until golden brown and crispy.
• Transfer them to a plate with paper napkin. Deep-fry remaining Vada’s. Vada’s are ready to serve. Serve them hot with tea or coffee.

For making pakodi:

• Add chopped onions, coriander/mint leaves to the batter
• Heat oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat, when the oil is hot enough, drop small portions of the mixture in the hot oil.(for crisper edge avoid making balls, just drop small portions)
• Fry on medium heat stirring often until they turn golden and crunchy.
• Drain them on a tissue paper. Fry pakoda in batches until you finish the entire mix.
• Serve these hot pokadas with tea.

For making adai:

• In a large bowl, take the bean mixture and then add water and mix, the consistency of the batter should be little thick than dosa batter. (Optional : Season it with mustard and split urad if you like. Saute fine cut onions in oil and add to batter.)
• Heat the griddle and on medium heat add a scoop of batter and spread it quickly like a dosa. Spread it as thin as you like. Add ½ tsp oil/ghee on the edges and cook on one side till the edges loosen from the pan slightly. Flip it and cook on the other side as well until little crisp.
• serve hot with coconut/ginger chutney

For making as patty:

• In a large bowl, mix the beans mixture with some chopped onions, coriander leaves, and mint leaves(optional). The mixture should hold together when you form a patty.
• Form burger patties, patting them out on your palm and shaping the edges with your fingers.
• Heat a non-stick or cast-iron griddle/pan and few spoons of oil. Cook the burgers over medium-high heat until golden-brown. Flip over and cook the other side adding a spoon of oil more.
• Serve hot or cold. These are delicious on a bun or on a sandwich bread too.

For making as Kebab:

• In a large bowl, mix the beans mixture with some chopped onions, coriander leaves, and mint leaves(optional). The mixture should hold together when you form a kebab. Make kebab shapes and place it ready on a plate.
• Heat a non-stick or cast-iron griddle/pan and few spoons of oil. Cook the kebabs over medium-high heat until golden-brown. Flip over and cook the other side adding a spoon of oil more if needed.

Recipe Notes

Note:

• You can add chopped vegetables like carrots, beans, corn
• Don’t add water while grinding the dal.
• Do not deep-fry vadas on high flame otherwise they will turn dark brown fast and remains uncooked from inside.
• Place mixture in refrigerator for 15-20 minutes before making vadas in step-5. This would make crispier masala vada.
• For adai: the batter is not fermented but resting helps to enhance the flavor.
• You can use as many beans and lentils you want or can also reduce them.
• You can use any number of beans or skip some beans if you dont like any particular bean.