Lentil Patties with Bulgur Salad

Ingredients

• 200 g finely crushed bulgur (wheat groats)
• 3 tomatoes
• 1 bunch spring onions
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley
• 4 sprigs fresh mint
• 1 EL tomato paste
• 0.25 TL ground cumin
• 1 TL sweet paprika powder
• Salt
• Pepper (freshly ground)
• 4 EL lemon juice
• 4 EL Olive oil
• 2 shallots
• 1 pepperoni
• 30 g Butter
• 160 g yellow lentils
• 240 g finely crushed bulgur (wheat groats)
• 1 EL tomato paste
• 1 EL paprika paste
• 1 pinch ground allspice
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 0.5 bunch parsley (for garnish)
• 0.5 bunch mint (for garnish)

Instructions

1. 1.

   For the bulgur salad, pour 300 ml hot water over the bulgur in a bowl and let it soak for 30 minutes.

2. 2.

   Wash the vegetables. Remove stems from tomatoes, briefly blanch, peel, remove seeds, and dice very finely. Wash spring onions, trim, quarter lengthwise, and slice into thin strips. Wash bell peppers, halve, clean, and dice small. Rinse herbs, shake dry, and finely chop leaves. Mix tomato paste, cumin, paprika powder, 1 TL salt, and a pinch of pepper with lemon juice and olive oil, then combine with bulgur. Fold in vegetables and herbs. Let the salad rest briefly before seasoning to taste.

3. 3.

   For the lentil balls, peel and finely chop shallots. Wash pepperoni, halve lengthwise, clean, and slice into very thin strips. Melt butter in a pan. Sauté shallots and pepperoni until shallots become translucent; set aside.

4. 4.

   Rinse lentils under running water, then cook with 900 ml water and 1½ TL salt over gentle heat for about 30 minutes until the lentils have almost absorbed the liquid and break apart. Stir in bulgur and let it soak for 10 minutes. Transfer the lentil-bulgur mixture to a bowl and press a depression into it. Mix in onions, pepperoni, tomato paste, paprika paste, allspice, and a generous pinch of pepper; season with a bit of salt.

5. 5.

   Wash bell peppers, halve, seed, and cut into strips. Rinse herbs, shake dry, and spread together with pepper strips on a plate. With lightly oiled hands, form oval patties from 1 EL lentil paste each, flatten slightly, and arrange on the herbs. Serve the bulgur salad alongside the lentil patties.