Air Fryer Recipe
Crispy Mushroom and Lentil Fritters
These mushroom and lentil fritters achieve a perfect balance of crispiness and tenderness, avoiding the heaviness often associated with lentil patties. The air fryer excels here, swiftly removing moisture to create a beautifully browned crust without drying out the interior.
Ingredients
- 250g cooked green or brown lentils, very well drained
- 250g chestnut mushrooms, finely chopped
- 1 small onion, finely chopped, about 90g
- 2 garlic cloves, finely grated or crushed
- 1 tbsp olive oil, plus 1 tbsp for brushing or spraying
- 1 tbsp soy sauce, or tamari for gluten-free
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp dried thyme, or 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 1 medium egg, beaten
- 45g gram flour, chickpea flour [or plain flour if that is what you have]
- 50g panko breadcrumbs [or fresh breadcrumbs made from slightly stale white or wholemeal bread]
- 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley or coriander
- ½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste depending on the soy sauce
- Black pepper, freshly ground
- Optional: ¼ tsp chilli flakes, for gentle heat
- To serve: lemon wedges, yoghurt with herbs, chutney, or a tahini dressing
Method
- Tip the drained lentils onto a clean tea towel or several sheets of kitchen paper and pat them dry.
- Put the chopped mushrooms and onion into a heatproof dish or silicone liner that fits your air-fryer basket.
- Toss with 1 tbsp olive oil, soy sauce, garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, thyme, and a little black pepper.
- Air fry the mushroom mixture at 190°C for 8–10 minutes, stirring once halfway, until the mushrooms have darkened and there is no obvious liquid pooled in the dish.
- Scrape the hot mushroom mixture into a mixing bowl and let it cool for 5 minutes.
- Add the lentils to the bowl and mash roughly with a fork or potato masher.
- Stir in the Dijon mustard, beaten egg, gram flour, panko breadcrumbs, chopped herbs, salt, and chilli flakes if using.
- Shape the mixture into 10–12 fritters, each about 6cm wide and 1.5cm thick.
- Preheat the air fryer to 190°C for 3 minutes if your model recommends preheating.
- Lightly oil the basket or parchment, then arrange the fritters with at least 1cm between them.
- Brush or spray the tops with a thin film of oil.
- Air fry at 190°C for 8 minutes, then turn carefully with a thin spatula or tongs.
- Brush or spray the second side lightly with oil and cook for another 5–7 minutes, until deep golden and crisp at the ridges.
- Rest the fritters on a wire rack for 3 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 250
