Red Lentil and Turkey Patties with Mint

These small, protein-packed patties are perfect for picky eaters and adults alike! A blend of red lentils, turkey, mint, and spices ensures every bite is flavorful, moist, and balanced. Great for snacks, lunchboxes, or appetizers!

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Once more, I purchased ground turkey at Costco, even though my husband frequently complains about how unappealing it is. Nevertheless, I was eager for something nutritious, and it had been some time since we last had lentils or turkey, both of which are rich in nutrients.

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Recipe

Servings: 42 patties (slightly smaller than ping pong balls)

Calories per Serving: ~35 calories per patty

Total Time: ~50 minutes

Red Lentil and Turkey Patties with Mint

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground turkey

• 1/2 cup red lentils

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 medium carrot, grated

• 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves

• 1/2 tsp ground cumin

• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

• 1/2 tsp dried oregano

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 egg

• 1/4 cup fine breadcrumbs or oat flour

• 2 tbsp ghee (for frying)

Instructions

1. Cook the Lentils:

   • Rinse the red lentils thoroughly.

   • In a small pot, combine the lentils with 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until soft. Drain and let cool.

2. Prepare the Blended Mixture:

   • Heat 1 tsp of ghee in a skillet over medium heat. Fry the onion until golden and softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes.

   • Transfer the fried onion and garlic to a blender or food processor. Add the grated carrot, egg, fresh mint, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, black pepper, and salt. Blend until smooth.

3. Mix the Patty Ingredients:

   • In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, cooked lentils, and the blended mixture.

   • Add the breadcrumbs (or oat flour) and mix gently until well combined.

4. Shape the Patties:

   • Scoop small portions of the mixture, slightly smaller than a ping pong ball, and form into patties. You should have about 42. Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes to firm up.

5. Cook the Patties:

   • Heat the remaining ghee in a large skillet over medium heat.

   • Fry the patties in batches, cooking for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and fully cooked (internal temperature should reach 165°F).

6. Serve:

   • Pair with a yogurt dip or serve as a protein-rich snack or appetizer.

Nutritional Information (Per Patty):

• Calories: ~35

• Protein: ~4g

• Fat: ~1.5g

• Carbohydrates: ~2g

• Fiber: ~0.5g

• Sugar: ~0.3g

Packed with nutrients and flavor, these patties are a healthy, versatile addition to your meal rotation!

Cook the lentils

Fry the onion

Add the garlic

Blend carrot onion and egg

Blend carrot onion and egg

Prepare the Blended Mixture

Blend everything

Mix the Patty Ingredients

Mix the Patty Ingredients

Mix the Patty Ingredients

Shape the Patties

Cook the Patties

Cook the Patties

Cook the Patties

Cook the Patties

Cook the Patties

Serve

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Prompt

I asked ChatGPT for a turkey and red lentil recipe:

Healthy red lentils and turkey patties. I have 1.5 lbs ground turkey. I don't want turkey taste to be overpowering

ChatGPT provided:

Here’s a recipe for healthy red lentil and turkey patties that balances the flavors so the turkey taste doesn’t dominate.

Red Lentil and Turkey Patties

Servings: 6-8 pattiesTotal Time: ~45 minutes

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground turkey

• 1/2 cup red lentils

• 1 small onion, finely grated or minced (for picky eaters)

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 medium carrot, grated

• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for freshness)

• 1/2 tsp ground cumin

• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

• 1/2 tsp dried oregano

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 egg (binder)

• 1/4 cup fine breadcrumbs or oat flour (for texture)

• 2 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil (for cooking)

Instructions

1. Cook the Lentils:

   • Rinse the red lentils thoroughly.

   • In a small pot, combine the lentils with 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until soft. Drain and let cool.

2. Mix the Patty Ingredients:

   • In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, cooked lentils, onion, garlic, grated carrot, parsley, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, black pepper, and salt.

   • Add the egg and breadcrumbs (or oat flour) to bind the mixture. Mix until well combined but do not overwork the meat.

3. Shape the Patties:

   • Form the mixture into 6-8 patties, about 1/2 inch thick. Place them on a tray and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes to firm up.

4. Cook the Patties:

   • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

   • Cook the patties for 4-5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and fully cooked (internal temperature should reach 165°F).

5. Serve:

   • Pair with a simple yogurt dip, roasted vegetables, or a fresh salad.

These patties have a mild, balanced flavor thanks to the lentils, spices, and vegetables, reducing the overpowering turkey taste. Let me know how they turn out!

I was thinking mini-patties, as in toddler-friendly, so I asked:

6-8 large patties I presume? Like burger size? I'm looking for small, about 1.5 inch patties.

It agreed:

For small 1.5-inch patties, the recipe will yield around 20-24 patties. Simply form smaller portions of the mixture, about 1.5 tablespoons each, and adjust the cooking time to about 2-3 minutes per side since smaller patties cook faster.

These bite-sized patties are perfect for snacks, lunchboxes, or party appetizers!

I am so in love with ghee, so I asked:

Can I fry with ghee?

It responded:

Yes, you can fry with ghee! It has a high smoke point (around 450°F/232°C), making it an excellent choice for frying. Ghee adds a rich, nutty flavor to dishes and is a great alternative to seed oils. It works beautifully for shallow frying, like with these patties. Just use enough ghee to coat the skillet evenly, and fry the patties until golden brown on both sides.

I noticed I didn't have parsley:

I don't have parsley

So it assured me that's fine:

No problem! You can skip the parsley, or substitute it with finely chopped fresh basil, mint, or cilantro from your garden for added freshness. If you'd prefer a neutral option, just leave it out—the patties will still taste great.

I asked for the recipe again:

Ok rewrite the recipe with mint

It did:

Red Lentil and Turkey Patties with Mint

Servings: ~20-24 small patties (1.5-inch size)Total Time: ~45 minutes

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground turkey

• 1/2 cup red lentils

• 1 small onion, finely grated or minced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 medium carrot, grated

• 2 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped

• 1/2 tsp ground cumin

• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

• 1/2 tsp dried oregano

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 egg (binder)

• 1/4 cup fine breadcrumbs or oat flour (for texture)

• 2 tbsp ghee (for frying)

Instructions

1. Cook the Lentils:

   • Rinse the red lentils thoroughly.

   • In a small pot, combine the lentils with 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until soft. Drain and let cool.

2. Mix the Patty Ingredients:

   • In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, cooked lentils, onion, garlic, grated carrot, mint, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, black pepper, and salt.

   • Add the egg and breadcrumbs (or oat flour) to bind the mixture. Mix until well combined but do not overwork the meat.

3. Shape the Patties:

   • Scoop about 1.5 tablespoons of the mixture and form into small patties, about 1.5 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick. Place them on a tray and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes to firm up.

4. Cook the Patties:

   • Heat the ghee in a large skillet over medium heat.

   • Fry the patties in batches, cooking for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and fully cooked (internal temperature should reach 165°F).

5. Serve:

   • These patties pair well with a yogurt dip, a fresh cucumber salad, or roasted vegetables.

The fresh mint adds a light, refreshing touch, perfectly balancing the turkey's flavor!

I then made some adjustments with the onion, because fried onion is more palatable for my picky eaters:

Frying the onion. I will then grind with egg and grated carrot

It adjusted recipe:

Got it! Here's the updated recipe:

Red Lentil and Turkey Patties with Mint

Servings: ~20-24 small patties (1.5-inch size)Total Time: ~50 minutes

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground turkey

• 1/2 cup red lentils

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 medium carrot, grated

• 2 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped

• 1/2 tsp ground cumin

• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

• 1/2 tsp dried oregano

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 egg

• 1/4 cup fine breadcrumbs or oat flour (for texture)

• 2 tbsp ghee (for frying)

Instructions

1. Cook the Lentils:

   • Rinse the red lentils thoroughly.

   • In a small pot, combine the lentils with 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until soft. Drain and let cool.

2. Prepare the Onion Mixture:

   • Heat 1 tsp of ghee in a skillet over medium heat. Fry the onion until golden and softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes.

   • Transfer the fried onion and garlic to a blender or food processor. Add the egg and grated carrot. Blend until smooth.

3. Mix the Patty Ingredients:

   • In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, cooked lentils, the blended onion-carrot mixture, mint, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, black pepper, and salt.

   • Add the breadcrumbs (or oat flour) and mix until well combined.

4. Shape the Patties:

   • Scoop about 1.5 tablespoons of the mixture and form into small patties, about 1.5 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick. Place them on a tray and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes to firm up.

5. Cook the Patties:

   • Heat the remaining ghee in a large skillet over medium heat.

   • Fry the patties in batches, cooking for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and fully cooked (internal temperature should reach 165°F).

6. Serve:

   • Pair with a cooling yogurt dip or a light salad for a balanced, flavorful meal.

The fried and blended onion brings a subtle sweetness and depth to the patties while keeping the texture smooth for picky eaters!

I then asked for another tweak to prep order and number of patties:

After blending onion garlic egg and carrots, I added mint leaves and spice and ground as well. Slightly smaller balls than ping pong, made 42 patties. Update recipe

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