Southwest Amaranth and Lentil Patties with Vegan Chipotle
Morita chiles are red, fully mature Chipotles. This gives them a unique, medium – hot smokey flavor which is popular in many Southwestern dishes. These can be added to sauces (including Mole) to add smokey flavor and maintain the red color of the sauces. These peppers are about 2-4 inches in length, 1 inch in width, and have a deep brick reddish brown color. The word Chipotle translated to smoked chile. Consider the Chipotle a 6.5 on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the hottest). Scoville heat units 7,000-25,000.
Suggested Use:
Use Morita in enchilada sauces, chili, stews, barbecue ribs, and corn bread. Their smoky quality combines well with poultry, meats and fall squash.
“Aioli”Ingredients:
• 1 cup red lentils
• 1 cup amaranth
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 Cloves garlic
• 2 Cups chopped kale
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder*
• 2 Tablespoons ground flax seed
• 1/2 Cup chopped cilantro
• 1/2 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper
• oil for frying
Chipotle “aioli”
• 1 package silken tofu
• 1/2 -1 teaspoon chipotle powder*
• 1 teaspoon coriander
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 3/4 tsp salt
• juice of half a lime
• 1 garlic clove
Instructions
*Make chile powders by grinding dried chiles in a spice or coffee grinder.
To cook:
Add red lentils and amaranth to a pot. Cover with water and boil for 15 minutes. Drain. Place in a bowl and let cool.
In a large skillet, saute onion in oil over medium high heat for two minutes. Turn heat down to medium. Add garlic. Saute 3-4 minutes. Add chopped kale, spices and salt.
Add onion kale mixture to lentil amaranth mixture in bowl. Stir to combine. Add ground flax and fold in fresh cilantro.
Make Aioli. Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until very smooth, scraping down sides. Place in bowl and set aside.
When cool enough to handle form 2-3 inch patties and lightly coat in dry amaranth seeds.
Heat 1 -2 tablespoons oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat.
Sear patties a few minutes on each side, until golden brown and place in a warm oven until heated all the way through.
Alternatively, you can bake them: put the patties on a greased or parchment lined baking sheet and bake @ 350 F, for 30 minutes, flipping half way though, 15 minutes on each side.
Serve with the chipotle aioli and fresh sprigs of cilantro.
From feastingathome.com