Herbed Green Lentil Rice Balls
Rice balls are a great way to use leftover rice. In Italy, they are known as arancini and are typically deep-fried. This version uses Greek flavors—lentils, fresh herbs, lemon, and garlic—for a healthy, crispy, plant-based alternative.
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F.
- In a food processor, pulse the cooked lentils with the garlic, onion, parsley, and basil until mostly smooth. (You will want some bits of lentils in the mixture.)
- Pour the lentil mixture into a large bowl, and stir in brown rice, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. Stir until well combined.
- Form the rice mixture into 1-inch balls. Place the rice balls in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure that they don’t touch each other.
- Fry for 6 minutes. Turn the rice balls and then fry for an additional 4 to 5 minutes, or until browned on all sides.
VARIATION TIP:
Brown, green, and red lentils are flatter than other varieties and cook in 20 to 30 minutes. They soften more than other types and are ideal for soups and stuffing peppers. Black lentils, on the other hand, have a deeper flavor and rounder shape, requiring twice as long to cook for a softer texture.
PER SERVING: Calories: 80; Total Fat: 3g; Saturated Fat: 0g; Protein: 2g; Total Carbohydrates: 12g; Fiber: 2g; Sugar: 1g; Cholesterol: 0mg