Smiley Mini Towers of Red Lentil, Cheese and Carrot
Small baked towers made with cooked red lentils, grated carrot, and mild cheese, designed for little hands and gentle flavors. They stay soft inside and lightly golden outside, making them ideal for a kid-friendly meal or snack.
Ingredients
- 120 g dry red lentils (enjuagada)
- 360 ml water (for cocer the lentejas)
- 100 g carrot (grated fina)
- 80 g shredded mozzarella cheese (of sabor suave)
- 1 unit egg (beaten)
- 40 g ground oats (tipo harina)
- 15 ml olive oil (more a poco for engrasar)
- 8 g chives (chopped fino)
- 1 g garlic powder
- 2 g salt
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C / 400 °F and lightly grease a mini muffin pan or a tray with small cavities using a little olive oil.
- 2
2. Place the dry red lentils and water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes, until the lentils are tender and most of the water has been absorbed. Let cool for 5 minutes.
- 3
3. Transfer the cooked red lentils to a bowl and lightly mash them with a fork to create a thick mixture with some texture.
- 4
4. Add the grated carrot, shredded mozzarella cheese, beaten egg, ground oats, olive oil, chives, garlic powder, and salt to the bowl. Mix well until everything is fully combined.
- 5
5. Divide the mixture into the mini muffin cavities, pressing gently with a spoon to shape compact mini towers.
- 6
6. Bake at 200 °C / 400 °F for 20 to 25 minutes, until the mini towers are set and golden around the edges.
- 7
7. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before unmolding. Serve warm so the mozzarella stays soft.
Chef tips
If the mixture feels too wet, add 1 extra tablespoon of ground oats. For a fun presentation, serve with cooked carrot sticks on the side.
Substitutions
You can use Oaxaca cheese or another mild melting cheese instead of mozzarella. Chives can be replaced with very finely chopped parsley.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageT-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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