Last week, Suzy and I made a ton of salads and wound up with a huge amount of leftover lentils. Just as I was about to toss what we didn’t use into the garbage, I decided to hold off in the hopes that I could find a future use for them. They sat for several days in my vegetable crisper as I waited for a light bulb to go off. I waited. Nothing. Somehow, when I was alone, I just couldn’t muster the necessary energy. It wasn’t until Suzy came over the following week to make empenadas that inspiration struck. With the counter top already crowded with curry seasonings, garlic and onions, it came to me: Curried Lentil Patties. Crispy on the outside, flavorful and moist on the inside, these tasty patties resemble falafel and make a perfect mid-week meal when served with pita bread and a salad.
The simple moral: Hold onto your leftover ingredients and use time spent with friends to motivate you to create something new.