These vegan, gluten-free savory lentil + quinoa protein pancakes are delicious, filling, and packed with plant-based protein (a whopping 13g per pancake). Red lentils and white quinoa are soaked overnight to soften and then blended to battery perfection along with spices, seasonings, and other baking necessities. Minced serrano peppers (watch yourself) and shallots are gently folded in to add a subtle kick and zing. The batter is then poured, flipped, and cooked to perfection. I typically top these with fresh avocado and tomatoes, but feel free to get adventurous with your veggie garnishes!
Every now and then something comes over me, and I start feeling fancy in the kitchen. I release the tight grip I usually have on order and procedure, throw my cautions to the wind, and act like a chef while developing recipes.
A dash of this, a dash of that.
A pinch of this, a pinch of that.
A mince of this, a mince of that.
And just when my ego peeks over the edge into the land of overconfidence...
SQUIRT!
Hot pepper juice in my eye.
Nothing grounds the ego quite like a spicy shot of fury straight to the eyeball.
After making this quinoa pizza crust a few months back and realizing how pancake-battery it is in its pre-baked state (sounds like a crime, not a food), I had been thinking about ways to turn it into savory pancakes (especially after falling in love with Angela Liddon's Chickpea Pancakes last fall).
After a few brainstorming sessions, I landed on the idea of blending lentils into the quinoa batter to add an even bigger oomph of protein. When I finally got cooking on Saturday morning, I just went for it; I added in more spices than originally planned (good idea), dropped in some unplanned pinches of salt (much needed), and minced up some spicy veggies to add a touch of heat (see above).
I'm happy to say that my eye is just fine, and my overly confident ego was washed down the drain along with the spicy pepper juice. Even more importantly, these pancakes were completely worth the fuss, and they're one of my new favorite recipes.
Red lentils and white quinoa are soaked overnight to soften. They're added to a food processor along with a variety of spices, seasonings, and other baking necessities and then whirled together to create a savory pancake batter. Minced serrano peppers (watch yourself) and shallots are gently folded in to add a subtle kick and zing.
The batter is then poured, flipped, and cooked to perfection and topped with a variety of vegetables.
These pancakes are delicious, filling, and packed with protein. As you've probably noticed, I typically don't include nutrition information for my recipes but I did add it in for this one simply to showcase the protein count. If you make five medium-sized pancakes, each one has a whopping 13 grams of protein. Protein-packed, pancake-y awesomeness.
📖 Recipe
Savory Lentil + Quinoa Protein Pancakes
Ingredients
For the Pancakes
- 1 cup red lentils
- 1 cup white quinoa
- 1 ¼ cup water
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon coriander
- 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons large grain sea salt or to taste (I use 1 ½ teaspoons)
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 serrano pepper, seeded and minced
- 3 tablespoons minced shallots
Topping Ideas
- Sliced avocado
- Sliced cherry tomatoes
- Peppery greens (e.g., arugula)
- Creamy hemp seed and pepita dressing
Instructions
- Add the lentils and quinoa to two separate airtight containers. Pour tap water into both containers until it completely covers the lentils and quinoa. I like to have an extra two inches or more water on top because it will be absorbed overnight. Refrigerate both containers overnight or for at least 8 hours.
- Drain and thoroughly rinse both the lentils and quinoa.
- Add the lentils and quinoa to a food processor along with the 1 ¼ cup water, minced garlic, cilantro leaves, coconut oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, baking powder, garlic powder, coriander, salt, and pepper. Process for 2-3 minutes or until the batter is completely smooth.
- Transfer the batter to a large mixing bowl and gently fold in the serrano peppers and shallots.
- Heat a medium skillet or griddle pan over medium heat. Spray or rub the pan with coconut oil. Once the pan is hot, drop a full ladle of batter into the skillet and cook for 2 to 2 ½ minutes on one side. Flip and cook another 2 to 2 ½ minutes on the other side. You want the pancake to just be turning golden in color. Transfer the cooked pancake to a plate and repeat with the remainder of batter, making 4 large or 5-6 medium pancakes.
- Serve slightly warm topped with fresh veggies of your choosing.
- Refrigerate leftover pancakes.
Notes
Nutrition
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Cassie says
Want want want! This looks beyond yummy. It's going on my "to-make" list for sure!
Ashley says
So glad this one made it to your "to-make" list, Cassie! Thanks so much, and I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Celeste Jackson says
Yum, that looks like the breakfast of champions!
Baby June says
Those look amazing! A very fancy creation indeed :) I like to eat pancakes for dinner anyway so why not make them savory? :D
Rosanna says
I'm glad I found your blog!.. So impressed with your recipes !! Can't wait to make this one particularly!!
Anh says
This is such a fantastic recipe! I never think of using quinoa and lentil this way (the technique is a lot like how we would make Indian dosa?). Anyway, YUM!
Ashley says
Thanks so much, Anh! It's surprising how well the soaked quinoa and lentils blend together to become a smooth batter, and the pancakes are so hearty, dense, and packed with protein because of them. I've never made dosa before, but I've been eyeing a few recipes lately -- if you have one that you think I should try, I'd love a recommendation!
Debbie says
Hi, these look great. I have IBS and am on a low FODMAP diet which allows canned lentils that are well rinsed, but not fresh lentils because they are easier to digest. I was wondering if you think this could work and if so what amount would you suggest? Also how long would these last in the refrigerator? Can they be frozen and reheated. Thanks
Ashley says
Hi, Debbie! Thanks so much! I think canned lentils will work just fine in this recipe; however, I'm not sure what amount will work. I've actually never tried canned lentils, so I'm not sure how much moisture they hold as compared to soaked lentils. I'm guessing they probably retain more, so you'll want to start with a smaller amount and build up from there. I'd love to know how the recipe turns out and what adjustments you make if you have time to report back! Good luck!
Airyfairycelt says
Love your funny writing.
This recipe is another goodie for my overstuffed book and, sadly, overstuffed owner!
Mikkel Magnuson says
It looks delicious to see. Don't Know how tasty it will when I tried it with the recipe you have shared. By the way I am a very good Cook as cooking is my hobby That's why I will definitely try this soon. Also I like your Blogs which encourages me for cooking.
Myra says
First, I love your site and this recipe for lentil pancakes is great. I have been using hydroponics from a company called http://www.planetponics.com that allows me to grow the herbs, vegetables & grains for some of your recipes. I really enjoyed the value and idea this company was striving for. Thought I would share it for others. You can grow all year and in any climate. It grows food such as herbs, vegetables, flowers and grains. And there is no soil, no mess, self-watering hydroponics. Thanks again and keep the recipes coming!
Amy says
These are amazing! My husband and I make them as waffles instead of pancakes and make a large batch - they freeze well and are easily crisped back up in the toaster, making a super quick and healthy snack or meal. We have even adapted the recipe to make a sweet version for a nice healthy breakfast that keeps us full and satisfied.
Thana says
We tried these pancakes this evening. While I really enjoyed the flavor , I had a challenging time frying them..
Do you have any tips? The pancakes would fall apart when I tried to flip them. I use a black iron fry pan as I avoid no stick pans.
Ashley says
Hi, Thana! Thanks for trying the recipe, and I'm so sorry that you had trouble with them. Unfortunately, these really do work best in a nonstick pan. A cast iron skillet isn't ideal for this recipe unless it's very, very well seasoned and even then you'll still have some trouble with sticking and crumbling.