I can honestly say, cooking meatless meals are so much more exciting than cooking your normal meat meals. Tonight, someone who shared our Lentil loaf, thought they were eating, a meat loaf. I did not tell them, until they were doing the dishes.

These can all be frozen for lunches and instead of making the patties ( which can be placed in burger buns ) you can just make bigger loaves.

This is how I prepare my lentils -

Soak brown lentils ( I soak about 4 bags of dried lentils at a time) over night or for at least 2 hours, drain, and cover with fresh water, bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes, drain, cool and place in freezer bags, so they are ready to use when you need them.

Lentil Loaf and Lentil Patties Recipe

This recipe makes one large loaf or one small loaf and 4 patties

One loaf tin - lined with grease proof paper

One small oven tray - lined for the patties

Oven 180c

Ingredients -

1 1/2 cups cooked brown lentils - crushed, but leaving some whole. I use my hands.

6 tbsp ground chia seeds - place in a blender or crush with a mortar and pestle. (this binds the mixture, like eggs)

2 tsp oil - for frying

1 very large, finely chopped onion

3 large cloves garlic - finely chopped

3 cups carrots - finely chopped or grated

3 tsp dried mixed herbs or you can use fresh herbs

12 tbsp tomato sauce or pasta sauce

3 tbsp soya sauce

2 1/4 cups small rolled oats

Option - 1/2 cup sesame seeds

Option - 3/4 cup raw quinoa

Topping - this is for the loaves, you can make more to serve with the patties.

1 c cup pasta sauce

4 tbsp honey

1 tbsp soya sauce or Worcestershire sauce

Himalayan salt and pepper

Method

1 - If using quinoa - Place your cooked lentils in a pot with the raw quinoa. Cover well with water and simmer for 15 minutes. Drain. Mash slightly, leaving some of the lentils whole.

2 - In a large fry pan, heat oil, and on a low temperature, cook your onions, garlic, herbs and carrots until soft, covered. Stirring every now and then with the lid on.

3 - Add the vegetables to the crushed lentils.

4 - Add the sauces and oats, sesame seeds, if using and mix well, season and taste.

This mixture should hold together when you make a ball.

5 - If making patties - Make 4 large patties and pour the rest into two small loaf tin and press down. If you don't want patties just make a larger loaf.

6 - If you are making the loaf - Place the mixture into your prepared tin, mix your topping together and spread over the top of the loaf.

7 - Cook the patties for 30 minutes

- Cook the loaf for 50 minutes, covering it for the first 30 minutes and then uncover it.

Cool slightly before removing from the tin.

To freeze - slice the loaves and wrap each one individually for lunches, including the patties.