Ugly delicious! Eat these patties as they are or enjoy them on a burger bun with all the trimmings. Tomato sauce (ketchup) is a must and (for those who like it spicy) Sriracha sauce as well.
Peel 1 large or 2-3 small sweet potatoes, chop them into large pieces and steam them until soft. Take them out of the steamer and allow them to cool and dry out. Finely chop 1 onion, 1 carrot and 1 large celery stick. In a large saucepan heat a little olive oil and cook them over medium heat until the onion is soft and translucent. Add a bay leaf, a sprig of thyme and 2 finely diced cloves of garlic and continue to cook for a few minutes. Add ¾ of a cup of red lentils and 2¾ cups of boiling water. Simmer for 15 – 20 minutes until all the water is absorbed and the lentils are soft. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Continue to cook, stirring often, until the lentils break down a little and the mixture comes together. Add the sweet potato and use a masher to make a coarse mash. Taste and season again if necessary. Heat some oil in a pan or on a flat barbecue grill and, using a spoon and spatula, make the patties directly on the cooking surface.
michelle picker cooks 