Lentil & Sweet Potato 'Pumpkins'
These sweet potato and red lentil 'pumpkins' are perfect to make this autumn- especially around Halloween! You can serve these as a snack or as part of a wider meal, and, as the pumpkins are very soft in texture, they are suitable from 6 months up, after first tastes. These are also ideal for kids to have a go at making themselves- you may want to do step one for them (depending on their age) but otherwise it is straightforward for them to do themselves.
Makes: 12 Pumpkins
Prep: 10 Mins
Cooking Time: 20-45 Mins
Ready In: 30-55 Mins
- 300g sweet potato
- 100g red lentils
- 2 eggs
- 1tsp paprika
- 50g grated cheddar
- 3 heaped tbsp plain flour
- 12 thin slices of green pepper
- Cook the lentils according to packet instructions. Steam or microwave the sweet potato until soft (about 5-7 minutes in the microwave at 800W or 15-20 minutes in the steamer). Mash the sweet potato and thoroughly rinse the lentils. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200C/ 180C Fan/ Gas6.
- Mix all the ingredients except the green pepper together in a large bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Spoon the mixture onto baking trays lined with baking parchment making little circles, and gently press down slightly to flatten- you should make about 12 in total. Stick the green pepper into the top of the pumpkins to create a stalk and then put them in a preheated oven at for 15 minutes
- Leave to cool slightly then serve
Method
- Cook the lentils according to packet instructions. Steam or microwave the sweet potato until soft (about 5-7 minutes in the microwave at 800W or 15-20 minutes in the steamer). Mash the sweet potato and thoroughly rinse the lentils. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200C/ 180C Fan/ Gas6.
- Mix all the ingredients except the green pepper together in a large bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Spoon the mixture onto baking trays lined with baking parchment making little circles, and gently press down slightly to flatten- you should make about 12 in total. Stick the green pepper into the top of the pumpkins to create a stalk and then put them in a preheated oven at for 15 minutes
- Leave to cool slightly then serve
Ingredients
- 300g sweet potato
- 100g red lentils
- 2 eggs
- 1tsp paprika
- 50g grated cheddar
- 3 heaped tbsp plain flour
- 12 thin slices of green pepper
Additional Information
For children under 12 months, you may want to remove the green pepper or roast it prior to cooking in these just to ensure it is very soft when serving. This is also a good recipe if you have some sweet potato puree/mash to use up and you're moving on to introducing other textures.
Please note that these are best served warm, so if you are saving them for another day make sure you thoroughly reheat them before serving.
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