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Armenian Red Lentil Balls - Vospov Kheyma
Traditionally, Kheyma is a made with meat (raw beef patty). However, during Lent many Armenians prefer Vospov Kheyma as a vegetarian alternative. Our friends the Bedrosians brought these over as an appetizer last night. He said it was a bit spicier than his mother usually made, but we all thought they were perfect. If you want less of a kick, dial back the cayenne. If you've never tried these before - and if you aren't Armenian or Turkish you probably haven't - you're in for a real treat. As Brian would say, "They are fantastic!" Ingredients
- 1 cup red or yellow lentils (our family always used red)
- 2 large yellow onions finely chopped
- 1 bunch parsley – chopped (I used about ½ a bunch)
- 4 – green onions – chopped
- ½ stick butter
- ½ cup veg. oil
- 2 ½ cups water (or chicken broth)
- ½ tsp cayenne
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 Cup bulghour (fine or medium – I used #4)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Cook lentils in water(broth) for 1-1.5 hours our until very soft (no salt, uncovered)
- Sauté onions on oil and butter until transluscent
- Drain excess water from lentils, if any. In a large bowl, mix lentils, onions, bulghour and spices gently with a spoon. Cover and let stand 15 mins. (if mixture is soft, you can add more bulghour and the additional water here)
- If desired, you can add half the green onions and parsley to the mix before shaping or serving
- Use approx. ¼ cup of mix to form small balls or rolls about 1 inch thick. As you can see from the picture, I rolled them into longer rolls and then cut them into about 2 inch lengths.
- Sprinkle the remaining green onion and parsley on top for a garnish.
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Reviews
This was just amazing. I had two left over pieces this morning for a make shift breakfast, and they were just as delicious as last night. The combination of lentils and bulgur provides a nice hearty texture. Healthy and delicious!
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.%20However,%20during%20Lent%20many%20Armenians%20prefer%20Vospov%20Kheyma%20as%20a%20vegetarian%20alternative.%20%20Our%20friends%20the%20Bedrosians%20brought%20these%20over%20as%20an%20appetizer%20last%20night.%20%20He%20said%20it%20was%20a%20bit%20spicier%20than%20his%20mother%20usually%20made,%20but%20we%20all%20thought%20they%20were%20perfect.%20If%20you%20want%20less%20of%20a%20kick,%20dial%20back%20the%20cayenne.%20%20If%20you've%20never%20tried%20these%20before%20-%20and%20if%20you%20aren't%20Armenian%20or%20Turkish%20you%20probably%20haven't%20-%20you're%20in%20for%20a%20real%20treat.%20%20As%20Brian%20would%20say,%20%22They%20are%20fantastic!%22){kind=small}
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