Instructions

1. Begin by gathering all your ingredients: cooked lentils, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, cumin, salt, pepper, tahini, lemon juice, water, and olive oil.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of cooked lentils with 1 cup of breadcrumbs. Use a fork or potato masher to mash the lentils slightly, leaving some texture.
3. Finely chop 1 medium onion and 2 cloves of garlic. In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, sautéing until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
4. Once the onion and garlic are cooked, add them to the lentil and breadcrumb mixture in the bowl.
5. Season the mixture with 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Mix everything together until well combined.
6. Form the lentil mixture into 6 equal-sized patties. If the mixture feels too wet, you can add more breadcrumbs to help bind it.
7. Heat a non-stick skillet or grill over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once hot, carefully place the lentil patties in the skillet.
8. Cook the patties for about 5-7 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and crispy. Be gentle when flipping to avoid breaking them.
9. While the burgers are cooking, prepare the tahini sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together ½ cup of tahini, the juice of 1 lemon, and 2-3 tablespoons of water until smooth. Adjust the consistency with more water if necessary. Season with salt to taste.
10. Once the lentil burgers are cooked, remove them from the skillet and let them rest for a few minutes.
11. Serve the lentil burgers on your choice of buns or lettuce wraps, drizzled with the tahini sauce. You can also add fresh vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, or cucumbers for added crunch and flavor.
12. Enjoy your delicious Middle Eastern-inspired lentil burgers with tahini sauce!