Spicy lentil balls with Nectarine

I have adapted this recipe from vegasztromania, a Hungarian gastroblog. Every year on New Years Day, Hungarians eat lentil. I don’t know if this custom exists in other countries as well, but they say if you eat lentils on the first day of the year, then you will have plenty of money throughout the year. However if you eat chicken it will scrape your luck. Most of the people have lentil puree (fozelek in Hungarian), but here is another variation for a lentil dish.

Ingredients: (makes approx. 25-30 pieces)

250g lentil (red, I used green)

1 big zucchini

3-4 spring onions

2-3 cloves of garlic

1 teaspoon cumin seeds grinded (I didn’t use)

3 tbs spelt flour

3 tbs breadcrumbs

6 smaller nectarin

ginger

1 teaspoon cane sugar

butter

Cook the lentils until soft, then rinse them with cold water. Blend half of it with the garlic and onion (if you use, I didn’t). Grate the zucchini and combine the three component, add some salt to it. Then comes the breadcrumbs and flour, combine all. Form small balls and toss the in breadcrumbs. Fry it in hot oil. Actually I fried half of it and I put the other half in the oven to see the difference. The ones in the oven become drier, but still tasty. J

For the sauce: Melt some butte in a saucepan, add the ginger and sugar, and after few minutes the nectarine (cut into small pieces). Cook it for 5-10 minutes.

Here is the result:

Ok, the pics is not perfect, but the food is definitely delicious. Husband confirmed it 🙂

Do you eat lentils on New Years Day? Would love to know!