Lentilballs - revised!

Recipe updated after I tried a different mix! Also, reduced cooking time by 30 minutes, and requires no frying!

If you're looking for another way to cook the very nutritious lentils, are vegetarian or simply want to try a healthy alternative to meatballs, then you've reached the right recipe :D I had seen mentions of "lentil meatballs" on the Internet, but never tried them. As usual, I don't follow recipes as they are, so I made my own version, which turned out very good (for my tastes, at least). This needs some time to make, so make it on a day that you have spare time. I promise it's worth the try!

Time you'll need to make this: 1 hour
Difficulty level: medium

Ingredients (for 16 lentilballs):

- brown lentils (half a packet)
- salt
- 3 laurel leaves
- 3 cloves of garlic
- olive oil
- tomato juice (half a packet)
- black pepper
- veggie broth (1 cube)
- oregano
- breadcrumbs (2-3 spoons)
- ground parmesan (optional)
- melting cheese (optional - I use gouda light) - 4 slices, cut in pieces of 4 each
- water


How to cook it:

1. Fill a cooking pot with water and throw in the lentils. Place on high heat.
2. When the water starts boiling, remove the cooking pot from the heat, drain them and refill the cooking pot with water till the top. Add salt (1 spoon), pepper to taste, the garlic and the laurel leaves. Stir well and cook until lentils are very soft (try by tasting some).
3. When the lentils are ready, drain them from any remaining water, remove the laurel leaves and mash the lentils and the garlic with a help of a soup spoon, a bowl or a mixer, if you have one. If you use the mixer, make sure to not mash them into a purée because you won't be able to make them into a round shape. Instead, you should be able to see whole lentils after you're done mashing.
4. Add spices to your mash. I suggest, and have tried a mix of: oregano, a veggie broth - ground and black pepper. Mix everything very well so that the spice goes everywhere. Try your mix to see if it needs any extra salt, and if so, add and stir very well.
5. Add in 3 spoons of olive oil, and if you use parmesan, you can add it here. Stir well till the parmesan melts in the mixture.
6. Add the breadcrumbs. Stir well until the mixture is thick enough to be shaped.
7. Shape your lentilballs and place them in a cooking pan. Place in the oven at 170-200 degrees for 10 minutes, to make their shape more solid.
8. Take your pan out and pour a bit of tomato juice over each lentilball. Let it cook for about 15 minutes, and they're ready. If you wish to add melting cheese on top, take them out after 10 minutes instead, and add your slices of cheese (1 piece for each lentilball). Place back in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese has nicely melted.
9. Serve with fried or baked potatoes, tortillas or rice as sides :)