Vegan Red Lentil Brownie

Tags:[sweets baking]

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (90 g) red lentils
• 3 tbsp oil
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/2 cup (90 g) vegan semi sweet chocolate chips ( or a mix of semi sweet and dark)
• 4 tbsp sugar (1 tbsp more for sweeter)
• 1/3 cup (83.33 g) nut butter (heaping cup) (I like cashew butter), Use sunflower seed butter for Nutfree
• 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup (31.25 g) flour of choice All purpose, oat or glutenfree blend for gluten-free (add a tbsp starch if using gf flour and not a blend)
• 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) salt
• 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) baking powder
• 1/4 cup (4 tbsp) vegan chocolate chips to top and mix in.

Instructions

1. Line a brownie pan with parchment paper ( I use 8 by 8 inch). Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F/180ºc . 9 by 5 loaf also works
2. Rinse the red lentils. Drain and add to a saucepan. Add 1.5 cups of water and cook partially covered over medium heat. Cook for 12 to 13 minutes or until the lentils are cooked (total time including coming to a boil). Stir once in between. Cool for a few minutes, then drain any excess water from the saucepan (there should be hardly any). Add to a food processor or blender. (For instant pot, pressure cook for 2 minutes then quick release after 5 minutes, drain well and use)
3. Heat maple syrup and oil in a skillet over medium heat. When hot, add chocolate and sugar and mix. Take off heat. Continue to mix until chocolate is melted and well combined
4. Add the melted chocolate and the rest of the ingredients to the food processor and process until a smooth batter. Add 1 tbsp Dutch processed Cocoa powder for chocolatey brownies (highly recommended as chocolate chips vary in flavor).
5. Pour into prepared brownie pan. Sprinkle 2 tbsp chocolate chips on top and mix them in. Sprinkle more to top. (I like to use mini chocolate chips to top). Bake for 32to 35minutes. Bake them a bit longer for more set and crispier edges. Check with a toothpick from the center if too soft/wet. Cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Refrigerate for upto 4 days, freeze for later. The brownie texture improves after refrigeration for a bit.

Notes

• I use sweetened nut butter in the recipe. Depending on the nut butter and chocolate used, you might need to add more sweetener(sugar). Taste the batter, and add in more and process, then pour into brownie pan.
• You can also use 1 cup of cooked chickpeas instead of lentils , add 1 flax egg when using chickpeas Add spices such as cinnamon if you like , or fold in chopped walnuts in the batter for variation.
• You want to process or blend while the melted chocolate is still warm so that the batter is flowy and easy to pour out into the pan. Blending with a blender is also easier when ingredients are warm.