I’m kinda obsessed with all things burger and patty-ish these days. You can enjoy them in between a bun or you can just eat them with a fork with some awesome tasting sauce like I did with these Sweet Potato & Millet Patties with Curry Cilantro Mayo!
Before I talk food, I need to talk weather. Usually weather is a topic that everyone can agree on and be friendly about, but I just need a second to complain about the fact that it has been 80 degrees here for the past few days. When I called my family on Thanksgiving and I told them that it was 80 degrees here, they were all pretty jealous and told me to be quiet. But, really, I wasn’t bragging at all!
I don’t necessary love really cold weather and I love that we don’t have to shovel snow and that we have sunshine everday, but for god’s sake, can we please have some temperatures that are below 80 degrees when it is December?! Ok, I think I’m done with my rant now… But I’m sure I’ll be ranting again in a few days when it is 60 degrees and I’m way too cold! I swear, living in the dessert does some strange things to your body!
Now, onto the food! Ever since I made these sweet potato fries with curry cilantro mayo, I’ve been totally hooked on the sweet potato and curry combo. These patties are super easy to make. All you have to do is throw some roasted sweet potato (my favorite way to prepare them!) and some millet into the food processor with a few spices and then stir in the lentils. Then, use your hands to form them into cakes, brown them up in a pan with some olive oil, dunk into some curry cilantro mayo and you will be in heaven! Trust me, you won’t even be thinking about all the cold weather and snow coming your way. (PS, I’m so jealous about all that cold weather and snow coming your way!)
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Sweet Potato & Millet Cakes with Curry Cilantro Mayo
- Yield: 10-12 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup lentils
- 1 bay leaf
- 3/4 cup millet
- 3 heaping cups diced sweet potatoes, about 2 small peeled sweet potatoes
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon ground tumeric, optional
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper
- Olive Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
Curry Cilantro Mayo:
- 1 cup vegenaise or mayonnaise
- 1 1/4 teaspoon curry powder
- 2 – 3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro leaves
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- In a medium sized pot, cover lentils with 1 cup of water and add bay leaf and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook until lentils are tender and water is absorbed, about 25 minutes. Set aside.
- In another medium sized pot, add millet and cover with 1 1/2 cups of water. Cook until millet is cooked through and all water is absorbed, 25-30 minutes.
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. On a large sheet pan, add diced sweet potatoes and drizzle with a small amount of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast until sweet potatoes are fork tender, 25 minutes.
- Add sweet potatoes, millet. salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, smoked paprika, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, and turmeric to a food processor and process for 15-30 seconds, until mixed together.
- Place millet and sweet potato mixture into a large bowl and add lentils. Mix until combined.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Form the mixture into patties (your should get 10-12) and cook patties for 3-5 minutes on each side, until crisp on the outside. Add extra oil for new batches, if needed.
- While patties are cooking, make the curry cilantro mayo. Add all ingredients into a small bowl and mix until combined.
- Serve sweet potato, millet & lentil patties with a dollop with curry cilantro mayo. Enjoy!
- Category: Appetizer, Entree, Gluten Free, Vegan
The best Christmas present ever!
Yikes, I’m sorry about the 80 degree heat wave, Izzy! I would undoubtedly be angry if I was facing those temperatures now too:-( It’s strange because my area’s been fairly warm as well, but it seems like the rest of the US is covered in blankets of snow! Speaking of blankets, I want to snuggle up with these sweet potato millet lentil cakes. Burgers and patties are the best! You can eat ’em plain or bunned up like you said, or scrambled into eggs or crumbled on top of a salad…the possibilities are endless! I am constantly trying to include lentils in my diet(veggie protein, hip hip hooray)and this seems like a tasty way to do it:-) Thanks for sharing!!
Today was a little cooler, so I’m not as crabby today haha! It also might rain a little this week, so hopefully that will cool things down even more! I guess I would rather have 80 degrees than -20 and a bunch of snow though! I want to snuggle up with these cakes and a warm blanket too! That sounds pretty perfect right now! I love the idea of putting these into eggs or on a salad, sounds perfect! I’m so glad you like these š
These look awesome and I cannot wait to try them. My daughter in-law is a devout vegan and grandkids are pescatarian.
Sorry that we can’t agree on the weather, however, I can’t stand the heat, humidity, and bugs! To quote a counselor at winter camp (Peterborough, NH) when I was a kid “You can always put on enough clothing to stay warm, but you can’t take off enough to get cool.”
Best wishes and happy cooking!
Thank you! Haha, yeah, I go back and forth about which climate I like better! I think I just like the fall best when it’s not hot or humid or buggy!
I could eat cakes like this every day…for REAL. I love the flavors here, and you can bet that if sweet potato is an ingredient, I’m going to be all over it!
Me too, Marcie!! Haha, I’m all over everything sweet potato too!
You did a pretty good job with on this beautiful recipe, my dear! I am drooling all over here. Love this patties!
Thank you so much, Olivia! Drool away, haha!
Glad you had a nice Thanksgiving Izzy. But I did laugh out loud with the whole cold at 60 degree bit =) Hehe. 80 degrees on Thanksgiving??? Unreal. Love these millet patties. So excited you shared them because I tried millet of the first time at my sisters house this weekend and gasp…..loved it. And of course you gotta have the sweet potato in there. Yum. Yum. and more Yum!
I think living in the Southwest has ruined me, Laura! I think I would shrivel up if I was in temps less than 60 these days! I’ve just started eating more millet too and I’ve been loving it! So glad you like it too š And yes, you definitely need to have sweet potato!
I would give anything for it to be 60 degrees by me, Izzy! It’s only a high of 22 today here, unseasonably cold for this time of year! But onto these cakes, it sounds delicious! I’ve never cooked with millet before, but now I’m intrigued! And the curry cilantro mayo sounds like the perfect touch!
OMG! 22 sounds painfully cold! You should totally come move to Arizona, Gayle! I love millet! It is a great grain to shake things up with š
The golden color of these patties are gorgeous. I love patty-ish food too because they’re perfect to fill out meals and to freeze for times when you just need something for yourself that you can call a meal without having to cook. Hope it cools down there soon, Izzy!
Thank you, Katie! Freezing them is such a good idea! I’m always looking for quick dinner ideas! I’m curled up under a blanket right now, so it is finally cooling down a little! Thank you š
Well done Izzy! These are beautiful! I am a huge fan of curry spices… when I see smoked paprika, I get a bit of mouth water! LOL! Of course patties like these always need a good dipping sauce and your’s sounds perfect! I think I need more millet in my life. I just recently started cooking with it and absolutely love the flavor and nutrition it imparts.
So sorry about the heat wave your having. We are freeeeezing up here in Washington… in the 20s for the low over the past week and not getting much warmer during the day. We’re not accustomed to these temps as it’s usually much milder here. In fact, Seattle got snow this past weekend!! Crazy!! (I just have to say Cheeto is the best gift ever!! I <3 Cheeto! I've decided he needs his own blog…. the adventures of Cheeto!)
Thank you so much, Traci! Me too!! I just started using smoked paprika recently and now I put it in pretty much everything! My mouth is watering too just thinking about it, haha!! I just started cooking with millet too and I’m loving it so far! Eeek! the 20s sound so cold! We have an extra bedroom if you need to get out of the cold and thaw out a bit! I don’t think we will be seeing snow anytime soon here. Haha, Cheeto would love to have his own blog, except most of his adventures would include eating food, cleaning himself, and napping, haha!! Sometimes I wish I was a cat! I hope you have a great week, Traci! š
These sound and look delish! I must be in a cakes kind of mood too, because I wrote up my food shopping list earlier and dinner plans for the next week include both spaghetti squash fritters and butternut squash croquettes!
Thanks Nicole! Ohhh, spaghetti squash fritters and butternut squash croquettes sound so good! I think I need to go to the store and get those ingredients too š
I’m with you- this is the one time of year I want it to be chilly! It gets colder than 80 degrees where we live though. If I were you, I would demand a caribbean beach, haha!
These cakes look absoultely delicious. I love making things like this too. Then you have plenty for lunches or dinner during the week!
Me too! Fortunately I think it is getting a little bit cooler now, and by cooler I mean 70 degrees, haha! A beach vacation sounds perfect right now! We were planning another trip to Maui, but we kinda dropped the ball on that…
I took these for lunch for almost a week and never got tired of them š
Oh my goodness, 80 degrees? Wow.
These lentil patties look fabulous though! I love sweet potatoes with curry. The color is so pretty and vibrant too! Aaw and Cheeto is definitely the best Christmas present š
I know! It is awful, lol! It is starting to cool down a little bit though! Sweet potatoes and curry are a match made in heaven! Haha, Cheeto loves sleeping underneath the Christmas tree!
I love how creative your recipes are and your photographs are beautiful too. I really need to cook with millet more.
Thank you so much, Danni!!! That is so nice of you to say! I just started using millet and I’m loving it so far!
what a beautiful meal! and that mayo sounds delicious!
Thank you, Caralyn! I could eat the mayo with a spoon!
Holy moly, 80 degrees? We’ve been having all sorts of sun here too, although I have to admit, I’m ready for some snowfall! These burgers look absolutely amazing! So clean and healthful, yet full of flavor. I can see how you’d want these on repeat!
I totally understand the wanting it to be colder feeling! For the longest time this fall, we had hot weather here in California. It’s finally cooled off and we’re getting some rain, which I love.
These little patties look delicious! I’m not sure I’ve ever tried millet, but you make me want to!
Hi Kristine! It is finally cooling down a bit and I am so happy about it! Will you please send the rain my way?!
Thank you! I’ve been experimenting with millet more these days and it goes so well with these patties š
Heheh I’m British so I LOVE talking about the weather….It’s still pretty warm here too considering, but 80 is just crazy!! I have no idea how you cope with that at this time of year D: It’s supposed to be festive and cold!!
Love this recipe though, can’t wait to try them! We have so many sweet potatoes and always lentils on hand so they are the perfect excuse for some savoury indulgence š
Haha, I thought that was a British thing! I agree, 80 is crazy!! Thankfully it is in the 70s this week! Sweet potatoes and lentils are my new favorite combo š And savory indulgence is much needed!
80 degrees does sound a bit excessive for December! Hoping there are some 60s or 70s in your future. And lots of these sweet potato cakes! So tasty!
Very excessive!! Thankfully it has cooled down a bit and I’m not sweating everytime I walk outside!
The colors in your photos are gorgeous! That blue background really makes the food pop! I love sweet potatoes and lentils, but I’ve never used millet except once in a breakfast cereal. Will have to try this!
Thank you, Christin! I just started using millet and am loving it so far!
So crazy that it is still 80 degrees where you live! I guess that’s part of living in the desert. It’s pouring rain here, pouring! My backyard basically looks like 1 giant puddle. ha! These lentil cakes sound delicious! And am loving that curry cilantro mayo. Yum!
I guess.. lol I keep telling my husband I want to move somewhere that will guarantee us a white Christmas! We sure aren’t getting one here! I want some rain! Feel free to send it this way š
Loving the vibrant colour of these veggie cakes especially. I also have an unopened packet of millet in my pantry so this recipe is perfect for me to use it on… thanks for sharing it!
Thank you, Thalia! This is the perfect recipe to use you millet in š
The flavor of these cakes are wonderful. I can totally see myself making this very soon.
Thank you! I hope yo really enjoy them š
Hahaha! Don’t be jealous! It’s so cold here I think I’m almost always wrapped up in my fuzzy blanket and slippers. LOL. Oh my gosh and these sweet potato cakes?! NEED. That cilantro mayo is seriously calling my name!
Fuzzy blankets and slippers sound so nice right now!! Thankfully it has cooled down a little here and I was really wishing we had a hot tub this morning because it was so cold in the house! (cold being 64 degrees, lol) You totally need this cilantro mayo in your life soon! It will warm things right up š
These cakes look gorgeous! Makin’ me hungry! Yum!
Thank you, Karen! š
I haven’t cooked millet in forever! At least a couple years! I need to buy some more, it’s such a versatile grain. Love these cakes– especially the curry and cilantro flavors!
I hadn’t cooked it in so long either, but I’m loving it these days! Thank you, Jess! The curry really brings everything together š
Oooh, is that your cat?! SO adorable!!! I’ve always wanted a cat, but growing up, my dad was allergic, so we could never get one š So I opted for watching cute cat videos on youtube … quite frequently haha
PS: Those lentil cakes look so good! What a terrific ingredient combination for the curry cilantro!
Haha, yes! His name is Cheeto! You should totally get a cat! They are the best things ever! But cat videos are awesome too!
Oh wow, 80 degrees is warm for this time of year! I can’t lie though, I’d rather have warm weather over cold weather any day though!
I love these cakes, they look insanely delicious. I love sweet potatoes too, especially this time of year.
I remember having so many white Christmases in Arkansas and I really miss them, but I don’t really miss freezing temps! Sweet potatoes are pretty much all I’m eating these days š
Ooo millet is one of those grains that I’ve never cooked with and I’m not sure if I’ve even eaten it, but am curious to try. I hear ya on the sweet potato/curry combo. I usually like almost anything curry!
Haha, the weather! I can relate to your friends on the phone! By the end of the dark winters here I’m super envious of anybody talking about the sunshine! I hear you on wanting some cooler weather for the moment though! I can’t imagine a warm Christmas š
And the sweet potato & curry combo is also an awesome one! Yummay! Loving these lentil cakes – I can’t wait to try. Love all your burger recipes – they are so creative! Pinned!
Little cakes/ fritters like these are one of my FAVORITE light meals. I will definitely be trying this one!
Mine too, Jessie! I hope you enjoy these š