Crunchy Lentil Snack

This snack was a happy accident.  I wanted to make lentil crackers but ended up with these.  They are best described as like, a salty granola ish type snack.  They are crumbly, salty, spicy, and suuuuuper crunchy.  Kind of like chickpea poppers but much much crunchier.  Pretty darn easy too!  And of course, they are gluten, grain, and sugar free.

Crunchy Lentil Snack
4 cups green lentils
1 cup water
1 tsp kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
EVOO for greasing your baking sheet, and for drizzling over the top

Process your lentils in your food processor for about 7 or 8 minutes, until you have a good mix of flour and chunkier pieces of lentil.  This is what will make it crunchy and have a good texture to it.  Transfer to a large mixing bowl and add in your spices.  Stir well, then add in your water and knead with your hands.  It will become sticky.  Grease a baking sheet and crumble your lentil mixture evenly over the sheet.  Sprinkle with EVOO and more kosher/sea salt and bake at 300 for about 40 minutes or until it is browned and crunchy.  You might want to start checking after 30 minutes and go from there to avoid burning.

If you miss croutons in your salad, this would be a fantastic replacement.  Or just throw some in a baggie and you've got a great, high-fiber, high-protein snack.  I am always on the lookout for a yummy, salt, crunchy snack that isn't too starchy (sweet potato chips) and isn't too fatty and/or hard on the tummy (nuts).  Besides chickpea poppers, this is the best alternative I've found!

Try it!  And enjoy!  XoXoGFG