Does it work? 5: Sweet Potato and Lentil Cakes w/ Dressing

What a recipe title. Gotta get that SEO, I guess.

I'm excited for these - they look healthful, filling, colorful, fairly straightforward. But look y'all, there are certain things I can't be bothered to do. Namely, peel (I am literally never going to peel something) and buy shelled hemp seeds. If it can't be got at a regular, cheap grocery store, I ain't getting it.

So several of the ingredients in this recipe were out, right at the start. Add in that I never have everything a recipe calls for and hate to grocery shop, and I suddenly end up at a point where I'm going, "Well, I've got sweet potatoes and lentils; that's close enough, right?"

Right. That's why I'm writing these posts. To assure you that you too can off-road when it comes to cooking and things will turn out just fine!

Today's recipe is Sweet Potato and Lentil Cakes with Lemony Avocado Sauce by Ashley of Blissful Basil.

Substituted (major):
- Spinach for kale (we were out of kale)
- Green onions for chives (the scallions are growing on our windowsill, so I'm sure not going shopping for chives)

Substituted (minor):
- Green lentils for red (that hardly registers to me, but I'm trying to be thorough)
- Quick oats for rolled
- Regular paprika for smoked
- Powdered garlic for fresh
- Table salt for sea salt
- Oiled baking sheet for parchment

Left out
- Hemp seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Cayenne (it was an accident! That's what happens when I'm face really long ingredient lists)

Called Mom about:
- The raw sweet potatoes were leaking white ooze when I cut into them. Turns out that's sweet potato sap.

Now, let's talk about the science vs. art subs I did.
- Everything in the minor category: 100% an art sub. Those are cosmetic changes- quick oats will do the job just as well as rolled oats, donchaknow.
- The major subs, those were more science-y, but still only affected flavor, not essential make-up. One leafy green is much like another, hence the spinach for kale. Green onions and chives have a similar taste and consistency.
- The things I left out, those were definitely science - I'm pretty sure the texture and flavor of the cakes was affected by those changes. Trying to compensate somewhat, I added a few more oats and lentils, but at the end of the day, you do what you gotta do to turn a pretty blog recipe into a regular meal.

Does it work? Yes! I just took these out of the oven and drizzled them with the dressing (no subs) and they are darn tasty.

xo,
Devo