This is a variation of my chickpea chia patty recipe.

Ingredients

1 cup dry split peas, soaked overnight (at least 8 hours)
1 tablespoon chia seeds
6 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons chopped fresh garlic
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
½ teaspoon chopped fresh ginger
¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Soak chia seeds in water for at least 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Drain and rinse split peas. In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, add split peas, chia/water mixture and remaining ingredients. Process until well combined—grinding all ingredients until they come together and are well processed. The mixture should be moist. Form into 3–4 inch patties, ¼–½ inch thick. If mixture is very moist you can use a small ice cream scoop or spoon to make the patties.Place on a well-greased cookie sheet and bake in preheated oven for about 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn patties over and continue to cook on other side for about 5 minutes. Serve warm, hot or at room temperature. Goes great with Tahini Dressing. Makes approximately 20 patties. Enjoy!

Tahini Dressing

½ cup sesame tahini
½ cup water
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2–3 teaspoons maple syrup or other natural sweetener (coconut sugar, honey…)
¼ teaspoon salt

Add tahini in a mixing bowl. Gradually add the water, stirring as you blend it into the tahini. Add other ingredients and continue to stir or whisk until smooth and creamy. Serve with split pea patties, falafel, salad, crudités, etc.

Health Benefits of Split Peas & Curry Powder

Did you know that dried peas have been a staple of the human diet since prehistoric times? Peas have been found in archeological digs in Egypt, Asia, and Rome.

Are you worried about your cholesterol level? Eat split peas! Full of soluble fiber, peas help to bind up cholesterol-containing bile and move it out of your body. This can help with conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis. A single cup of cooked dried peas in your daily diet provides 65.1% of the recommended daily fiber. They also provide a good amount of protein, two B-vitamins, and several important minerals. Peas also include isoflavones, which are helpful in reducing the risk of breast and prostate cancer.

If you are diabetic, or have it in your family, split peas can be your best friend. Peas help stabilize your blood sugar levels while providing a steady supply of energy. Studies have shown that type 2 diabetics who eat at least 50 grams of fiber per day can lower their cholesterol, their triglycerides, and the VLDL (Very Low Density Lipoprotein) by a considerable amount. Peas can also reduce the amount of plaque in your blood vessels and help your heart remain healthy. If you are sensitive to sulfites, which are added to most deli foods and salad bars, the mineral molybdenum will help you detoxify them. Peas can provide you with almost twice the recommended daily allowance of this mineral from a single 1-cup serving. Signs of sulfite sensitivity may include rapid heartbeat, headache, or disorientation.

Curry Powder

Alzheimer’s Disease: Turmeric is probably the most valuable spice component of curry powder, and one of the organic components of turmeric is called curcumin. Researchers have connected curcumin to a reduction in the plaque that free radicals deposit in the neural pathways of the brain. It stimulates the immune system to eliminate the amino acids that make up this plaque, thereby reducing cognitive decline and the chances of Alzheimer’s disease. Ongoing studies are trying to more firmly connect curry powder consumption with rates of Alzheimer’s in India, which is significantly lower than many other countries.

Cancer Prevention: Recent research has suggested that increasing the amount of turmeric (and more importantly, its component of curcumin) can stimulate anti-cancer activity in human saliva! For this to be seen on a measurable scale, curcumin should probably be taken in supplement form, which is a much higher concentration that what is found in curry powder, but every little bit helps, and studies are ongoing to connect consumption of curry powder to a reduction in various cancerous growths and activities in the human body. The most promising signs of consumption of curry powder containing turmeric decreasing cancer is in colon cancer!

Pain Relief and Inflammation: Once again, turmeric is an agent of positive health in terms of inflammation, pain, and rheumatoid arthritis! The anti-inflammatory qualities of turmeric actively decrease joint inflammation and deterioration, as well as associated pain of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. The effects of turmeric have been shown to be comparable to ibuprofen, but organic solutions are always better than artificial of pharmaceutical ones!

Heart Health: Heart disease is one of the most dangerous and common diseases that affect human beings, so anything that can help prevent it is a bonus! Two of the ingredients commonly found in curry powder are cardamom and sweet basil, both of which have been characterized as vasodilators. They affect the proteins in the body that reduce the tension in the blood vessels. This leads to a reduction in blood pressure, which reduces the chances of many cardiovascular conditions, including atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.

Bone Health: Curry powder and its turmeric content is also being studied in terms of osteoporosis and bone health. Although human testing is still in its early stages, significant amounts of animal testing have shown turmeric to greatly increase the speed of bone regrowth, connectivity, and repair, while reducing signs of bone loss by up to 50%. This could mean a very powerful boost to your bones, particularly as you age, in addition to a normal dietary regimen packed with essential vitamins and minerals.

Antibacterial Activity: A final beneficial element found in the majority of curry powder throughout the world is coriander, which has a well-researched penchant for fighting off bacterial infections, particularly E. coli and other severely damaging intestinal infections. Therefore, eating a healthy amount of curry powder can increase the health of your digestive system, and keep your immune system strong in its defense against bacterial agents.

Liver Toxicity: Curcumin, that all-important component of turmeric, also has been connected to the health of your liver. It inhibits the expression of certain genes that lead to inflammation, cancer, and tumor growth in the liver. Although human testing is still in its nascent stages, animal testing has shown a healthy amount of curry powder and curcumin to be a major boost against liver diseases and excess liver toxicity.