Lentil SPAM© (Vegan)

This is my latest frugal and vegan creation. It's a mimic of the store cupboard staple SPAM© which is still fairly inexpensive for a meat product. I came up with this after great success making lentil tofu which is so much tastier than real tofu.

Ingredients:

1 cup red lentils

2 cups water

1 level tsp each of onion salt and garlic salt

1/2 vegetable stock cube

1/2 tsp chilli powder (can be replaced with paprika if you don't like spicy food)

1/2 tsp cumin powder

1/4 tsp smoke powder or a splash of liquid smoke

1/2 tsp beetroot powder or 2 tbsp beetroot juice (optional for colour only)

2 tbsp oil

Put all ingredients, except the lentils, in a suitable pot and bring to a boil.

Remove from heat and stir in the lentils.

Cover with a lid and leave for thirty minutes.

Blend, in the pot, with a stick blender till very smooth.

Return to heat then stir frequently as it thickens to a stiff polenta or porridge consistency. This should take about five minutes. 

Remove from heat and spread into a mould, I find a used Chinese takeaway container to be perfect.

Level off and place the lid on. Once cool enough refrigerate overnight.

Slice like ham and enjoy.

One note, I think this could be improved with a touch of vegan gelatin, agar agar or similar to give a more flexible texture but I don't have any to test this theory and it tastes great anyway.