Lentil Meatballs Recipe By Tasty Food

LENTIL "MEATBALLS" RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375˚F (190˚C).
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, shallot and garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes, or until slightly golden brown then remove from heat.
• To a food processor, add the garlic and shallot, lentils, egg, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, tomato paste, parsley, Parmesan, bread crumbs, Italian seasonings, salt, and pepper and pulse, mixing until just combined.
• Transfer the mixture to a medium-sized bowl.
• Use a cookie dough scoop to scoop out balls of mixture then carefully form into balls.
• Arrange on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes.
• Remove meatballs from oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
• Serve with spaghetti.
• Enjoy!

EASY LENTIL MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C), and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or more if increasing batch size).
• Once skillet is hot, add 1 Tbsp olive oil (amount as recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size), shallot and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, or until slightly golden brown (being careful not to burn), then remove from heat and turn off stove top.
• To a food processor, add flaxseed meal and water and let set for 2-3 minutes.
• Add cooked, cooled lentils, 1 tsp olive oil (as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size), sautéed garlic and shallot, Italian seasonings, parsley, tomato paste, vegan parmesan cheese, and a pinch each salt and pepper. Pulse, mixing until combined, but not puréed, leaving a little texture.
• Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt and pepper or herbs for flavor, vegan parmesan for cheesiness and to dry out, or more olive oil to moisten. The texture should be dough-like. If the mixture is still too wet, add coconut or oat flour, or panko bread crumbs if not gluten free.
• Use a Tablespoon or cookie dough scoop (like this one), to scoop out rounded Tablespoon amounts of dough and carefully form into balls. The mixture is moldable, but fragile, so the best way to do this is to rest the dough in the palm of one hand, while using two fingers from the other hand to gently mold/form into a meatball. If it cracks, moisten your fingers with a little water to help reform/bind them. Repeat until all meatballs are formed - about 12 or 13.
• Roll/coat in vegan parmesan cheese (optional) and arrange on baking sheet.
• Heat the skillet from earlier over medium heat. Once hot, add 1 Tbsp olive oil and half of the meatballs (amounts as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size). Brown for 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown, shaking the pan or using a wooden spoon to roll the balls around to cook evenly on all sides.
• As they are done cooking, transfer to your prepared baking sheet and set in the preheated oven. Repeat process, adding remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) to the skillet and sautéing remaining meatballs, then transfer to oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, while you prepare your carrot noodles, pasta and/or marinara sauce.
• Remove meatballs from oven and let cool slightly - they will firm up the longer they are cooled. Serve over carrot noodles or pasta with marinara sauce.
• Best when fresh, though leftovers keep in the freezer up to 1 month. Reheat in a 350 degree F (176 C) oven until warmed through.

LENTIL-MUSHROOM MEATBALLS

Steps:

• For the sauce: Put the oil and garlic in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Swirl until the garlic is just lightly browned and fragrant, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a high simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the torn basil leaves and 2 teaspoons salt and simmer, uncovered, until thickened, 20 to 25 minutes.
• For the meatballs: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and brush with oil.
• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil, then add the wheat berries and boil until plump and tender, about 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Put the lentils in a medium saucepan with 2 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until almost all of the water has evaporated and the lentils are soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, drain and let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, mushrooms, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring until soft and lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Add the tomato paste, soy sauce, vinegar and nutritional yeast and cook, stirring, until the liquid has evaporated and is slightly dry, about 2 more minutes. Let cool slightly. Clean out the skillet.
• Transfer the onion-mushroom mixture to a food processor. Add the cooked lentils, wheat berries and parsley leaves. Pulse until the mixture is combined and crumbly but not mushy.
• Put the torn bread into a large bowl and cover with 1/4 cup of water. Let sit at least 5 minutes to soften. Using a fork, mash the soaked bread into a paste. Add the lentil mixture to the bowl with the mashed bread and mix by hand until fully incorporated. The mixture should hold its shape when squeezed gently.
• Shape the mixture by hand into 18 golf-ball sized meatballs. Place about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until the meatballs are golden brown on the outside and don't crumble when gently pressed, 25 to 30 minutes.
• To serve, pour the sauce into a shallow serving bowl. Put the hot meatballs on top of the sauce and garnish with parsley.

LENTIL RICOTTA "MEATBALLS"

Steps:

• Add all ingredients to a deep bowl. Mix very well, using hands or a wooden spoon. Cover and refrigerate for two hours or overnight.
• When ready to cook, shape mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls. Heat about 1/2-inch of oil in a nonstick skillet over medium flame. Add shaped "meatballs" and cook until browned all around, turning only once. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and let excess drain off. Add to simmering marinara sauce if serving immediately, or store in a tightly covered container up to three days.

MINI LENTIL MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a food processor, add the garlic and pulse until finely chopped.
• Now add the onion and pulse until minced. You don't want any big pieces or they will ruin the texture of the meatball.
• With a plastic spatula, transfer the onion/garlic mixture to a mixing bowl and set aside. It's okay if some remnants are left, just try to get most of it.
• Now in the food processor, pulse the lentils, nutritional yeast, wheat gluten, soy sauce, tomato paste, olive oil and water.
• Once everything gets mixed well, puree them until totally smooth, scraping down the sides to make sure you get everything.
• Combine this mixture with the onion mixture and add in the breadcrumbs. Mix really well with your hands for about 2 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Roll the meatballs into cherry sized balls.
• Preheat a large skillet over medium heat and pour in a thin layer of olive oil. You don't want to crowd the pan, so pan fry in two batches. You should be able to tilt the pan and have all the meatballs roll around and get coated in oil, cooking until browned (no more than 5 minutes.).
• Transfer first batch to a baking pan, cook the second batch, and transfer all meatballs to the baking pan.
• Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, shaking the pan every once in awhile to toss the balls so that they cook evenly.