green lentil meatballs
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yields: Approximately 20 meatballs
Ingredients:
For the Green Lentil Meatballs:
- 1 cup green lentils, rinsed and drained
- 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth or water
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (gluten-free if needed)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil for cooking
For the Tomato Sauce:
- 1 can (14 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (basil, oregano, thyme)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Green Lentil Meatballs:
- Cook Lentils:
- In a medium saucepan, combine green lentils and vegetable broth or water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 20-25 minutes or until lentils are tender but not mushy. Drain any excess liquid.
- Prepare Meatball Mixture:
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked lentils, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan (if using), chopped onion, minced garlic, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Form Meatballs:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a baking sheet with olive oil.
- Form the lentil mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the meatballs are golden brown and cooked through, turning them halfway through for even browning.
Tomato Sauce:
- Prepare Sauce:
- In a saucepan, combine crushed tomatoes, minced garlic, dried Italian herbs, salt, and pepper. Simmer over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serve:
- Serve:
- Pour the tomato sauce over the green lentil meatballs before serving.
- Optionally, serve over cooked pasta, rice, or with a side of vegetables.
- Garnish (Optional):
- Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs if desired.
- Enjoy:
- Serve these flavorful green lentil meatballs as a nutritious and satisfying meatless alternative!
Note: Feel free to customize the seasonings and adjust the consistency of the lentil mixture with more breadcrumbs if needed. These meatballs can be frozen for later use.
