December 22nd, 2024
Recipes
Lentil Meatballs
Valentina P
- Difficulty
•
- Time 30" plus chilling
The best vegan lentil meatball recipe made with lentils, rice, onion, and mushrooms. Every bite of these vegan meatballs are tender and full of flavor. Enjoy on their own or tossed in your favorite creamy sauce.
How To MakeDiet Type: Plant-based
Shopping List
- 1 3/4 cups pre-cooked lentils (or black beans, Note 1)
- 1 1/4 cups cooked white rice
- 1/2 cup mushrooms, diced (any variety)
- 1/4 onion, diced
- 1/4 cup cilantro or parsley
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 to 2teaspoons seasoning of choice (Note 2)
- salt and pepper, to taste
- cooking oil, for frying
Instructions
- Step 1: Add the olive oil to a wide frying pan over medium heat. Add the diced onion, garlic, and mushrooms. Cook for 3 minutes or until the vegetables have softened, stirring often.
- Step 2: Let the onion mixture cool a few minutes before placing it in a food processor. Pulse until it's a chunky mix, scraping the sides of the processor with a spatula as needed.
- Step 3: Once combined, add in the rice, cooked lentils, cilantro or parsley, tomato paste, and spices of choice. Season with salt and pepper. Pulse until the lentils and rice are broken down into a sticky mash. Transfer the lentil mix to a bowl and refrigerate 1 hour to overnight (this will make it much easier to work with later).
- Step 4: Remove the chilled lentil mix from the refrigerator and wet your hands with a little water to help prevent sticking. Roll the lentil blend in your hands into a small ball, about the size of a tiny ping pong ball. Place the neatball on a plate and repeat with the remaining mix. You should have around 20 neatballs. Keep wetting your hands lightly as needed to prevent sticking.
- Step 5: Heat a few tablespoons of cooking oil (such as grapeseed or avocado oil) in a wide frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the neatballs to the hot oil and fry on all sides until lightly browned. This will take about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the browned neatballs to a plate.
- Serve: Enjoy as is, or toss the meatballs in your favorite sauce. These are great in Vegan Meatball Masala.
Recipe Notes
Note 1: We love using canned or pre-cooked steamed lentils here. Note 2: Try using Italian seasoning or dried oregano for a Mediterranean-inspired meatball. Or use curry powder for an Indian-inspired meatball. Taco-seasoning would be great for a Mexican-inspired meatball.
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What you should eat next
Lentil Meatballs
PT30M 1 3/4 cups pre-cooked lentils (or black beans, Note 1) 1 1/4 cups cooked white rice 1/2 cup mushrooms, diced (any variety) 1/4 onion, diced 1/4 cup cilantro or parsley 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1/2 tablespoon olive oil 1 to 2teaspoons seasoning of choice (Note 2) salt and pepper, to taste cooking oil, for frying Gluten Free Vegan 20 Servings
Ingredients:
