Recipe ~ Meatless Meatballs

meatballs

Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 1 Hour
Ready In: 5 Hours 30 Minutes
Servings: 8
“Make vegetarian meatballs with browned mushrooms instead of meat and you’ll be amazed by their hearty taste and perfect texture. Approved for use on spaghetti!”
 
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 lbs fresh white mushrooms, finely chopped
2 pinches salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup finely chopped onion
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup quick-cooking oats
2 ounces very finely shredded
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley,
packed
4 eggs, divided
2 teaspoons salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 pinches cayenne pepper, or to taste
2 pinches dried oregano
6 cups pasta sauce
2 tablespoons very finely shredded
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, or to taste
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf (Italian)
parsley, or to taste
Directions:
This recipe’s ingredients is scaled to yield a servings amount of (8). The directions below still refer to the original recipe yield of (4).
1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms to the hot oil, sprinkle with salt, and cook and stir until liquid from mushrooms has evaporated. Stir butter into mushrooms, reduce heat to medium, and cook and stir mushrooms until golden brown, about 5 minutes.

 

2. Stir onion into mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until onion is translucent, 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and stir garlic into mushroom mixture until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer mixture to a mixing bowl.

 

3. Mix oats into mushroom mixture until thoroughly combined. Gently stir 1 ounce Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese into mixture. Add bread crumbs, 1/4 cup parsley, and 1 egg; season with salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and oregano. Mix together with a fork until crumbly. Stir in remaining 1 egg. Mixture should hold together when pressed.

 

4. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours. For best flavor and texture, refrigerate overnight.

 

RECIPE ~ Vegan Eggplant Meatballs

Image

 

Ingredients:

cooking spray
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb unpeeled eggplant, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 cup cooked white beans (or drained, rinsed canned)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs or panko (use gf crumbs for gluten free)
pinch red chili flakes (optional)
2 cups quick marinara sauce


Directions:

Heat the oven to 375°. Spray a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

Place 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. When hot add the eggplant and 1/4 cup water. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to the bowl of a food processor.


Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of oil to the skillet with the onion and garlic and cook until translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add to the food processor along with the drained beans and parsley and pulse until well combined and chopped, but not pureed.

Combine the mixture with the breadcrumbs and red chile flakes if using. Taste for salt then roll into 12 meatballs, about 2-inches in diameter. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and bake until firm and browned, about 25 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, warm the marinara sauce and serve with the meatballs over pasta, zucchini noodles or on a whole wheat roll.


Servings: 4 • Size: 3 meatballs with 1/2 cup sauce • Old Points: 5 pts • Points+: 6 pts
Calories: 260 • Fat: 7 g • Carb: 43 g • Fiber: 9 g • Protein: 8 g • Sugar: 1 g
Sodium: 307 mg • Cholesterol: 0 mg