5 from 24 votes
Lentil Meatballs
Lentil Meatballs offer a plant-based alternative that combines cooked lentils, toasted walnuts, sautéed vegetables, oats, and a blend of herbs and seasonings. These meatballs have a hearty texture from the lentils and walnuts, enriched by savory tamari and tomato paste, and balanced with a mild touch of maple syrup and vinegar. They're baked to firm the mixture and develop flavor, making them a wholesome, textured option for meals that usually involve meatballs.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings:
20
meatballs
Calories:
245 kcal
Course:
Lunch
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- ½ cup brown lentils or green lentils, dry
- 1 ⅓ cup water
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ cup walnuts chopped
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- ½ large onion about 1 heaping cup, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 rib of celery chopped
- 1 carrot peeled and chopped
- 1 cup rolled oats old fashioned
- 3 Tablespoons tamari
- 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 Tablespoons Flaxseed ground
- 2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon thyme dried
- 1 teaspoon oregano dried
- 1 teaspoon basil dried
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper ground
- ¼ teaspoon salt sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare lentils by rinsing them and adding to a pot with water and a bay leaf. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce heat down and simmer covered until all the liquid is absorbed and lentils are tender (about 15-20 minutes). Remove from heat, discard the bay leaf and set the lentils aside to cool. This step can be done in advance.
- In the meantime toast walnuts by spreading them onto a baking sheet and toasting in the oven for about 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
- While walnuts are toasting and lentils are cooking heat oil over medium heat in a medium sauté pan and cook onions, garlic, carrots and celery until they’ve softened and become fragrant. About 5-10 minutes. Once cooked remove from stovetop to cool.
- Add lentils (reserve ½ cup for later), cooked veggies, toasted walnuts, oats, tamari, tomato paste, ground flaxseed, nutritional yeast, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, thyme, oregano, basil, cayenne pepper, ground pepper and sea salt to the food processor. Pulse until mixture is just combined and the texture is to your liking. You want the mixture to be combined enough to stick together, but you don’t want it to be completely pulverized.
- Stir in the reserved lentils
- Scoop 1 ½ Tablespoon at a time and shape into a meatball and place on a prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes, flip and bake another 10 minutes.
- Serve meatballs immediately over spaghetti noodles and sauce, in a wrap, on a salad or as an appetizer with your favorite dipping sauce.
- Store leftovers in a sealed container for up to 5 days in the fridge or freeze for up to 1 month.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Serving
4 meatballs
Calories
245kcal
(12%)
Carbohydrates
28g
(9%)
Protein
11g
(22%)
Fat
10g
(15%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Sodium
423mg
(18%)
Potassium
438mg
(9%)
Fiber
9g
(36%)
Sugar
6g
(12%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 20 meatballs
Amount Per Serving
Calories 245
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 4 meatballs | |
| Calories | 245kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 28g | 9% |
| Protein | 11g | 22% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Sodium | 423mg | 18% |
| Potassium | 438mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 9g | 36% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.