Lentil Mushroom Meatballs

By sz8jm9

Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Yield: 24 meatballs
Serving Size: 3-4 meatballs
Baked meatless meatballs made with oats, mushrooms, and lentils. The perfect addition to a bowl full of spaghetti!

Ingredients

• 1 c. dried brown lentils, rinsed and picked over
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 c. water
• 16 oz. white mushrooms
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 tbsp. red wine
• 1 c. vegetable or mushroom broth
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce (or liquid aminos)
• 1 c. old-fashioned oats
• 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
• salt + pepper to taste

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1) Combine lentils, bay leaf, and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. (Yes, the lentils will be undercooked--don't cook them for the time indicated on the package!) Remove from heat, drain, and cool slightly. Discard bay leaf.

2) Add mushrooms and lentils to food processor. Pulse until coarsely chopped.

3) Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds), stirring constantly. Stir in mushroom-lentil mixture. Cook for about 4 minutes or until browned, stirring constantly.

4) Add red wine to skillet and cook until evaporated. Stir in broth, soy sauce, oats, and Italian seasoning. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until liquid has been absorbed. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste and allow to cool.

5) Once mixture is cool enough to work with, shape it into 12 uniformly-sized meatballs. Place each in a mini-muffin tin that's been coated in oil or cooking spray. Bake for 40 minutes, or until golden brown.