Veggie Balls

Name: Veggie Balls
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 24
Cuisine: Global
Ingredients: 118 milliliters bread crumbs; 227 grams Button Mushrooms, wiped clean and sliced; 2 carrots, chopped; 2 celery stalks, chopped; 3 larges eggs; 118 milliliters chopped fresh parsley; 1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme; 1 garlic clove, minced; 473 milliliters lentils; 59 milliliters olive oil; 1 large onion, chopped; 118 milliliters grated Parmesan cheese; 2 teaspoons salt; 3 Tbsps tomato paste; 59 milliliters finely chopped walnuts

You can never have too many hor d'oeuvre recipes, so give Veggie Balls a try. This recipe serves 24. One serving contains 118 calories, 7g of protein, and 4g of fat. If you have walnuts, button mushrooms, parmesan cheese, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes approximately 45 minutes.

Instructions

Combine the lentils and 2 quarts water in a medium stockpot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the lentils are soft (but not falling apart), about 25 minutes.

Ingredients you will need

Lentils

Water

Equipment you will use

Pot

Drain the lentils and allow to cool.

Ingredients you will need

Lentils

Add 1/4 cup of the olive oil to a large frying pan and sauté the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme, and salt over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and just beginning to brown.

Ingredients you will need

Vegetable

Olive Oil

Carrot

Celery

Garlic

Onion

Thyme

Salt

Equipment you will use

Frying Pan

Add the tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes.

Ingredients you will need

Tomato Paste

Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, for 15 more minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed.

Ingredients you will need

Mushrooms

Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and allow to cool to room temperature. When cool, add the lentils to the vegetable mixture.

Ingredients you will need

Vegetable

Lentils

Equipment you will use

Bowl

Add the eggs, Parmesan, bread crumbs, parsley, and walnuts to the cooled vegetable mixture and mix by hand until thoroughly incorporated.

Ingredients you will need

Breadcrumbs

Vegetable

Parmesan

Parsley

Walnuts

Egg

Place in the refrigerator for 25 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Equipment you will use

Oven

Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil into a 9×13-inch baking dish and use your hand to evenly coat the entire surface. Set aside.

Ingredients you will need

Olive Oil

Equipment you will use

Baking Pan

Roll the mixture into round, golf ball-size meatballs (about 1 1/2 inches), making sure to pack the vegetable mixture firmly.

Ingredients you will need

Meatballs

Vegetable

Roll

Place the balls in the prepared baking dish, allowing 1/4-inch of space between the balls and place them in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid.

Equipment you will use

Baking Pan

Roast for 30 minutes, or until the meatballs are firm and cooked through.

Ingredients you will need

Meatballs

Allow the meatballs to cool for 5 minutes in the baking dish before serving.

Ingredients you will need

Meatballs

Equipment you will use

Baking Pan