Lentil Meatball Sandwich
Did you know that you could make meatballs out of lentils? These come out so good that I don’t think you’d know they weren’t regular meatballs. We are going to turn this into a lentil meatball sandwich recipe! This recipe is incredibly easy, it comes together really quick. But the lentils need to be soaked, which takes about three hours, so let’s get started with that. If you like this recipe be sure to check out this one too! and this one!
Preparing the Lentils
I take one cup of lentils, dump them into a bowl. Now add enough water to cover the lentils and let them sit for about three hours. When they are done soaking is a perfect time to make the sauce. I’m using three roma tomatoes, I cut them then throw them into a food processor. Along with a couple cloves of garlic, a tablespoon of olive oil, a big pinch of salt, pepper, a tablespoon of tomato paste, and a little Italian seasoning then process it! I gave it a taste and it is really good.
Cooking the Lentils
At this point I’m going to drain the lentils then put them right back in their bowl. Then I get out my immersion blender and blend the lentils into a paste. Now I’m going to shred a whole carrot, chop up about a quarter of a white onion, and mince one clove of garlic. Then I add some olive oil into a non-stick pan and I’m going to cook the onion until it is translucent. Next I add the carrot and cook that for about five minutes before adding the garlic to finish it off.
Forming the Meatballs
Once this has all cooked, I add it into the lentil paste. I also add in a cup of rice, a quarter cup of gluten flour, a teaspoon of cumin, a teaspoon of Italian herbs and seasoning, a sprinkle of crushed red pepper and salt. I mix this all together with my hands then it needs to sit and rest for about ten minutes. Now I form my meatballs into about golfball size. When I have them all formed I get a pan heated with a bit of olive oil, pretty high. Then I brown the lentil balls on each side.
Taste Test
When they are completely browned, I toss the sauce in and let them cook in that sauce for about ten minutes. Once they are cooked I slice off two big squares of wild grain ciabatta. Top the meatballs on, with some plant-based cheese. I toss them into the oven for just a few minutes under the broiler to melt the cheese. The meatball on its own is amazing! It is very firm and meaty. This lentil meatball sandwich is awesome! You wouldn’t know the meatballs aren’t real meatballs! Watch the full video here!
This Lentil Recipe Is Better Than Meat! Love this new way to cook lentils!
Ingredients
- 1 cup lentils
- 3 roma tomatoes
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 carrot
- 1/4 white onion
- 1 cup rice
- 1/4 cup gluten flour
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp Italian herbs and seasoning
- .5 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Add enough water to bowl of lentils so they are covered. Let them sit for 3 hours.
- Cut tomatoes then add to food processor along with garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning then process it.
- Drain the lentils then blend them into a paste.
- Shred a carrot, chop up onion, and mince garlic. Add olive oil to non-stick pan and cook the onion until translucent. Next add the carrot and cook that for 5 minutes before adding the garlic to finish.
- Once all cooked, add to lentil paste. Then add in rice, gluten flour, cumin, Italian herbs and seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes and salt. I mix this together with my hands then let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Now I form my meatballs into about golfball size. Then get a pan heated with some olive oil. Brown the lentil balls on each side.
- When they are browned, add in the sauce and cook them in it for 10 minutes.
- Once cooked, add the lentil balls onto your bread, with some plant-based cheese. I put mine in the oven for a moment to melt the cheese. Enjoy!