Lentil Meatballs
I’d like to find the equivalent of a steakhouse for vegetarian food. Instead of waxing rhapsodic about the restaurant’s aging room, servers would talk euphorically of gardens, soil, and the latest rainbow of produce pulled fresh from the earth. The “side dish” category would be completely rethought. Veggie- and legume-based dishes like these easy Lentil Meatballs would move from menu page 3 to the front-page nightly special.
Although I’m not a vegan or vegetarian, I have a deep love and appreciation for vegetables. It’s easy for me to prepare them at home—you’ll find a big pan of simply roasted mushrooms, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts in our oven almost every night of the week—but when I go out, I’m often disappointed by how much of an afterthought the vegetables seem. Even when restaurants do have a decent selection of vegetables, they are usually deep fried, slathered in cream, or similarly disguised via butter and cheese.
Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that deep-fried Brussels sprouts or garlicky, buttery mushrooms are not delicious, but I am saying that vegetarian and vegan recipes can hold their own as the principle of a plate. Case in point: today’s Lentil Meatballs.
I’ve long been a lover of legumes, which, if we want to get scientific, include (per Wikipedia) “a plant or its fruit or seed in the family Leguminosae.” You might know them better as ingredients that include, among others, chickpeas, peanuts, and today’s superstar, lentils.
Lentils are fiber and protein powerhouses. While not technically a vegetable, they are an excellent resource in vegetarian and vegan cooking, because the lentils make vegetarian dishes extra hearty and satisfying, no meat required. They are also easy to make, budget friendly, and can be adapted to a wide range of cuisines and styles.
Today’s Lentil Meatballs are exactly the sort of dish I’d envision in my star vegetarian restaurant. They pack so much flavor and are so filling that your thought won’t be “Where’s the meat?” but rather “Can I have a second helping?”
Lentil Meatballs Flavor Secrets
To give the Lentil Meatballs lots of flavor, I cooked them in Simple Truth Vegetable Broth, which I purchased at Pick ‘n Save, my local Wisconsin grocery store. Simple Truth is Pick ‘n Save’s new line of minimally processed, affordable products, and I’ve enjoyed partnering with the store to create new recipes that highlight them, these Lentil Meatballs included. In addition to the broth, I grabbed the rest of the recipe ingredients on this list, including the colorful rainbow of produce you’ll find both inside (and underneath!) the Lentil Meatballs.
Once the lentils are cooked, making these easy Lentil Meatballs is a simple matter of blending and baking. Everything goes into the food processor, then once the vegetarian meatballs are shaped, all that remains is to bake. Pan frying might be more traditional for meatballs, but I found the hands-off baking method to be just as effective, healthier, and so much easier too.
I elected to serve these Lentil Meatballs on a bed of spiralized zucchini and sweet potatoes (I use this spiralizer attachment, which fits easily on my stand mixer), but they’d be just as tasty over a bed of traditional pasta noodles.
If you aren’t ready to go all-veg in your noodle selection, a blend of half zucchini noodles, half pasta noodles is quite scrumptious too. That’s how Ben and my two younger sisters—none of whom are vegan and all of whom sampled and heartily approved of the Lentil Meatball recipe—enjoyed them. We topped them with a simple tomato sauce and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Lentil Meatballs
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 3/4 cup dried green — brown, or French lentils (I used green French lentils)
- 1 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth — or chicken broth, plus additional as needed
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion — about 1/2 medium onion
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 2 cloves garlic — minced (about 2 teaspoons)
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats — or quick-cooking oats, do not use instant or steel cut
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large egg
FOR SERVING:
- Prepared whole wheat pasta noodles — zucchini noodles, or sweet potato noodles
- Good-quality red pasta sauce — store bought or homemade or pesto
Instructions
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Rinse the lentils: Measure the lentils into a colander or strainer. Pick over and remove any shriveled lentils or small pieces of rock or other debris. Rinse well under cool water. Drain.
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Cook the lentils: Add the rinsed lentils to a medium saucepan with the vegetable broth. Bring to a rapid simmer over medium high, then reduce the heat to a very low simmer. There should be a few small bubbles, and the lentils should be barely moving. Let gently simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, until the lentils are tender. Keep an eye on them to ensure they do not dry out—you want the lentils to always be just barely covered with liquid. If the lentils are not yet tender but the liquid has been has been absorbed, add more water and continue to cook. Drain off any excess liquid and set aside.
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Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Once hot, add the onion and cook until onion is translucent and lightly brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the carrots and cook for another 2 minutes, then stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 additional minute.
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Place the oats and parsley in the bottom of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, then pulse a few times to begin breaking up the oats. Add the cooked lentils, onion mixture, tomato paste, oregano, salt, and pepper. Pulse a few times to start combining the mixture, then crack in the egg. Pulse a few more times until the mixture is combined but the lentils still have some texture. Set aside and let rest for 10 minutes or refrigerate overnight.
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Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, then coat the paper with nonstick spray. Roll the lentil mixture into balls that are roughly 1 1/2 inches across, about the size of a golf ball. Arrange them in a single layer on the baking sheet and mist the tops with nonstick spray. Cook for 10 minutes, then turn, mist again with nonstick spray, and continue baking 8 to 10 additional minutes, until the meatballs are browned and lightly crisp. Serve warm with pasta or vegetable noodles and your desired sauce.
Recipe Notes
- To make this recipe vegan, you can use a flax egg in place of the egg called for in the recipe.
- Make-ahead options: Unshaped lentil "batter" or shaped, unbaked lentil balls can be stored in the refrigerator 1 day in advance. Bake (or shape and bake) as directed. You can also freeze the shaped balls unbaked or baked for 2 months, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Either cook as directed (if unbaked) or rewarm gently in the microwave (if baked).
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in the microwave.
Nutrition Information
Amount per serving (3 meatballs, without noodles or other toppings) — Calories: 112, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 31mg, Sodium: 160mg, Carbohydrates: 19g, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 2g, Protein: 7gDid you try this recipe? I want to see! Follow Well Plated on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #wellplated. I love to know what you are making!
I am sharing this post in partnership with Pick ‘n Save. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands and companies that make it possible for me to continue to create quality content for you!
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About Erin Clarke
I’m fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food taste incredible. Wearer of plaid, travel enthusiast, and firmly convinced that sweets and veggies both deserve a place at the table. MORE ABOUT ERIN…
Erin, this is brilliant!
Since going vegetarian, I have been relying on either soy mince based meatballs from brands such as Quorn, or falafel balls in the place of meatballs. Whilst I consistently use lentils in my cooking, I never thought of using their versatility in a meatball!!
I can’t wait to try these, thank you!
Lo
http://www.themixtures.com
Thank you so much, Lo! I love the versatility of lentils too…I hope this recipe is a winner for you! I’d love to hear how it goes.
What is the texture of these like? I have kids who live meatballs, but are a bit picky on texture. Trying to get them to eat more veggies :)
Great question, Les! I’d say they are moist (but certainly not mushy!) on the inside and lightly crisp on the outside, similar to a veggie burger. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Do you think that red/pink lentils would work as well? I also am not vegan in any way but do like to try different things. My husband is the worlds best guinea pig…always willing to try new things. The theory is that you can always add hot sauce! I do think that I would serve them over pasta though – just a personal choice.
Hi Chris, I think red or pink lentils would be fine if that’s the kind you like and you have them on hand! It’s so wonderful that both of you are willing to try new things…I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Since we are in Passover week, lentils are kitniyot and therefore forbidden. I would be interested in a non-legume recipe for meatballs, this week.
I hope you’re able to enjoy this recipe another week, Arthur! I’m guessing you’ll be able to find some legume-free recipes for meatballs if you do an online search.
Very nicely done Erin! Your vegan homies will be proud (:
Thanks so much!
I love these photos! So bright and vivid! I would have never used lentils in this way, but I am LOVING IT
Thanks so much, Taylor! I love how versatile lentils are!
Excited to try this on my veggie-hating-meat-lov’n toddler! I take great pleasure in disguised veggies that happily disappear during meal times! Thank you for this recipe!
I hope it’s a winner, Clea!
These sound so good! I bet my kids would never miss the meat!
Thanks, Liz! I know I didn’t miss it!
GORGEOUS photos and recipe!! LOVE Pick ‘n Save!
I love all the colors!
Thank you so much! I love it too.
Hi Erin!!
We were having ham and various things NON Vegan for dinner, and then my daughter invited a Vegan friend!! Well Plated to the rescue!
I not only made these, and substituted chia seeds in warm water for the egg, I also made the crockpot potato wedges using Olive Oil, and then coconut butter instead of real butter. Even my Omnivore family and friends raved about these! Thanks again!
WOOHOO Saralee! I’m so excited to hear everything worked out perfectly for your dinner. Thanks so much for your kind words and for taking the time to leave this fabulous review!
could you also flatten the balls into patties, and eat as a veggie burger? New at this trying new healthy.
wonders
Hi Sue, I haven’t tried forming this into patties, but I think that could work! You’ll want to keep an eye on baking time depending on what size you make your patties—they could take more or less time than called for here. If you give it a try, I’d love to hear how it turns out.
Halfway through making these I thought that they would end up not worth the effort but I’m happy to report that I was dead wrong! They’re really really good. I still have some left over in the fridge but I don’t think they’ll last long. Thanks for the recipe.
I’m so glad you enjoy them, Anisah! Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try and reporting back!
Could these be frozen? Sound delicious! Looking forward to making.
Great question, Sel. I have not tried this, but I think that it would be fine. You could freeze unbaked or baked for 2 months, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Either cook as directed (if unbaked) or rewarm gently in the microwave (if baked). I’ve updated the recipe notes with these instructions too. I hope you love them!
These are truly awesome!!! They have awesome flavor, and I love that they’re not all bread crumbs, like most recipes!! I did the flax egg, and it perfect! Thank you!
Woohoo, Cynthia! I’m so excited to hear that you love these. Thank you so much for giving the recipe a try and taking the time to leave this wonderful review!
I have tried other lentil meatball recipes before but this one is my favourite because it’s fast and easy, all healthy ingredients and tastes so good. Thank you!
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed these, Sandeep! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this review!
If I wanted to make these using some leftover lentils, what would the measurement be for cooked lentils?
Thanks
Hi Jeanien, 3/4 cup of uncooked lentils would be approximately 2 1/4 cups cooked. I hope you enjoy the meatballs!
My daughter is on a 30 day food elimination diet….no egg, no soy, no gluten, no dairy. It is a challenge. I made these meatballs tonight….used a vegan egg. They were OUTSTANDING!!!!! Served them over chickpea pasta with a nice red sauce. My husband raved about them and couldn’t believe they weren’t meat! Definite keeper recipe!
YAY Brenda, I’m so glad the recipe was a winner! Thanks so much for giving it a try and reporting back!
These are excellent and the first vegan meatball that has the correct mouth feel. I also froze 10 of them for a couple of months. Pulled them out last night, set on parchment and put in 300 for about 30 minutes. Exceptional! Served with my marinara over linguine. Very nice recipe! I’m going to fiddle with it and see if I can form them into burgers. I’ve yet to find a good vegan burger recipe! *hint hint* ;)
Suzy, thanks so much for taking the time to report back on these lentil meatballs (and how well they froze…so helpful!). I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them! I’d love to hear how it turns out if you try it in burger form. :)
Would it be possible to use tinned lentils for this recipe? And if so what quantity would you use? After reading the comments I’m dying to try them!
Hi Ruth, I’ve never used tinned lentils before, but that should work! The 3/4 dried lentils in the recipe comes out to about 2 1/4 cups cooked. I’d love to know what you think if you try it!
Thanks so much Erin, I’ll give it a try and let you know how it goes.
Hi Erin, I used the tinned lentils and they came out perfectly. I also used basil instead of parsley as I prefer it and I added a half tsp of stock powder as my lentils hadn’t been cooked in stock, and they were delicious. Thanks for the great recipe!
Ruth, thank you so much for reporting back! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed these.
These look delicious. Can’t wait to make them! I would like to substitute something for the oats–would you recommend almond flour or cooked quinoa, one for one?
Thanks!
Hi Lauren, you could try cooked quinoa, but it would definitely be an experiment. I would be a little worried about it holding together. Does you need it to be gluten-free? If yes, you might try gluten-free breadcrumbs as well. I hope you enjoy!
Thanks. I’ll play around with it–I don’t mind experimenting. It does need to be gluten-free but there are also gluten free oat options as well. I’ll let you know how it goes!
2 questions :
(1) Can I use any kind of lentils – like Red/Yellow or black ?
(2) Why instant or steel cut oats is not good in this recipe. I have plenty of both instant (baby oats) and steel cut oats and thinking to use them in this recipe. But you said not to use instant or steel cut oats.
Thank you.
Hi Gin, I have not tried other lentils, but I believe they should still work! As for the oats, instant oats are very finely pulverized, so I worry the meatballs will be too mushy and not hold together. Steel cut oats are the opposite—they are so firm that the meatballs will be unpleasantly crunchy. Quick cooking or rolled oats hit the sweet spots in between!
I made these this morning! The mixture smelled sort of odd to me (maybe I just don’t like parsley??) and was a little wet so I added a couple tablespoons of panko and nutritional yeast. The flavor was perfect after being cooked!
I also had enough for 24 slightly smaller meatballs (feeding toddlers so smaller is better) and made 4 burger patties out of the leftover mix. Super YUM!
Allison, that’s a great idea to make burger patties too! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
So easy! Made these in one day without refrigeration. My family loved them!!! I will make these again.
I am so so happy to hear that Michelle! Thanks so much for taking time to leave this lovely review. It really means a lot!
We have made these several times and love them. Even my non vegetarian husband likes them. We put them in everything from salads to wraps to pita pockets. They are so versatile and easy to make. Love that they make a lot so we have them on hand for quick meals for several days.
Pam, I’m so glad to hear the recipe is a winner with your family! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this review and share how you like to use them!
These look delicious. I’m wondering if they will hold up if they are simmered in a crockpot of marinara sauce. What do you think?
Hi Laura, I haven’t tried this myself, but I think as long as it’s for a short time, it should work! An hour or less I think would be okay, but I wouldn’t leave them all day just to be safe.
Delicious!
Thank you so much, Ewa! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Made this tonight. Really impressed. Added some basil as well and used a dash of hoisin sauce instead of the tomato puree (can’t eat tomato – boo!). Great results. Thanks!
Den, I’m so glad to hear the recipe was a hit! Thanks for taking the time to report back!
isnt this vegetarian why the egg?
Hi Diana, yes, the recipe is considered vegetarian as eggs are commonly accepted in a vegetarian diet. If you’re looking to omit the egg to make this recipe vegan, I do include a note about that below the recipe directions!
Do I cover the lentils as they simmer?
Hi Cath! No, leave them uncovered. Generally unless a recipe says to cover the pot, you can assume it’s uncovered. I hope you love these if you try them!
I really love this recipe. I’ve been vegetarian for nearly 27 years….back to time when it was far harder to find good veggie options, which is what forced me to learn to cook. This one is in the same category as my favorite Moosewood classics. It’s one of the best from scratch “meat replacement” recipes I’ve come across.
Simple ingredients and delicious.
Robyn, this comment made my day!! THANK YOU!!!
Just tried this recipe after researching veggie meatballs for a week. This was one of the easiest and cheapest recipes, and after seeing it featured in many IG stories, i took it as a sign to stop procrastinating an just try it!
They were so good!! I’m trying to get my husband to join me in a vegan diet and these meatballs gained his approval. Instead of the egg we used chia seed “egg”, though next time I would like to use flax “egg”. I myself have never been a fan of meatballs, so I made them smaller than the recommendation, and they turned out great. Not mushy or dry.
The one thing would recommend to be aware of is making them ahead of time (maybe a day before like Erin suggests) to let them cool in the fridge before baking in the oven.
Sarah, THANK YOU so much for taking time to leave this wonderful review. I’m thrilled that both you and your husband approve :) Thanks for sharing your tips also!
Hi! I just made this and I thought it was really good! My only thing I didn’t like is I found them a little mushy for me. Do yo have any tips on how to make them less mushy?
Sofia, I am guessing your lentils may be overcooked. I’d cook them a bit less next time or let them dry out a bit at room temperature. I hope that helps!
Hello and thanks for the recipe.
Can I perform the recipe without a food processor? How could I substitute it?
Also, can I substitute oats with general purpose flour?
Lia, I am afraid that I can’t recommend either of these swaps! You really do need to use a food processor for the right texture (same is true of oats vs. flour—I’ve only tested the recipe with oats and thing flour would be too dry). If you try the recipe as written, I’d love to hear what you think!
I found this recipe this morning after going through the pantry for inspiration. Came across a bag of dried lentils . . . now what? Soup? Curry? No, I craved something different and meatlessballs piqued my interest. These are delicious, moist inside, crispy outside. So easy (the baking part thrilled me) and flavourful (veggie broth is necessary and I added some chili flakes) with the perfect texture (coarser and better than chickpeas, in my opinion). I’ve eaten a half dozen already and shared the recipe with friends. Total winner!
Roni, I am SOOOO happy to hear it, thank you!
Made a double batch of these for the freezer. Just pulled one out today and had my first meal of these (paired with tomato sauce and spaghetti). They are fantastic!!! These will be going into my regular cooking rotation. Thanks!!!
YAY, so so happy to hear that Katie, thank you!