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.
Email Me the Recipe!
By signing up, you'll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime. Already registered? Log in.
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.
Why I Love Lentils and These 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?”
Bake Lentil Meatballs for Easy Prep
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.
How to Serve Lentil Meatballs
- With Vegetable Noodles. 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).
- With Pasta. If you aren’t watching your carbs, they’d be just as tasty over a bed of traditional pasta noodles.
- With Both. 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 meatballs recipe—enjoyed them. We topped them with a simple tomato sauce and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Lentil Meatballs
email me the recipe!
By signing up, you’ll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime. Already registered? Log in.
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- ¾ cup dried green brown, or French lentils (I used green French lentils)
- 1 ½ cups low-sodium vegetable broth or chicken broth, plus additional as needed
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ cup diced yellow onion about 1/2 medium onion
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 2 cloves garlic minced (about 2 teaspoons)
- ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats or quick-cooking oats, do not use instant or steel cut
- ¼ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 1 ½ tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Video
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
Join today and start saving your favorite recipes
Create an account to easily save your favorite recipes and access FREE meal plans.
Sign Me Up
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!
OMGGGG! Made these for the first time and they completely surpassed my expectations! They were so delicious and the texture and consistency was perfect. I would recommend these to anyone. One thing I did to save some time was to put the onion and carrot in the food processor together and the recipe still turned out delicious. I also doubled the garlic just for added flavor since we are garlic lovers. Thank you so much for such a tasty and healthy recipe.
YUM Danielle! Thank YOU for leaving this fabulous review!
Could you sub carrot for beetroot?
Hi Ella! I haven’t tried it myself, but I think you could experiment. If you do give it a try, I’d love to hear how it goes.
this recipe was really so good! I was worried they would not stay together as forming them they were not strongly holding together but they got nice a crispy from the baking and taste amazing with marinara sauce
Ashley, YAY, I’m glad you enjoyed them! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this review!
Just made these for lunch ? so gooooood ?? My two year old loved it and kept saying yummy . Looking forward to trying more of your recipes .
Thank you
I’m glad it was a hit, Rizia! Thanks for taking the time to report back!
So tasty! I love the flavor! I think it tastes better than eating meat, and I love how many veggies are in them.
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe, Stephanie! Thanks for sharing this review!
These are not gluten free. I would suggest replacing oats with almond or coconut flour.
Hi Anna, the recipe actually is gluten free. Certified gluten-free oats can be used if cross-contamination is a concern, but if your dietary restrictions include oats as well, you could certainly experiment with another flour.
This recipe is awesome. I just started a gluten free, low sugar and dairy free diet due to some health issues. I was worried I would have to sacrifice flavor. I was also concerned about foods being easy to meal prep. This works for everything. I didn’t have a food processor so I made the lentils in my instant pot and then mashed everything together. I love the flavor!! I warmed mine back up using the low broil setting on my oven for a bit crispier texture. Thank you so much for this recipe ?
Thanks for sharing this review, Becky! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them.
Made these tonight (on a Well Plated kick lately), and they were awesome! I doubled the recipe to have lots of extra to freeze. Except that the double recipe was almost gone by the end of the dinner! I’d like to swap these for some of the meatball curry dishes I make (maybe sub the parsley for cilantro, and sub the oregano for curry spices). Can’t wait to make these again, and maybe triple the recipe.
YAY! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, Jenny! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review!
This looks so good! I can’t wait to try it!
Thank you, Nena! I hope you love the recipe!
I made these vegan style using a egg replacer. They were very sticky and hard to shape the meatballs. I put them overnight no my spaghetti sauce and used whole wheat noodles. Ate for lunch today and they are delicious! Was sceptical but glad I tried the recipe.
I’m so happy this was a hit, Bobijan! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review!
Can I refrigerate them when they are already shaped, just for a few hours?
Hi Nina! I haven’t tried it this way, but they should be fine for a few hours in the refrigerator. I hope you love the recipe!
This is a super recipe and I’ve made it quite a few times now. I just want to offer one more suggestion for serving. I put them on top of African Peanut Stew (Cookie and Kate recipe). So delicious!
Awesome idea, Krista! I’m so pleased to hear that the recipe was a hit!
LOVE THE MEATBALLS MADE WITH LENTILS
WHOO HOO! Thanks Rosita!
The pop up ads and videos on your pages are so annoying!! Each time I closed one a other popped up.
So sad…. I love your food but this is just awful
?
Amanda, that sounds like a serious issue! Were you able to close the ad? I have been having some technical issues where the ad covers the whole video and can’t be closed, and I’ve been trying to get those ads blocked. I’m sorry it’s been frustrating. I do depend on ads to keep my content free, but they should never block you from seeing a recipe.
Hi, I cannot tolerate tomatoes. Can I leave out the tomato paste or replace it with something else please?
Hi Chrissy! While I’ve never tried the swap myself, another reader has reported success with using hoisin instead. If you decide to experiment with it, I’d love to hear how it goes!
I was skeptical at first…but once I tried them, they were AMAZING. The tomato paste is absolutely key to making this the best it possibly can be. Also after I initially cooked it in the oven, whenever I wanted to eat some I would put some in my air fryer so they would get extra crispy and they were phenomenal. Excellent recipe :)
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Jasmine! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Made these tonight. Put three on my plate, so good. Then just spent the last 10 minutes shoving three more while standing over the oven. Honestly – how good can lentil meatballs actually be?
Flipping amazing. So good.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed them, Olivia! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
SO DELICIOUS! These lentil meatballs were savory and filling. They also held together great when baking. I served them with veggie curry and basmati rice and it was a hit!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed them, Alice! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Can’t wait to try this recipe. Looks so delicious. I have this lentil in my pantry and didn’t know how to use it. I will definitely try this recipe soon.
I hope you love the recipe, Shivangi!
This came out so good, I’m going to be attempting a ‘meatloaf’ using the same recipe! I didnt have a food processor, so I used a blender to break up the oats and mashed the rest together with a potato masher. I also used canned lentils to make the cooking process super quick.
Hi Cindy! So glad you enjoyed the meatballs! Thank you for this kind review!
This recipe was really good, easy, and very tasty! Ty so much for sharing! It’s a keeper!🙂
Hi Jamie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I don’t often comment on recipe blogs but these are phenomenal. Even my picky 9 yo ate them up. I’m seriously impressed with this recipe and can’t wait to try some of the modifiers I’ve noticed in the comments. Thank you!
Hi Jeanette! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Taste is fine but they turned out wet inside… I just have done something wrong with the flax egg? 🤔 maybe I overcooked the lentils? Ugh 😩 not sure I might just throw them all out.
I’m sorry you had trouble with this recipe, Amber. Unfortunately, it’s so hard to say what might’ve gone wrong without being in the kitchen with you. I hoped it would of been a success for you.
Excellent replacement for meat meatballs. When served with spaghetti pasta and sauce, delicious. I thought 4 meatballs per serving would not be enough but 4 filled me up and I’m a big guy. [I suggest that improvisation can be done if desired. Perhaps some bread crumbs and/or perhaps mushrooms. Binding would be important, possibly using an extra egg. But that’s personal taste.] We will, of course, experiment over time, possibly even adapting the recipe to meatloaf. But this basic recipe is a great start for those of us trying to break away from the meat habit but miss our spaghetti meals.
Hi Harry! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I’m hoping to try this but can you use canned/tinned lentils and a cube of vegetable stock?
Hi Monica! You could probably use that, they are already cooked so you’ll skip to step 3. Not sure where to add the cube of bouillon to the mixture but if you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
Fabulous! I haven’t eaten meat for years, but I think these are the closest to substance and bite and of course deliciousness!! I used the flax egg
I’m so happy that you enjoyed them, Rae! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
I just tried my first portion of this. I don’t know what I was expecting but these were good. I’ve recently found out I’m intolerant to most types of meat so am looking for vegetarian options. These have a more nutty texture than meat meatballs but flavoursome all the same. I swapped out the carrot for green pepper and they worked fine. Very sticky to form into balls but baked well and held together fine in my sauce. I managed to get 20 balls out of this recipe using a cake pop mould.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed them, Helen! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
I followed the recipe exactly except using dried parsley because I didn’t have fresh. The end result was amazing! Served with pasta, sauce, shredded parm and fresh basil. Loved it! So why 4 stars instead of 5? Because I doubt I will fix it again anytime soon. The prep time was extensive and just not practical for a busy family. I even bought jarred pasta sauce instead of making my usual recipe because I knew the meatballs would take a while. So the meal was excellent, but unfortunately will not become part of our meal rotation.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Ali! Thank you for sharing your results!
I’m curious if panko breadcrumbs could be used in place of oats? Trying to use what I have on hand if possible!
Hi Kayla! I’ve only tested the recipe as written so it would be hard to say. You likely could, I just have not tried it. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
Yummy. Easy to make and tastes delicious, It was crunchy and soft inside. We had it with pasta and there was some left overs which we are going to have tomorrow
Hi Fatumatta! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I love love these Lentil Meatballs and made double batches several times. I use flax eggs. They actually taste like ground chuck. The recipe is a keeper & I just added extra garlic cloves but otherwise Perfect. I eat Gluten Free & put them on Zucchini, yellow squash and spaghetti squash. I belong to kidney groups and have put the recipe on all their sites & they like the Lentil Meatballs also. Thanks for the great recipe❤️
Hi Laurena! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Made these tonight & they were excellent. Didn’t have parsley or tomato paste so added celery with the leaves, fresh ginger & whatever spices I had on hand. Will try making it as a loaf next time as found it messy making into balls. Already shared the link with some friends to try!
Hi Tami! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Can I use red lentils instead?
Hi Lana! Red lentils should work. Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Just made these and ate them with spaghetti and tomato sauce. Really tasty! Thank you
Hi Daniella! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
This was the most amazing vegan dish I have ever made. I made it with linseed “egg” instead of real one, and homemade tomato pasta sauce. The recipe is absolutely a keeper.
Hi Barbara! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Very good! I only had red lentils in the house and had to use dried parsley instead of fresh, but other than that and a flax egg, I stuck to the recipe! It smelled wonderful and my carnivore son even enjoyed some with his spaghetti. I prefer with zoodles.
Hi PML! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
They sound great. I have cooked lentils with a little rice from yesterday. I was thinking of using and blending these tomorrow when I olan to make them. Should that be ok, the fact it has rice?
Hi Sophie! I might work, it’s just not something I’ve tested out so can’t say for sure. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes! Enjoy!
There are eggs in this recipe. This is not vegan
That’s correct Debbie, that is why I described it as vegetarian. I do give instructions in the recipe card to make them vegan. Hope you enjoy!
Could these be eaten cold? What kind of sauce would you add if that is the case? I’m asking because my kid needs high protein snacks before practice, and these look like good finger foods.
Hi Christine! You probably could, I just haven’t tried it myself. Any kind of pasta sauce would work, you could even try ketchup? Enjoy!
We made these last night and they were great. This morning the leftovers made a fab snack! So I would say YES!
Love that! Thank you Emma!
Such a hit! I cooked the meatballs in the oven on a bed of tomato sauce and chopped peppers which worked really well. All the meat eaters loved them and they are also still really good the next day. Will make again!
Hi Heather! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I liked these because I eat very healthy and used to mild flavors. My kids wouldn’t touch these though and I wanted to inch up to a more intense flavor for them. More salt for sure and maybe breadcrumbs instead of oats. That’s a possibility. It’s hard to get teen boys to eat this stuff, unless you are a health nut like me.
Hi Jackie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Question, not a comment… Could you fry them rather than bake them to obtain a crispier exterior that would more approximate my Italian meatballs (which I fry in olive oil before cooking in sauce)? Also want them to hold up being simmered in pasta sauce… Does it help to chill them after forming in balls before cooking them? I’m concerned they could be mushy… Thanks.
Diane, I’ve never tried this pan method, and I am a little worried they’d fall apart. I’d brush them with a good amount of oil before baking to help them get that crispy crust you are looking for, then toss them in with the sauce at the end.
We made these last night and they were great. I used celery leaves instead of parsley because that is what I had, and added a little veggie parmesan cheese and macadamia nuts and they were delicious.
So happy to hear that! Thank you Emma!
Would these work in italian wedding soup.
Hi Judith, I haven’t tested it but I think it could. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!
I don’t have a food processor. Can I use my blender?
Looks like a good healthy meal. How long do I need
to blend the ingredients?
Thanks
Hi Phyllis, You really do need to use a food processor for the right texture. I don’t believe a blender would work to make the entire recipe but reader Cindy said “I didnt have a food processor, so I used a blender to break up the oats and mashed the rest together with a potato masher.” Hope this helps!
Not our thing I guess. I thought they turned out OK, but my wife wouldn’t finish hers. I tried to halve the recipe for two of us, but it was too watery with the egg so I added more oats until I could form it into balls. This was certainly a healthy meal, but I won’t be making it again.
Thanks for the feedback, Kurt. It would be tricky to half this recpe because of the egg but you could probably just use the yolk. Hope this helps!
Very good, tastes alot like falafel when eaten on their own. I dip into a garlicky yogurt sauce, very nice. I wonder if nutritionally they are better than falafel
Glad you enjoyed it, Daria!
These were phenomenal!!!! They reminded me of falafel and stayed moist the next day. I’m making another batch tomorrow. Planning to add some cayenne to make them spicy. Definitely a keeper recipe. Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed it, Allison!
I am really happy with this recipe. My husband is a total meat and potato guy. He liked these a lot!
Thanks!
Great to hear, thank you Gina!
Enjoyed this lentil recipe. I used an air fryer, 390 for 12 min. They held up well. Next time, so good I’ll make them again, I’ll put more oil on them prior to frying. Might add walnuts for a but extra protein.
Great to hear, thank you Danni!
Yummy 😋
Thank you Kimberlee!
Looks amazing, can’t wait to try this! But I am wondering if you think these would work as an appetiser, served with tooth-picks and some sort of dipping sauce? If you do think this would work, do you have a vegan dipping sauce recommendation?
Sounds like it could work, Melanie. Maybe it would be good dipped into this hummus? https://www.wellplated.com/homemade-hummus/
The lentil meatballs are fantastic. I made this recipe exactly as written and I will definitely make this again.
Thank you Teresa!