Mini Lentil Meatballs

Another winner from the Post Punk Kitchen Website! These are the meatballs that go with Isa's version of vegan Spaghetti O's, just like the ones from the can!! I've been looking for a good, all-purpose vegan meatball recipe for what seems like forever, and when I saw this recipe posted last week, I was excited to give it a go! These are simple and taste great. I did not make the spaghetti Os that go along with them, but I think these mini meatballs are simple fabulous along with some spaghetti and marinara. One note, you do need to use store bought breadcrumbs in this to achieve the correct consistancy. Homemade will not do for this particular recipe

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 1  garlic clove
• 1  small onion, peeled
• 1 1⁄2 cups  cooked lentils, rinsed, drained (a 15 oz can is fine)
• 3  tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 2  tablespoons vital wheat gluten
• 2  tablespoons soy sauce
• 1  tablespoon tomato paste
• 1  teaspoon olive oil
• 2  tablespoons water
• 1⁄2 cup  breadcrumbs, seasoned (store bought)

Directions

1. In a food processor, add the garlic and pulse until finely chopped.
2. Now add the onion and pulse until minced. You don’t want any big pieces or they will ruin the texture of the meatball.
3. With a plastic spatula, transfer the onion/garlic mixture to a mixing bowl and set aside. It’s okay if some remnants are left, just try to get most of it.
4. Now in the food processor, pulse the lentils, nutritional yeast, wheat gluten, soy sauce, tomato paste, olive oil and water.
5. Once everything gets mixed well, puree them until totally smooth, scraping down the sides to make sure you get everything.
6. Combine this mixture with the onion mixture and add in the breadcrumbs. Mix really well with your hands for about 2 minutes.
7. Preheat oven to 350°F.
8. Roll the meatballs into cherry sized balls.
9. Preheat a large skillet over medium heat and pour in a thin layer of olive oil. You don’t want to crowd the pan, so pan fry in two batches. You should be able to tilt the pan and have all the meatballs roll around and get coated in oil, cooking until browned (no more than 5 minutes.).
10. Transfer first batch to a baking pan, cook the second batch, and transfer all meatballs to the baking pan.
11. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, shaking the pan every once in awhile to toss the balls so that they cook evenly.