Veggie Balls
Photo by: John Kernick
Sometimes you just gotta take a break from hard-core carnivordom, and these are the way to go— just ask the staff of New York's famous Meatball Shop, who eat them around the clock. You’ll often find them at the bar with a big bowl, topped with their Classic Tomato Sauce and a side of steamed or sautéed spinach. And when it comes to kids, this is a great and tasty way to sneak in more veggies.
Editor's Note: Recipe updated to specify when exactly to add lentils to the vegetable mixture.
Editor's Note: Recipe updated to specify when exactly to add lentils to the vegetable mixture.
ingredients: Add all to shopping list
2 cups lentils
¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme
2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp tomato paste
8 oz button mushrooms, wiped clean and sliced
3 large eggs
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup bread crumbs
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup finely chopped walnuts
¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme
2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp tomato paste
8 oz button mushrooms, wiped clean and sliced
3 large eggs
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup bread crumbs
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup finely chopped walnuts
At a glance:
Servings: Makes about 2 dozen 1 1/2-inch balls
Active Time: 30 min
Total Time: 1 hr 45 min
Key Tags:
directions:
1. 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. Drain the lentils and allow to cool.
2. Add ¼ 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. Add the tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, for 15 more minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and allow to cool to room temperature. When cool, add the lentils to the vegetable mixture.
3. Add the eggs, Parmesan, bread crumbs, parsley, and walnuts to the cooled vegetables and mix by hand until thoroughly incorporated. Place in the refrigerator for 25 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
5. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil into a 9 x 13- inch baking dish and use your hand to evenly coat the entire surface. Set aside.
6. Roll the mixture into round, golf ball–size meatballs (about 1½ inches), making sure to pack the vegetable mixture firmly. Place the balls in the prepared baking dish, allowing ¼-inch of space between the balls and in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid. The meatballs should be touching one another.
7. Roast for 30 minutes, or until the meatballs are firm and cooked through.
8. Allow the meatballs to cool for 5 minutes in the baking dish before serving.
KITCHEN COUNTER:
Makes about 2 dozen 1 1/2-inch balls
Excerpted from "The Meatball Cookbook" by Daniel Holzman & Michael Chernow. Copyright © 2011 by Daniel Holzman & Michael Chernow. Excerpted by permission of Ballantine Books, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
