SAUCE YIELD: 6 SERVINGS
A crispy lentil beanball gets mixed into a tangy tomato sauce for this appetizer. Make sure to have napkins and toothpicks on hand, but you’ll have no need for a leftover container.
INGREDIENTS:
Lentil Balls
• ¾ cup green lentils
• 1½ cups vegetable broth
• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• ⅓ cup diced onion
• ⅓ cup quick-cooking oats
• ⅔ cup grated carrots
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon aquafaba
• ¾ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• Pinch of ground black pepper
Sweet and Spicy Sauce
• ¼ cup diced onion
• 1 15-ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes
• ½ cup ketchup
• 3 tablespoons Tabasco
• ½ cup crushed pineapple
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS:
Lentil Balls
1. Rinse and drain the lentils. Place lentils in a medium-large saucepan. Pour in the vegetable broth and cover. Place pan on high heat and bring to a boil. When boiling, turn down to medium-high and cook for 20 minutes or until the lentils are tender. All the water should be absorbed. This process can also be done in a rice cooker.
2. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
3. Heat the oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, about 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Add the cooked lentils, sautéed onions, oats, carrots, garlic, tomato paste, aquafaba, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Mix very well.
5. Roll pieces of the lentil mixture into eighteen balls and place on a baking
sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip, and bake another 10 minutes.
Sweet and Spicy Sauce
6. Add all the sauce ingredients to a food processor. Blend well until almost smooth.
There should still be small pieces of pineapple.
7. Pour into a large saucepan. Bring to a boil then turn down to medium heat.
8. Carefully add lentil balls to the pan and fold them into the sauce. Heat through about 5 minutes and then serve with toothpicks.
Protein: 12 grams per serving (3 lentil balls)
Active Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
