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Lentil Meatballs are a delicious main course perfect for preparing quick and easy meatballs with a twist, making good use of leftover lentils from holiday meals and dinners.
The Lentil Meatballs Recipe is undoubtedly a clever way to avoid food waste while also bringing to the table a vegetarian main course that’s both easy to prepare and different from the usual. To make perfect Lentil Meatballs, we recommend starting with Stewed Lentils, which means you won’t need to add extra salt or pepper when preparing the meatballs. Thanks to the consistency of the Cooked Lentils, you can prepare Lentil Meatballs Without Potatoes, and if you properly adjust the amount of breadcrumbs and grated cheese, you can even skip the egg, making them Egg-Free Lentil Meatballs.
For Light Lentil Meatballs, you can opt for Baked Lentil Meatballs by cooking them in a fan-forced oven at 350°F (180°C) for about 30 minutes, or prepare Air Fryer Lentil Meatballs by cooking them in an Air Fryer at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes. In both cases, we recommend lightly drizzling them with some olive oil.
Ingredients
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Instructions
To prepare the Lentil Meatballs, first cook the lentils following our recipe for ‘Lentils in Sauce’. Once cooked, place them in a colander and let them drain to remove the excess cooking liquid.
Place the drained lentils in a food processor along with breadcrumbs, grated Grana Padano cheese (a aged Italian hard cheese similar to Parmigiano Reggiano), and some parsley leaves. Blend everything together. Add an egg and, if needed, more breadcrumbs, then blend again. Keep adding breadcrumbs until you obtain a malleable mixture that doesn’t stick to your hands.
Once you’ve achieved the perfect consistency for making meatballs, prepare two bowls: one with beaten egg seasoned with salt and pepper, and another with breadcrumbs.
Form meatballs slightly larger than a walnut. First, dip them in the beaten egg, then coat them in breadcrumbs. Finally, fry them in abundant hot cooking oil until golden brown.
Once the meatballs are golden brown and crispy, remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on a plate lined with kitchen paper to absorb excess oil. Let them cool slightly and serve these Lentil Meatballs accompanied by tasty Horseradish Sauce or Tartar Sauce.
