Ingredients

The following ingredients have 32 Servings
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced small
  • 1 medium onion, diced small
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 cups cooked black lentils, or any other type of lentils (See note 1)
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa (for instructions on how to cook quinoa, click here  )
  • 1 tsp grilling seasoning  (See note 2)
  • 1/2 tsp Aleppo pepper or red pepper flakes (or to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp salt (See note 3)
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 flax egg ( 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds mixed with 3 tablespoons water) or one regular egg
  • 1/4 cup vital wheat gluten (See Note 4)
  • 1/4 cup garbanzo bean flour (or any other flour you may have in hand)
  • 1/4 olive oil if frying OR Cooking Spray if baking
  • 1/2 cup tahini
  • 1/4 fresh squeeze lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 tsp turmeric
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • Diced red bell pepper
  • Chopped parsley or cilantro
  • Toasted or raw pine nuts

Instruction

  • To prepare the sofrito, heat the olive oil in a large skillet (Use a large one, so you only have to use one pan for this recipe). Add the bell pepper, onion and garlic and sauté for 5-7 minutes, or until the pepper is cooked and tender it. Transfer to a large bowl.
  • Add the ingredients for the lentil meatless meatballs (EXCEPT the oil for frying) to the sofrito bowl, and mix well until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Place in the refrigerator for 10 minutes
  • Working with 1 1/2 tablespoons of mixture at a time, form balls (we like using a 1 1/2 tablespoon ice cream scoop to form even size meatballs and to save time). Make sure to press firmly to create a compact ball
  • Heat the olive oil in the large skillet. Add the meatless meatballs in two batches, cooking them for 6-8 minutes, making sure to turn them on all sides. Wipe the skillet clean using  paper towel after they are cooked
  •  Heat the oven to 400F. Generously spray a mini muffing tin. Place one lentil meatless meatballs in each of the muffing tin cavities. Alternatively, you can just place them in a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 20 minutes, turn them over and bake for an additional 10 minutes
  • To prepare the tahini turmeric sauce, place all the sauce ingredients in the large skillet. Whisk them together for 3 minutes over medium heat (the sauce will thicken the longer it cooks, see note 5). Arrange half of the meatless meatballs in the sauce and heat until everything is hot, 3-4 minutes. Store the other half in the freezer, or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days
  • Garnish with diced bell pepper, cilantro or parsley and pine nuts (optional)