Name: Lentil Meatballs (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/2 cup onion finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic minced; 1 teaspoon parsley; 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/4 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 cup dried lentils; 2 cups vegetable broth or water; 1 cup walnuts finely chopped; 2 tablespoons oat flour; 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds; 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes; 2 teaspoons Bragg's liquid aminos; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup cashews soaked for 1 hour then drained; 2 cups water; 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 clove garlic chopped; 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder or cornstarch; 3 tablespoons Bragg's liquid aminos Start with 2 tablespoon and taste, then add the extra if needed; 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning; Pinch of Cayenne pepper

FOR THE FULL LIST OF INGREDIENTS, SCROLL TO SEE THE RECIPE CARD AT THE END. BUT BEFORE YOU SCROLL CHECK IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE BLURB.

First Published on May 31, 2018, at 22:06

I made this Lentil Meatball recipe today and I was very pleased with the results, I was looking for an easy lentil meatballs recipe that would be packed with flavor yet fancy enough to be served even at the holiday table and enjoyed by everyone including meat-eaters. They actually remind me of Swedish meatballs.

I knew I found a winner of vegan meatballs when I serve them and my husband couldn’t stop saying how much he loves them and that they are definitely a keeper! They remind me of Swedish Meatballs, the kind you find at Ikea.

I love making vegan meatballs because they can easily feed a crowd, they are perfect for potlucks, and you can easily estimate the number of people you will be serving and make the right amount for them. My Vegan Tofu Meatball recipe is also a huge hit!

Health Benefits Of Lentils

Lentils are healthy and rich in nutrients and should be included as part of the diet: Want to gain muscles while on a vegan diet? Then you should eat more lentils. They’re high in fiber, protein, and folate. The fact is they can help you live longer, and they’re pretty much the perfect food. The little legumes have 250g of spermidine.

1 cup of cooked lentils contains:

226 calories
39 grams carbohydrates
18 grams of protein
16 grams of fiber
3.6 grams of sugar
0.8-grams of fat

How To Make Lentil Meatballs (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

To make these vegan lentil meatballs, first sort and wash dried lentils. Use brown or black lentils for this recipe, saute onion, garlic, herbs, add lentils, along with water or vegetable broth, and cook until tender and liquid has evaporated.

While the lentil is cooking, make oat flour, followed by finely chopped walnuts in a food processor, then stir them in the lentil mixture along with ground flaxseeds, yeast flakes, and Bragg’s Liquid Aminos.

Form into a meatball shape and place onto a prepared baking sheet and baked for 30 minutes. While lentil meatballs are baking prepare the cashew gravy.

ingredients for making lentil meatballs on a cutting board

How To Make The Cashew Gravy?

The cashew gravy is easy, you basically rinse cashews, and add all the ingredients except the herbs in a high-speed blender, and process until creamy.

Pour gravy into a saucepan, add herbs/seasonings and cook over medium heat until bubbly, while stirring with a whisk.

Please note to start by adding 2 tablespoons of the Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, then add the extra tablespoon if needed.

How To Freeze Your Lentil Meatballs?

After baking the lentil meatballs, cool them completely.
Place the lentil meatballs in a freezer-friendly container and place it in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Make the cashew gravy and cool completely, place in a freezer-friendly container and freeze as well.
To serve, remove the lentil balls from the freezer and place them in a preheated oven at 375 degrees F. for about 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
You can transfer the gravy from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before serving to defrost. Heat up the cashew gravy and pour over the reheated lentil meatballs and serve.

I wanted a dish that was very tasty so I adapted the filling from my Jamaican Lentil Patties recipes.

I was going to add gluten-free flour to bind the meatballs and prevent them from breaking up, but to my surprise, the balls were quite sturdy without flour.

Feel free to add about 2 tablespoons of gluten-free flour of your choice, rice, oat flour or sorghum flour should work fine for this recipe.

I added my gravy when I’m plating my dish, just before serving, so that the meatballs aren’t sitting for long in the gravy. It is delicious served with rice or mashed potatoes, green beans.

If you are still searching for recipe ideas for the holiday, don’t worry we have you covered! Here are 25 DELICIOUS VEGAN RECIPES FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

Check Out More Lentil Recipe Ideas:

Very close up photo showing lentil meatballs in gravy in a saucepan

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Nutrition

(Per portion)

Energy: 335 kcal / 1400 kJ
Fat: 21 g
Protein: 13 g
Carbs: 25 g

Cook Time

Preparation: 20 min
Cooking: 1 h
Ready in: 1 h 20 min

For: 6 Servings

Ingredients