Meatless Monday: Vegan Spelt Spaghetti with Red Lentil ‘Meatballs’
Updated: Jul. 16, 2019
When I was 8, I found out what meat was made of. My first thought was that my collection of
When I was 8, I found out what meat was made of. My first thought was that my collection of stuffed animals (many of them the farm variety) would not be impressed, my second was that my mind was made up: I would become a vegetarian. While my mom probably thought it would last about a week (or a day) I stuck with it, and have since become vegan. While I know being a vegetarian isn’t for everyone, going meatless just one day a week makes a big impact for animal welfare, the environment and your own health. And, as Bonnie pointed out in her first Meatless Monday post‘it’s also delicious!
Speaking of Bonnie, Best Health’s editor-in-chief and resident Meatless Monday blogger, she’s a busy lady. That’s why I’ll be posting delicious meatless recipes when she can’t. This is one of my favourite go-to recipes that I’ve perfected over time’a twist on the standard spaghetti and meatballs. I hope you like it!
Vegan Spelt Spaghetti with Red Lentil ‘Meatballs’
1 clove garlic
1 small yellow onion (or half large)
5 button mushrooms
1 cup cooked red lentils, cooled (a small can, rinsed and drained, works too)
3 tbsp nutritional yeast (can be found at health food stores)
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp olive oil
2 tbsp tamari (soy sauce)
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
Preheat oven to 350 F. Sautee mushroom, garlic and onions in olive oil and set aside. Blend the remaining ingredients (minus breadcrumbs) in food processor until smooth (add a little bit of water if it doesn’t blend properly). Mix in breadcrumbs and garlic/mushroom/onion mixture and form small, round patties.
Fry the patties in olive oil for a few minutes on each side and transfer to baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until browned.
Cook the pasta (I used Eden Organic Spelt Pasta) according to package instructions. Mix in desired amount of tomato sauce (I used Eden Organic Tomato Sauce as well). Add desired amount of pasta and ‘meatballs’ to bowl and garnish with fresh basil. Enjoy with a glass of red wine (as you can see, that’s what I did!)
-Katharine Watts, Associate Web Editor
