Weeknight · 15–30 min

Lentil Meatball Bites

Name: Lentil Meatball Bites
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 37 min
Ingredients: 2 cups Cooked lentils; 1 tbsp ground flaxseed, ground, mixed with 3 tbsp water; ⅔ cup rolled oats, quick or rolled; 3 tbsp marinara sauce; 2 tbsp nutritional yeast; 2 cloves garlic, grated; 1 tsp Italian seasoning and onion powder; ¼ tsp salt, skip for babies; 1 ½ tsp olive oil; 1 cup marinara sauce, warmed

These are tender enough for a toddler and hearty enough for a grown-up's spaghetti night. Lentils, oats and a flax egg hold them together, and a little marinara inside keeps them moist. Make a double batch and freeze half for the nights you have nothing left.

Kid-friendly · how to serve it to kids

Hands-on: 15 min
Hands-off: 22 min
Total: 37 min
Dishes: 2

14gprotein251cal38gcarbs5gfatper serving · $0.77

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Skill Meal-prep friendlyoven · air-fryer

Method

1
Heat the oven to 400°F.
2
Stir the ground flax with 3 tablespoons of water and let it sit for 5 minutes until it turns gel-like.
3
Mash the lentils in a big bowl until mostly smooth with a few whole pieces. Add the flax mix, oats, marinara, nutritional yeast, garlic, spices and salt and stir until it holds together.
4
Roll into about 20 balls the size of a walnut, set them on an oiled sheet pan, brush with the oil and bake until firm and browned on the bottom.
5
While the meatballs bake, warm the 1 cup of marinara in a small pot over low heat until hot.
6
Let them rest for 5 minutes so they firm up, then serve with warm marinara for dipping or over pasta.

Storage

Keeps 5 days in the fridge and freezes for 3 months. Reheat from frozen at 375°F for 10 minutes.

Good to know

Swapping to a raw ground like Impossible? Skip the oats and flax and just season, roll and bake.
Too soft to roll? Add another tablespoon of oats and let the mix sit for 5 minutes.

For little ones

Feeding kids plant-based

Serve with pasta, or on a toothpick with sauce for dipping.

Their portion: about half your servingabout 140 cal · 8 g protein of their 19 g a day

Nutrition

per serving

Calories: 251
Protein: 14g
Carbs: 38g
Fat: 5g
Fiber: 12g
Sodium: 450mg

Soy-freeGluten-freePeanut-free

Calculated from ingredient reference data. Brand labels vary.

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Lentil Meatball Bites

Method

For little ones

Nutrition

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