Lentil and Potato Balls in Tomato Sauce

Lentil and potato balls in tomato sauce are a delicious and nutritious recipe, perfect for those looking for a vegetarian dish full of flavors. Here’s the recipe with an Italian twist.

Ingredients for the balls:

• 200 g of dry lentils (or 400 g of pre-cooked canned lentils)
• 2 medium potatoes
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 small onion
• 1 sprig of fresh rosemary
• Breadcrumbs as needed
• Salt as needed
• Black pepper as needed
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Flour, for breading

Ingredients for the sauce:

• 500 ml of tomato purée
• 1 small onion
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt as needed
• A pinch of sugar (to balance the acidity of the tomatoes)
• Fresh basil (to garnish)

Preparation

1. If you are using dry lentils, soak them overnight, then drain and cook them in fresh water for about 30 minutes or until soft. If using canned lentils, rinse and drain them well.
2. Boil the potatoes until soft, then peel and mash them with a potato masher.
3. In a pan, sauté finely chopped onion and garlic in olive oil with the rosemary until golden.
4. In a large bowl, mix the lentils with the mashed potatoes, add the sautéed onion and garlic and season with salt and pepper. If the mixture is too wet, add some breadcrumbs to absorb the moisture.
5. Form balls with your hands and roll them in flour, then set aside.
6. For the sauce, sauté finely chopped onion in hot oil until translucent. Add the tomato purée, a pinch of salt, and sugar, and let it cook on low heat for about 20 minutes.
7. In a large pan, heat some oil and cook the balls until they are golden on all sides.
8. Transfer the balls into the tomato sauce and let them cook together for another 10-15 minutes, so they absorb the flavor of the sauce.
9. Before serving, add chopped fresh basil as a garnish.

Curiosity

Lentil and potato balls can be adapted in many ways. For a spicy note, add a bit of chili or smoked paprika to the mixture. Moreover, the addition of aromatic herbs such as thyme or oregano can give an additional fragrance. This dish is a great way to incorporate more legumes into the diet, providing a good amount of plant proteins.