Parmesan Lentil Meatballs

Parmesan Lentil Meatballs are a tasty and nutritious vegetarian dish. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• 250 g of lentils (dry or already cooked)
• 1 egg
• 60 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 tablespoon of chopped parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Breadcrumbs (as needed to obtain a workable mixture)
• Extra virgin olive oil (for frying or for baking)

Preparation

1. If you’re using dry lentils, soak them for at least 12 hours, then drain and cook them in fresh water for about 30-40 minutes or until tender. If you opt for pre-cooked lentils, rinse them well before use.

2. Mash the lentils with a fork or pass them through a potato masher to obtain a coarse puree.

3. Add the egg, Parmesan, finely chopped garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper to the lentil mixture.

4. Mix all the ingredients and add breadcrumbs as needed to obtain a mixture that you can shape into meatballs.

5. Shape the mixture into meatballs of the desired size and coat them in breadcrumbs.

6. You can choose to cook the Parmesan Lentil Meatballs in two different ways: fry them in extra virgin olive oil until they are golden and crispy, or bake in the oven at 200 °C for about 20 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking to brown them evenly.

Curiosity

Lentil meatballs are a great vegetarian alternative to classic meatballs. Parmesan, with its rich flavor and crumbly texture, pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the lentils. Remember that this dish can be easily made vegan by eliminating the egg and substituting the Parmesan with a plant-based version of grated cheese.