Borlotti Bean Vegetarian Meatballs

Here is a recipe to prepare Borlotti bean vegetarian meatballs with an Italian twist:

Ingredients

• 400 g of cooked and drained Borlotti beans
• 1 medium carrot, grated
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 80 g of breadcrumbs, plus more if necessary
• 30 g of grated Parmesan cheese (optional for those on a strict vegetarian diet)
• 1 egg (or 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds mixed with 3 tablespoons of water, for a vegan version)
• 1 handful of fresh parsley, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil for frying or baking

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, mash the Borlotti beans until they reach a roughly homogeneous consistency.
2. Add the grated carrot, chopped onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, Parmesan (if using), and parsley. Mix everything well.
3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Incorporate the egg or the flaxseed and water mixture, and mix until the mixture is firm enough to form meatballs; if necessary, add more breadcrumbs to achieve the desired consistency.
5. Form meatballs with your hands and at this point, you can decide whether to fry them in hot oil until golden or bake them at 180 °C on a lightly greased tray until they are golden and crispy, turning halfway through cooking.
6. Whether fried or baked, once ready, let them rest on paper towels to remove any excess oil.

Borlotti bean meatballs are a nutritious and versatile dish, great both as a main course and as finger food at a buffet.

Curiosity

Meatballs are a very ancient preparation widespread in various culinary cultures around the world. The vegetarian version is more recent but follows the same concept of creating a flavorful and compact dish that can satisfy both the eye and the palate. Italians have their traditional version of meatballs based on meat, but they also enjoy experimenting with legumes and vegetables to make delicious and healthy vegetarian dishes.