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Spinach Veggie Meatballs In Spicy Tomato Sauce – Vegan & Paleo!

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Working in a grocery store when they’re predicting a snow storm certainly is an interesting experience. People literally panic, as if the end of the world had just been announced. It’s kinda funny actually.

This latest snow storm we had however, was a little bit different. What are the items people go for the most when they think they’re gonna get stuck at home for days? The staples, right? Milk, eggs, bread, water… Well, this time, the three things I got asked for the most were sauerkraut, bread crumbs and pasta sauce. I’m dead serious. Pasta sauce and bread crumbs, I get it. Maybe a lot of people wanted to go the comfort food route, and make spaghetti and meatballs or something. I don’t know. But sauerkraut? I don’t quite get that one. But hey, to each his own. At least it’s a healthy choice!

And speaking of spaghetti and meatballs. We’ve been trying to find a good recipe for vegan or vegetarian meatballs forever. We’ve made a few attempts, none of them exactly successful (read, a complete mess) . But, you know what the one good thing about being stubborn, middle eastern blooded Spaniards is? We don’t give up easily. We just thought a little bit outside of the box, and came up with this little piece of yumminess. Not your typical meatballs, but… nothing wrong with being a little different, right?

Enjoy!

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Spinach Balls in Spicy Tomato Sauce

★★★★★ 5 from 4 reviews
  • Author: https://mayihavethatrecipe.com
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 25 mins
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Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • 1 lb frozen chopped spinach, thawed
  • 1/4 – 1/2 tsp salt (to taste)
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • 3 tbsp raisins
  • 2 tbsp pine nuts

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a non stick skillet. Add garlic and cook over medium – low heat for 2 minutes. Add spinach and continue cooking for 10 minutes. Add salt, pepper, lemon zest and raisins and cook until all the water has evaporated and spinach is dry, about 6-8 more minutes
  2. In the meantime, place pine nuts in a dry pan and toast over medium heat for 3-5 minutes,stirring frequently and keeping an eye on them so they don’t burn
  3. When spinach is ready, remove from heat, add pine nuts and mix well. Set aside until cool enough to handle
  4. Once the spinach has cooled and working with about 1 tablespoon at a time, form “meatballs” by rolling them in your hands. Carefully place them in a wide pan with the spicy tomato sauce and warm up over low heat

Notes

The spinach balls are delicate, make sure you handle them with care.
if you don’t have time to make your own tomato sauce use your favorite pasta sauce and add some hot red pepper flakes for heat

 

Print

Spicy Tomato Sauce

★★★★★ 5 from 4 reviews
  • Author: https://mayihavethatrecipe.com
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Total Time: 35 mins
  • Yield: 4 1x
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves of garlic, grated
  • 1–15oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 1/4–1/2 tsp salt (to taste)
  • 1/8 tsp pepper
  • 1/4– 1/2 tsp red hot pepper flakes (to taste)

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, sautée onion and garlic in olive oil 6-7 minutes, until the onion is translucent. Add crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes
  2. Cook on high for 3-5 minutes. Simmer for 20 minutes

Notes

if you don’t have time to make your own tomato sauce use your favorite pasta sauce and add some hot red pepper flakes for heat

 

spinach balls in spicy tomato sauce

 

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    • They are very delicate so handle them with care. Place them in tomato sauce and reheat them gently. One of our readers told us that she added chia seeds to the spinach. I will check with her how that came out.

      Reply

  18. Oh my gosh I always crack up when everyone freaks before a snow storm – my personal favorite is when you see someone buying like 5 things of milk – do you really need all that for one storm??? And these spinach meatballs look delicious – spinach is a favorite of mine so I know I would love these!

    Reply

  19. I am so, so excited about this recipe! It’s just stunning, so healthy and looks absolutely scrumptious! Love the addition of pine nuts and raisins, plus the fresh, bright lemon zest! Yum! Totally pinning ASAP! Oh – and I think that’s so funny about the sauerkraut! I love sauerkraut, but it sure isn’t the first thing I’d grab in a snowstorm!! 😀

    Reply

  20. I had some thawed spinach that I lost interest in a few nights ago so this really caught my eye. It was amazing, even without the spicy sauce. I didn’t have raisins on hand for my very last minute attempt, so I used dried cranberries – wow. Really great!

    Reply

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