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!
Print
Spinach Balls in Spicy Tomato Sauce
- Total Time: 25 mins
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- 1 lb frozen chopped spinach, thawed
- ¼ - ½ tsp salt (to taste)
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
- zest of 1 lemon
- 3 tbsp raisins
- 2 tbsp pine nuts
Instructions
- 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
- 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
- When spinach is ready, remove from heat, add pine nuts and mix well. Set aside until cool enough to handle
- 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
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
Spicy Tomato Sauce
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, grated
- 1-15oz can crushed tomatoes
- ¼-½ tsp salt (to taste)
- ⅛ tsp pepper
- ¼- ½ tsp red hot pepper flakes (to taste)
Instructions
- 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
- 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
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
Amy @ What Jew Wanna Eat says
I love the addition of raisins and pine nuts! Sweet and spicy and healthy- these are calling my name!
★★★★★
Vicky & Ruth says
We love the combo of sweet and spicy!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com says
These spinach balls with pine nuts sounds like a win win! you gave me a chuckle from reiterating that people were asking you for sauerkraut, bread crumbs and pasta sauce before a snow storm!
Here's hoping we start thawing out soon
Vicky & Ruth says
Who knows, maybe Dr. Oz spoke a bout sauerkraut 🙂
Aimee / Wallflower Girl says
What an interesting recipe, I'm so intrigued to try it - it looks great!
Vicky & Ruth says
Thank Aimee!
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
These look fantastic! I never get decent vegetarian meatballs, and I'm dying to try this recipe. It sounds great with the pine nuts addition, I love those 🙂
Vicky & Ruth says
Thank you Consuelo, we love the combination of raisins and pine nuts with the spinach.
Hindy says
This looks amazing! I love vegan meatballs! Do these hold together well?
Vicky & Ruth says
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.
Kumar's Kitchen says
what a beautiful and delicious vegan dish...a winner,thanks for sharing 🙂
★★★★★
Vicky & Ruth says
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed the recipe.
jc says
Delicious vegan food is one reason why the number of vegans has doubled in less than 3 years.
Join the revolution! 21-Day Vegan Kickstart http://www.pcrm.org/health/diets/kickstart/kickstart-programs
★★★★★
[email protected] says
I love the idea of meatballs without meat in them. I'm surprised they held together so well without egg and breadcrumbs!
Vicky & Ruth says
We have to confess that they are delicate, but we were surprised as well. We were even able to reheat them and they kept their shape!
Jamie Geller says
looks good - you girls love pine nuts - luckily so do I.
Vicky & Ruth says
We do love pine nuts, we only wish there were a little more affordable!
stephanie says
i love this idea! meatballs are my favorite, but spinach balls sound like a great alternative.
Vicky & Ruth says
Thank you, it is a great vegetarian alternative!
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
Definitely nothing wrong with being a little different, especially if it looks this delicious! 🙂
Vicky & Ruth says
Thank you Bianca, thank you for stoping by and leaving a comment even when you are on vacation. Enjoy your trip!
Melissa {lilmisscakes} says
This is such a smart idea! I love the idea of spicy sauce, yum.
Tamar Genger says
YUMMY, these looks so great!! I really can't understand the Sauerkraut thing though either, what does that say about the people in your community?
★★★★★
Vicky & Ruth says
Thanks. Not quite sure about the Sauerkraut….
Amanda says
yum! I'd love to try these with kale, collards, and parsley!
Vicky & Ruth says
That's a great idea, let us know if you do and how you like the "meatballs"
Kelly says
Wow, I love this idea of vegan meatballs! I love spinach and tomatoes and they sound awesome both ways 🙂 What a tasty and healthy dish!
Vicky & Ruth says
Thank you Kelly!
[email protected] says
The additional pine nuts and raisins add so much! Awesome recipe!
Vicky & Ruth says
We agree, they really make this dish.
Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes says
Wow these look good! You're on a roll with the vegan/paleo recipes!
Vicky & Ruth says
Thank you Jessica. We are having fun creating vegan pale recipes!
Ashley says
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!
Vicky & Ruth says
Yep, people are funny! We love spinach as well!
Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
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!! 😀
Vicky & Ruth says
Thank you so much Shelley, so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Mumsedso says
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!
Vicky & Ruth says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing!
Ruchama Burrell says
This sounds lovely. I am a big fan of frozen chopped spinach as an ingredient. However, pine nuts are very expensive and depending on their origin can cause an unpleasant reaction involving stinging sensation/and or swelling of lips. We stopped buying them years ago. Would ground walnuts of almonds work as well, either raw or toasted?
Vicky and Ruth says
Yes, you can buy other nuts.