Description
If you are craving the deliciousness of meatballs in tomato sauce but want a tasty vegan option, consider making our spinach vegan meatballs in spicy tomato sauce.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the spinach veggie meatballs
- 1 lb frozen chopped spinach, thawed
- 1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed (15 ounces)
- 1/3 cup chickpea flour
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt (to taste)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
For the spicy tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 6 cloves of garlic, grated
- 1 large can of crushed tomatoes (28 ounces)
- 1/4- 1/2 tsp salt to taste
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4-1/2 tsp Aleppo pepper or Red pepper flakes, to taste
Instructions
- Squeeze as much water as possible from the thawed spinach.
- In a food processor add all the veggie meatball ingredients and process until it creates a soft dough. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- In the meantime make the spicy tomato sauce.
- In a large skillet, sautée onion and garlic in olive oil on medium-low heat for 6-7 minutes, until the onion is translucent. Add crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, and Aleppo pepper or red pepper flakes.
- Cook covered on high for 3-5 minutes. Lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375 ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- Scoop 1 1/2 tbsp of spinach dough and form balls. Place them on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Let the spinach balls cool completely before removing them from the baking sheet
- Place spinach veggie balls on the tomato sauce and serve. Over rice, quinoa, or pasta.
Notes
- If you don't have time to make your own tomato sauce use your favorite marinara sauce and add Aleppo pepper or hot red pepper flakes for heat.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Refrigeration time: 15
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Vegan main
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 spinach balls with sauce
- Calories: 228
- Sugar: 6.6 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 10.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27.3 g
- Fiber: 8.1 g
- Protein: 9.8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg