Quinoa Spaghetti with Vegan Meatballs
Each time spent in the kitchen is an opportunity to create something new just like this Pasta dish which was originally planned to be just pesto but turned out to have lots of extra elements that ended up all working together.
Ingredients
- For the Vegan Meatballs: use nutcase vegan meats or make one from scratch
- - 1 cup cooked quinoa
- - 1 cup cooked lentils
- - ½ cup breadcrumbs ensure they are vegan
- -½ cup flour
- - ¼ cup finely chopped onion
- - 2 cloves garlic minced
- - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- - 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- - 1 teaspoon dried herbs such as basil, oregano, or Italian seasoning
- - Salt and pepper to taste
- - Olive oil for frying
- For the Blended Red Bell Pepper Sauce:
- - 2 red bell peppers roasted and peeled
- - ½ cup tomato sauce
- - ¼ cup vegetable broth
- - 2 cloves garlic minced
- - 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast optional, for added flavor
- - Salt and pepper to taste
- For the Pasta:
- - 8 oz 225g quinoa spaghetti (or any other vegan spaghetti of your choice)
- - Fresh basil leaves chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, cooked lentils, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, tomato paste, soy sauce, dried herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly combined.
- Shape the mixture into small meatballs, about 1-2 inches in diameter.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides, turning gently to ensure even cooking. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- In a blender or food processor, combine the roasted red bell peppers, tomato sauce, vegetable broth, minced garlic, nutritional yeast (if using), salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Cook the quinoa spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In the same skillet used for the meatballs, pour in the blended red bell pepper sauce and heat over medium heat until warmed through.
- Add the cooked quinoa spaghetti to the skillet with the sauce and toss gently to coat the pasta evenly.
- Serve the quinoa spaghetti topped with the vegan meatballs and garnish with fresh chopped basil.
- Enjoy your delicious vegan quinoa spaghetti with vegan meatballs and blended red bell pepper sauce! This recipe is packed with protein, flavor, and wholesome ingredients. Feel free to adjust the seasonings and add any additional vegetables or herbs to suit your taste preferences.