Heart-Healthy Hearty Vegetarian Meatballs

Elevate your plant-based meals with these Heart-Healthy Hearty Vegetarian Meatballs—a satisfying, nutrient-packed twist on classic comfort food! Made with protein-rich lentils, fiber-filled rolled oats, and a medley of aromatic vegetables like garlic, onion, and mushrooms, these vegetarian meatballs are big on both flavor and nutrition. A flaxseed "egg" binds the ingredients together, while soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and Italian seasoning infuse every bite with rich, savory goodness. Baked to perfection for a golden, firm finish, these meatballs are perfect served over pasta, alongside a zesty tomato sauce, or as a hearty snack. With a quick prep time and health-conscious ingredients, this recipe makes eating heart-healthy both easy and delicious.

Nutriscore Rating: 74/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:35 mins

Total Time:55 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup Lentils
• 3 cups Water
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1 medium Onion, finely chopped
• 3 Garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium Carrot, grated
• 1 cup Mushrooms, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons Ground flaxseed
• 5 tablespoons Water (for flax egg)
• 1 cup Rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons Nutritional yeast
• 0.25 cup Parsley, chopped
• 2 tablespoons Soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the lentils under cold water and drain. In a medium saucepan, combine the lentils and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered for about 20-25 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.

Step 2

In a small bowl, combine the ground flaxseed and 5 tablespoons of water. Stir well and set aside for about 5 minutes to thicken.

Step 3

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes.

Step 4

Stir in the minced garlic, grated carrot, and chopped mushrooms. Cook for another 5 minutes until the vegetables are soft and any liquid from the mushrooms has evaporated.

Step 5

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 6

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked lentils, vegetable mixture, flaxseed mixture, rolled oats, nutritional yeast, chopped parsley, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.

Step 7

Using your hands or a spoon, mix the ingredients until well combined. The mixture should hold together when pressed. If it feels too wet, add a bit more oats.

Step 8

Form the mixture into 1.5-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. You should have about 20-24 meatballs.

Step 9

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through, until the meatballs are firm and lightly browned.

Step 10

Serve warm with your favorite sauce or over pasta for a delicious heart-healthy meal.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1620.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1180.9

Total Fat 53.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 8.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 7.8g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2879.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 132.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 37.2g	0%
Total Sugars 18.7g
Protein 51.6g	0%

Vitamin D 14IU	0%
Calcium 416.7mg	0%
Iron 18.9mg	0%
Potassium 3076.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 39.6%

Protein: 16.9%

Carbs: 43.5%