Spaghetti with Lentil "Meat Balls!"

Suzanne and I were invited to a friend's birthday party this past weekend and we saw it as an opportunity to 1. create a new dish and 2. put some vegan stereotypes to rest. My friend's father had planned an Italian themed dinner, and since most Italian dishes are laden with meat, Suzanne and I offered to bring a dish for ourselves and to share if anyone was interested. What we ended up bringing to the party was Spaghetti with Lentil "Meat Balls."

Before I talk about the recipe, I wanted to talk a little about stereotypes. I feel like our society has developed some unfair stereotypes of veganism. I can't help but notice that whenever I mention the word vegan or say that a dish is vegan, people grimace, as if the food I eat has absolutely no flavor; which is absolutely contrary. I also hear the question, "How do you live without eating meat?" The answer is simple. I live quite well.

Making this dietary transition has opened my eyes to some unfair treatment and preconceived notions about only eating fruits, vegetables, and other organic foods. Now, I'm not trying to turn this into a pity party or anything, I'm only suggesting that we, as a society, try to open our minds to diverse dietary habits. Rather than saying, "Ughhh, what the heck?" when someone says they are vegan, why not say, "Interesting. What is that like for you?" It seems as if corporate organizations and certain societal fads have somehow trained us to think that any food associated with words like "health" or "Vegan" or even "vegetarian" are gross, bland, or too much work to make. What I propose is this: try living life by the famous phrase, "Don't knock it 'til you try it." Not only will it open you up to a multitude of new experiences, which will elicit growth, but it will also develop a deeper state of understanding and acceptance of diversity. With that being said, I give you Spaghetti with Lentil "Meat Balls."

NOODLES:
Super simple. Grab whatever noodles you want (we used gluten free wheat noodles) and boil them in a pot.

PASTA SAUCE:
1 large can of diced tomotoes
1 TBL spoon tomato paste
1/2 tsp of garlic
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1 tsp of oregano
1 tsp of basil
3 TBL spoons of sugar

Put these ingredients in a pot and let it simmer, stirring occasionally.

LENTIL "MEAT BALLS":
1 clove of garlic
1 red onion (about the size of a tangerine)
1 and a half cups of cooked green lentils
3 TBL spoons of nutritional yeast
2 TBL spoons vital wheat gluten flour
2 TBL spoons of soy sauce
1 TBL spoon of tomato paste
1 tsp olive oil
2 TBL spoons of water
1/2 cup of bread crumbs

Dice the onion and garlic. Put them in a food processor, making sure that they are minced (you don't want any big pieces because then your "meat balls" won't stay together very well).

Once they are minced, use a spoon or spatula and transfer the onion and garlic to a bowl. Next, put the remaining ingredients into the processor, EXCEPT FOR THE BREAD CRUMBS, and pulse them until they are a smooth texture, almost like a paste.

Combine this mixture with the onion/garlic mixture and then add in your breadcrumbs. Mix these all together with your hands for about 2 minutes or until everything is mixed really well.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grab a frying pan. toss in some oil and set the heat to medium. Begin rolling the past into your "meat balls" (this recipe made about 30 or so). I would suggest cooking about 7 or 8 at a time to help reduce crowding in the pan. Place your "meat balls" into the pan once it's heated and brown them for about 5 minutes. Once they are done, transfer them from the pan onto a covered baking sheet. Place them in the oven and let them back for about 20 minutes. Be sure to toss them around periodically to make sure that all sides get browned and baked.

That's pretty much it! Once everything is done, just combine your ingredients and enjoy!

I hope all is well out there!

-Bearded Vegan