Meatless meatballs
Try this savory mushroom dish that packs a nutritious punch! The texture cooks up just like meat and the flavorful sauce is delish. Pasta-approved and ready to enjoy.
Servings4 people
Prep Time30 min
Cook Time1 hour
Ingredients
- 1tbsp olive oil
- 1 pnd fresh white mushroomsfinely chopped
- 1 pinch salt
- 1tbsp butter
- 1/2cup finely chopped onion
- 4cloves garlicminced
- 1/2cup quick-cooking oats
- 1ounce Parmiagiano-Reggiano Cheesefinely shredded
- 1/2cup bread crumbs
- 1/4cup flat-leaf (Italian) parsleychopped
- 2 eggsdivided
- 1 tsp salt
- black pepper to tasteground
- 1pinch cayenne pepperor to taste
- 1pinch dried oregano
- 3cups pasta sauce
- 1tbsp Parmigiano-Reggiano cheesefinely shredded
- 1tbsp chopped glat-leaf (Italian) parsleyto taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms to the hot oil, sprinkle with salt, and cook while stirring until liquid from mushrooms has evaporated. Stir butter into mushrooms, reduce heat to medium, and cook and stir mushrooms until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
- Stir onion into mushrooms and cook until onion is translucent, 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and stir garlic into mushroom mixture until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer mixture to mixing bowl.
- Mix oats into mushroom mixture until thoroughly combined. Gently stir 1 ounce Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese into mixture. Add bread crumbs, 1/4 cup parsley and 1 egg; season with salt, pepper, cayenne and oregano. Mix together with a fork until crumbly. Stir in remaining egg. Mixture should hold together when pressed.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours. For best flavor and texture, refrigerate overnight.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Form mixture into small meatballs using a 2-tablespoon scoop. Roll meatballs lightly between your hands until smooth, if desired; arrange meatballs on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in prepared oven until meatballs are lightly golden brown 12-15 minutes.
- Bring pasta sauce to boil in a large saucepan; reduce heat to low. Gently stir meatballs into sauce until coated. Simmer meatballs in sauce until cooked through; 45 minutes to 1 hour. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with 1 tablespoon Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and 1 tablespoon parsley.