Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Garden Lentil Balls, and Gremolata

If you are looking for something pretty...this isn't the dish you should be looking at, but if you are looking for something healthy, and good-for you vegetables made into meat balls...actually there's no meat in them just all vegetables mashed up, egg whites, and bread crumbs to bind them.
I almost forgot to mention the incredible gremolata which was mixed into the vegetables that really added the flavor to the lentil balls. Inspired by Joy Bauer's Slim and Scrumptious "Garden Lentil Burgers" recipe, I re-created something entirely different from a few basic ingredients. I will certainly make the Lentil Burgers next time, which has brown rice, soy sauce, and different kinds of veggies, and spices.





Gremolata is an Italian flavoring mixture, that is sprinkled over food. It consists of flat leaf Italian parsley, garlic, grated lemon rind, and spices. In this recipe, I added orange rind. Again, I made my own variation, and instead of saving the gremolata dry, in a jar to save the leftover, I added canola oil to it for better texture, and flavor.
It hold up to one week this way...if it lasts that long!




I used a bunch of flat leaf Italian parsley-make sure you chop the ends, of course...also a bunch of dill, (you can use a different type of herb to add to the parsley if you don't want to use dill...as long as you use the parsley as the main herb. I had tangerines on hand. About a teaspoon of chopped garlic, and seasoned sea salt.

I already pre-chopped the garlic, you can use 2 cloves if you don't have chopped...either way, it goes into the food processor.



It is easier to peel the tangerine, rather than grate it, because of the soft skin. You can of course, use grated orange, or grated lemon, which is usually made with.

























Process all the ingredients in a food processor, and spoon them in a jar with a lid, add oil to it if you want to keep it longer than a couple days...with the oil, it will last up to one week.









Just look how beautiful, fresh, and vivid green gremolata you will have, that can be used in so many dishes, saute in vegetable dishes, added to the lentil mix as well, for the lentil balls.












This is the spicy sea salt I use. I added half of the jar in a pepper grinder, and mixed it with additional peppercorns. Such an amazing flavor it has, combined with peppers.












...and now, the recipe for the Garden Balls


2 cups of cooked and mashed lentils,
that already has chopped cooked onions
2 carrots, grated
2 large egg whites beaten
2 Tbsp gremolata,
additional salt and pepper, to taste
2 cups fine bread crumbs
2 Tbsp canola oil


In a large bowl, add the mashed lentils, that has been pre-mashed with a potato masher. Combine the additional ingredients, except the canola oil, and mash them all together. Form the mixture into balls, and roll them in additional bread crumbs. In a large skillet, add the oil, and on medium high heat brown the lentil balls. In a 250 degree oven, keep them warm on a baking sheet. You can serve marinara sauce over them. Do not add them directly into the sauce, or some of the lentil balls will fall apart. You can serve the lentil balls just by themselves as a side dish with other vegetables, or on top of mixed salad. Very healthy, and delicious!
Yields: about 12 lentil balls

BTW-as you can see, I lost my entire blog list when I was adding an additional blog to the list. The blogger did not have a URL feed, and the program let me know. When I tried to re-do it, to remove the message, I wiped out the entire blog list...literally wiped out the program, itself. Had to go back to edit-add a gadget, and it brings up the entire menu that you can choose from. Now, I'm starting one-by-one to add my blog list again. I apologize if I wiped out someone on the list that also features my blog on their list...even the ones that do not, at any rate, I will be adding them back, as I go along, commenting, to copy, and paste them back!
Thanks for your understanding...as the saying goes "everything happens for a reason"...gives me a chance to add new ones!



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25 comments:

Dzoli said...

Both ideas are simple and so good:) Especially the lentil balls;))

Suhaina said...

wow..this looks yumm and very healthy too..filled with protein..

Amelia's De-ssert said...

Elisabeth, this looks healthy and delicious. Lovely picture too.

Petra said...

Nagyon tetszenek a receptek! A lencsét eddig csak levesnek vagy főzeléknek készítettem, nagyon jó ötletet adtál. :)))

Priya said...

Feel like grabbing some lentil balls,soo tempting..

My Home Diary in Turkey said...

ow wow.. it is healthy thing Elisabeth.. how if I can not find gremolata? can i use regular sea salt?
I don't why U can't access my page through your computer/ blog dear .. :( have no clue at all

Parsley Sage said...

Mmmm! That Gremolata sounds delicious! And I think your lentil palls look plenty pretty :)

Bianka said...

Ötletes az ilyen formájú felhasználás

Junia said...

those lentil garden balls looks so good! love how it is flavorful and healthy. i've never heard of gremolata before but it looks easy to make! sigh technology never fails to have its hiccups! :T

Nava.K said...

With age catching up, I am all in for everything healthy and what a sharing with such a beautiful recipe.

Patty said...

Those look yummier than meaty meatballs...maki g them now!!!

honey82 said...

Ciao Cara..
c'è poco da dire..sei sempre bravissima nelle tue creazioni culinarie!!!;-))
Big Kiss and thanks all
Daiana

Elisabeth said...

Citra-you can use any kind of sea salt, or differen kind of spices, if you like!

Lyndsey said...

I love the looks of these lentil balls. I would eat them...all up...yum! It is a beautiful gremolata too! So how close to me do you live? :)

Nami | Just One Cookbook said...

I love the name - garden balls! Sounds so healthy from name to the recipe! I've never had gremolata before. It's a beautiful green sauce/mixture!

Lizzy said...

Oh, how beautiful! Your lentil balls are perfect. I love to incorporate meatless lunches into my menu...and these look incredible! Packed full of wonderful flavor with the gremolata.

Hope you have some fun planned for the weekend, Lizzie!!! xoxo

Kathy said...

Elizabeth, These are something I know I would love...I think I could be a vegetarian very easily! The gremolata sounds like it would be full of flavor...Yum! Have a lovely weekend!

Sandra said...

Well this is so new to me, and I think my husband will love this idea! Thanks for constant inspiration!!!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Hyosun Ro said...

Healthy and delicious? I am all for it. Great recipe!

My 2 Pesos said...

Looks delicious! (:

Roxana GreenGirl said...

Hi Elisabeth,
Your garden balls sound so good, can't wait to make some. Looks like the perfect dinner to me! Thanks for sharing.

p.s. I had a similar problem with the blogger widget and now I'm featuring some of my favorite blogs on a different page.

SKIP TO MALOU said...

hmmm definitely looks healthy Elisabeth... but it still does look good. I never had anything like it yet.

Happy Monday!
Malou

Biren @ Roti n Rice said...

These lentil balls sound delicious with the gremolata! I need to try that Italian flavoring mixture. It must also be tasty on pasta.

scrambledhenfruit said...

Mmm...I love lentils, and I know they'd make good "meatballs." That gremolata is so beautiful, green and full of flavor! That would add something special to just about any dish. :)

Garden sculptures said...

Oh god !!! let me have a bite if it!! haha!! amazing pictures!! thank you for sharing the post!