Lentil Meatball Marinara Sandwich

This carb-tastic recipe starts with veggie meatballs made from lentils, spiced with

Italian herbs and spices and then baked so they're a little crisp on the outside and warm on the inside. You could stop right there and enjoy them with pasta, but the best things in life are served on bread. They're stuffed into a hoagie with a smear of savory marinara sauce, fresh basil sauce, and vegan cheese. Yum!

Lentil Meatball Marinara Sandwich [Vegan]

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup prepared, cooked brown lentils
• 1 teaspoon fresh or dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon fresh or dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon ground paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1-2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• A pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Pepper, to taste
• 3 tablespoons ground flaxmeal
• 7 tablespoons water
• A splash of liquid smoke or vegan Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon coconut oil
• Fresh basil for garnish
• 1/2 cup marinara sauce
• 2 buns/hoagies
• Vegan cheese shreds (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Either by hand or with a food processor, mash up your lentils just a little so that they are the consistency of a dough or ground "meat."
3. Add your oregano, thyme, paprika, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, red pepper flakes, if using, Italian seasoning, and salt and stir until all are well incorporated or pulse a few times in a food processor. Set aside.
4. In a small bowl, mix together your ground flax meal with your water and stir until the flax meal and water mixture thickens, for about 2 minutes.
5. When your flax meal and water mix has thickened, add it to your lentil mixture and stir until everything is well incorporated.
6. Add the liquid smoke or vegan Worcestershire sauce to the lentil and flax mix.
7. Mold your lentil mix into meatball sized balls. If your mix isn’t holding together very well, add either a little more water, or add a little more flax. Add more water if the mix feels dry and is crumbling apart. Add more flax if your mix is too thin and won’t keep its shape.
8. Place your meatballs onto a baking sheet with the coconut oil, and bake until crispy on the outside, for about 15-18 minutes.
9. While your meatballs are baking, prepare your sandwich by adding your marinara to a bun and mincing fresh basil. Top with lentil meatballs and some vegan cheese.

https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/lentil-meatball-marinara-sandwich/