Meatballs Marinara

Name: Meatballs Marinara
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Yield: 4 to 6
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: ¼ cup black lentils; 8 ounces ground beef; 1 egg; 1 cup onion, minced, divided; 1 cup zucchini, grated, divided; 3 TB Kosterina Garlic Olive Oil, divided; 1 (14.5 ounces) can crushed tomatoes; 1 tsp salt, plus more to taste

By Katerina Mountanos

By Katerina Mountanos

Meatballs Marinara

Serves
4 to 6
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes

Ingredients

¼ cup black lentils
8 ounces ground beef
1 egg
1 cup onion, minced, divided
1 cup zucchini, grated, divided
3 TB Kosterina Garlic Olive Oil, divided
1 (14.5 ounces) can crushed tomatoes
1 tsp salt, plus more to taste

Directions

In a small saucepan of boiling water, cook lentils until very soft, about 30 minutes. Add more water to the pan as it reduces and the lentils cook. Strain and cool completely.
In a mixing bowl, combine cooked lentils, ground beef, egg, ½ cup onion, ½ cup zucchini and season with salt. Portion the mixture 1 TB each and shape into round balls.
In a large saute pan, heat 2 TB oil and sear meatballs until golden brown, 3 minutes per side. Transfer the meatballs onto a large plate.
In the same pan, add remaining 1 TB oil and sweat remaining ½ cup onion until translucent, 8 to 10 minutes. Add remaining ½ cup zucchini and cook until soft, 5 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes and simmer for 10 minutes. Return meatballs to the pan, season with salt to taste and serve.