Beet Balls are a quick and easy vegan meatball alternative made from scratch, with beetroot! They're beautifully purple, delicious and packed with flavour from the toasted walnuts and herbs.
15oz(400g) can red kidney beans(15oz can) drained and rinsed
⅓cup(30g) breadcrumbs
½red onionfinely diced
1teaspoondried oregano
1teaspoondried thyme
Salt and pepper
To serve:
3-4zucchini / courgette
3-4teaspoonsgreen pestolook out for vegetarian or vegan if required
Instructions
Heat oven to 400°F/200°C and grease a baking tray with oil.
Peel the beetroots and slice into chunks. Whiz in a food processor or mini chopper until fine. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
In a dry frying pan, toast the walnuts for a few minutes until lightly golden.
Add the walnuts and kidney beans to the food processor (no need to clean after the beets) and pulse once or twice until crumbly.
Add the walnut bean mixture, bread crumbs, chopped onion, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper to the bowl of beetroot and combine well, you’ll need to use your hands. Squish the mixture well so that it sticks together. Roll into balls and place onto the baking tray.
Bake the beet balls for 25-30 minutes, turning halfway through.
For the courgetti (zoodles):
Courgetti can be eaten raw or cooked. Spiralise the courgettes (zucchini) in a hand-held or freestanding spiraliser. If cooking, blanch the courgetti for a minute or so in a pan of boiling water until hot, then drain. Gently toss the courgetti in the pesto then divide onto plates and top with the beet balls. Serve immediately.