Spaghetti and Wheatballs
I love this easy vegan recipe for Spaghetti and Wheatballs! P.B.S. vegan chef Laura Theodore, The Jazzy Vegetarian, shared this recipe from her cookbook Jazzy Vegetarian Classics! Laura says, “Easy enough to make for a special weeknight meal, but fancy enough to serve when hosting a casual dinner party, this dish will become a staple in your house.
I asked Laura: what’s your advice for folks thinking of giving up meat or dairy products? She shared, “In a pinch, meat analogs are a good way to give a meaty flavor and texture to casseroles, stews lasagna and chili. Although I do not recommended meat analogs for every day use, they can be a good solution when you crave a meaty taste. In general, I like to use mushrooms, mashed cooked beans, ground nuts or ground seeds to replace meat. Here is an example of a delicious recipe where I have done just that …my Spaghetti and Wheatballs taste like the real deal!”
If you like this recipe, check out Laura’s most recent cookbook, Vegan-Ease!
Learn more about Laura: read the interview with The Jazzy Vegetarian.
Are you a beginner vegan? Yummy Plants supports an easy transition to a vegan diet. Visit the Start Here section or read the vegan FAQ.
Spaghetti and Wheatballs
Ingredients
- 1⅓ cups lightly packed fresh, soft whole-grain bread crumbs (from about 3 to 4 large slices) (see note)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- 2 cups chopped mushrooms
- ½ cup diced onion
- ¾ pound organic spaghetti see note
- 3 cups prepared vegan marinara sauce or your own homemade sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a medium baking pan with unbleached parchment paper.
- Put the bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt in a large bowl. Put the walnuts in a blender, and pulse to process into coarse crumbs. Add the walnuts to the bread crumbs and stir gently to incorporate.
- Put the mushrooms and onion in a blender, and process to a chunky purée. Add the mushroom mixture to the walnut–bread crumb mixture and stir to incorporate. Spoon out about 1½ tablespoons of the mushroom mixture and roll it into a ball. Continue in this way with the remaining mushroom mixture. Arrange the wheatballs on the lined baking pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Gently rotate each wheatball and bake for 12 to 16 minutes more, or until they are crisp and golden.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but firm. Drain the spaghetti well.
- Meanwhile, pour the marinara sauce in a medium sauce pan. Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium-low heat. Gently add the wheatballs to the sauce, one at a time, cover, and simmer for 7 to 10 minutes.
- To serve, put one-quarter of the spaghetti into each of four pasta bowls, and top with three or four wheatballs. Ladle marinara sauce over the top and serve immediately.
Hope you enjoy this easy vegan recipe!
Notes
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