Quinoa and Kale Meatballs Recipe

Vegetable meatballs are an excellent option for your healthy lunches and dinners. They provide vitamins and minerals to your diet, as well as fiber, plant-based proteins, slow-absorbing carbohydrates and all this with an exquisite flavor. These vegan meatballs are prepared with a base of quinoa, oatmeal and kale, a green leafy vegetable that is essential for your diet due to its low energy value and high content of vitamins C, A and K, iron and folic acid. We are going to serve the meatballs with a delicious vegetable sauce of carrot and onion.

Ingredients to make Quinoa and Kale Meatballs:

• ½ cup cooked quinoa
• 1 bunch of kale
• ⅓ cup rolled oats
• 1 carrot
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• 10 fresh basil leaves
• 1 onion
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 pinch of black pepper
• ⅓ cup chickpea flour
• For the sauce:
• 1 onion
• 3 carrots
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 splash of oil
• 1 splash of white wine
• ½ cup vegetable broth

How to make Quinoa and Kale Meatballs:

1. The first step to prepare the quinoa and oatmeal meatballs is to cut the vegetables and prepare the sofrito.
2. Chop the onion and carrot into small cubes and cut the kale leaves into medium pieces.
3. Heat a pan with oil and fry the onion until transparent.
4. Add the carrot and fry for several minutes. When the carrot begins to soften add the kale leaves, chopped fresh basil and spices and cook until done.
5. Add the cooked quinoa to the skillet and cook 2 more minutes.
6. Meanwhile, grind the oat flakes in the blender until you get a fine flour to form the quinoa and kale meatballs.
7. When the quinoa has cooled down a bit, add the oatmeal little by little, stirring continuously until you get a sticky dough that does not fall apart
8. Take portions of dough and form medium-sized balls to make the quinoa, oatmeal and kale meatballs. Pass each ball through the chickpea flour and fry them in a pan with hot oil, turning them over so they brown on all sides.
9. Prepare the vegetable sauce for the vegan meatballs. To do this, cut the carrot and onion into medium pieces and mince the garlic cloves.
10.  Heat a saucepan with a splash of oil and poach the vegetables.
11. When it starts to soften add salt, pepper and a dash of white wine and about half a cup of vegetable broth or more depending on how thick you like your sauce.
12. Bring the broth to a boil and maintain a small boil for 4-5 minutes. Next, puree the vegetables with a blender until you obtain a smooth sauce.
13. Arrange the meatballs on clay plates or bowls and serve with the sauce.
14. This recipe for quinoa, oatmeal and kale meatballs is ideal for the whole family, since it also allows the little ones to consume these foods that are so beneficial for their development.
15. To accompany, we can prepare some deluxe baked potatoes, also healthier than the traditional ones.