I know that it sounds odd for a vegetarian to be making meatballs but I can assure you that these are very yummy and are meat free! Lately I have been having a number of people ask for some good vegetarian recipes. It might sound strange but I actually had to think about this for awhile. I think it reflects the food rut our family is in lately. It is certainly not my doing, more the demands of my children and the shrinking list of favorites that I have to work with. This recipe is one that Abigail will eat but the boys have not yet acquired a taste for. They stick with the noodles and veg that comes along with it. It takes a bit of time so I only make it on weekends when I know Andrew is around to deal with any lingering child in the kitchen. A mini food processor works well to grind up the pecans and fresh bread crumbs. I like to serve it with egg noodles and a green veggie (broccoli or asparagus).
Vegetarian Sweet and Sour Meatballs serves 5
adapted from AllRecipes.com
Ingredients:
Meatballs:
4 eggs
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon dried sage
1 1/4 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
3/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
Sweet and Sour Sauce:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup white vinegar (sometimes I reduce this for the kids)
3/4 cup apricot jam (I do prefer Smuckers brand for this recipe)
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup minced onion
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 dash hot pepper sauce
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, Cheddar cheese, and cottage cheese until well blended. Mix in 1/2 cup onion, pecans, basil, salt and sage. Stir in bread crumbs. Form the mixture into 2 inch balls, and place them in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, vinegar, apricot jam, ketchup, 1/4 cup onion, oregano and hot pepper sauce. Pour over meatballs.
4. Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until meatballs are firm, and sauce is thick and bubbly. Be careful not to overcook them or they will dry out.
Sweet and Sour Sauce:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup white vinegar (sometimes I reduce this for the kids)
3/4 cup apricot jam (I do prefer Smuckers brand for this recipe)
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup minced onion
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 dash hot pepper sauce
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, Cheddar cheese, and cottage cheese until well blended. Mix in 1/2 cup onion, pecans, basil, salt and sage. Stir in bread crumbs. Form the mixture into 2 inch balls, and place them in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, vinegar, apricot jam, ketchup, 1/4 cup onion, oregano and hot pepper sauce. Pour over meatballs.
4. Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until meatballs are firm, and sauce is thick and bubbly. Be careful not to overcook them or they will dry out.
And for those still sticking with the carbon fast...
Saturday, April 4th: Canadians use about 54,000 tonnes of household cleaners annually. Switch to environmentally-friendly products.
No comments:
Post a Comment