Vegan meatball one-pot pasta
Veg-packed vegan meatballs and a rich tomato sauce are baked with whole wheat spaghetti for a dinner that will do you good. This vegan recipe costs less than a pound per portion.
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 250g/9oz cauliflower florets, cooked and cooled (approx. half a head of cauliflower)
- 200g/7oz frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
- 400g tin black beans, drained
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed or grated
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp mixed dried herbs
- 150g/5½oz oats
For the sauce
- 2 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
- 200g/7oz roasted red peppers from a jar, drained
- 30g/1oz tomato purée
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed or grated
- olive oil
- 250g/9oz whole wheat pasta (spaghetti or linguine)
Method
- Cook the cauliflower florets in a pan of boiling water for 7–8 minutes, until soft but still holding their shape. Drain thoroughly, then tip onto a plate lined with kitchen paper and leave to cool.
- Grate the cooked cauliflower with a cheese grater into a bowl, then add the spinach, beans, garlic, soy sauce, and mixed herbs. Work the mixture together with a potato masher to form a rough paste.
- Blend the oats to a fine powder with a stick blender, then add to the bowl and mix to combine. See the tips box below on how to make the veggie balls with a food processor. Roll the mixture into balls, put on a tray or plate, and chill for at least 30 minutes until firm.
- Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4.
- To make the sauce, tip the tinned tomatoes into a jug with peppers, tomato purée, garlic, and 350ml/12fl oz water. Whizz to a smooth sauce with a stick blender.
- Heat a splash of oil in an oven-proof, wide-lidded saucepan pan or casserole dish. Fry the veggie balls in batches until golden-brown, transferring to a plate with a slotted spoon when done.
- Pour half of the sauce into the pan, then arrange the dried pasta on top. Spread the balls over the pasta, then pour over the remaining sauce. Bring to a simmer, then cover with a lid and transfer to the oven for 25 minutes.
- Give everything a gentle stir before serving.
