Mushroom 'Meatballs'

Okay WOW everything about these mushroom meatballs remind me so much of your regular mince meatballs! Although i'm not vegan or vegetarian, i try eat more plant-based and love getting creative in the kitchen with veggies and plant based foods! Am so happy with how these 'meatballs' turned out so hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

• 3 cups sliced mushrooms (I used swiss brown)

• 1/2 cup cooked brown rice

• 1/2 cup rolled oats or almond meal

• 1/2 brown onion

• 2 cloves of garlic

• 1 tsp oregano

• 1 tsp dried mixed herbs

• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

• Pinch of chilli flakes

• Salt and Pepper

• Optional: 1 tbsp nutritional yeast

• Coconut aminos or tamari

• Your choice of pasta (and whatever quantity you like)

• 1 jar of your favourite pasta sauce (I used Jamie Oliver's)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius

2. Prepare all of your veggies

3. Heat a pan on a low to medium heat, adding the sliced mushrooms, chopped onion, garlic and coconut aminos to cook in (can use tamari or olive oil). Cook for 2 - 3 minutes, mixing the mix around

4. Next add the spices (oregano, mixed herbs, smoked paprika, chilli flakes, salt and pepper) and cook for a further 3-5 minutes until the mushrooms are soft, liquid has mostly been absorbed and the herbs are fully mixed in. Turn the pan off and allow the mushroom mix to cool for around 5 minutes. Save the pan for your pasta sauce later on.

5. Using a high speed blender or food processor (make sure it can handle a bit of heat), add in the mushroom mix, cooked brown rice, oats and nutritional yeast (if using) and blend until everything is combined and the meatball mix has formed.

6. Roll/press this mixture into meatballs on a lined baking tray and place in the oven for 25 minutes

7. While your 'meatballs' are cooking, cook your pasta according to the instructions on your packet. Drain and rinse once cooked.

8. Once your meatballs are done, add your pasta sauce to the pan. Place your mushrooms in the mix and simmer until the sauce has warmed through.

9. Serve on top of your pasta and enjoy!

Definitely recommend giving this recipe a go! And if you do make sure to take a photo of your re-creation and send it to me on Instagram at @shannons.plate!

Shannon :))