Spaghetti with Meatless Balls

Serves 2-3

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup chopped yellow onion
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup roughly chopped mushrooms
1 cup packed baby spinach
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 cup cooked or canned black beans, rinsed, drained and divided
1 cup cooked rice, roughly mashed
Salt
Chili Powder - 1 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1 tsp
Tandoori Masala - 1 tsp
8 ounces spaghetti
1 - 1 1/2 cup Pizza Sauce or Pasta Sauce(recipe follows)

Method:

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in mushrooms and spinach. Cover and cook until mushrooms are tender and spinach wilts, about 5 minutes.  In a large bowl, combine the sauteed mixture, beans, rice and all the spices. Stir until combined.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Form mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls and transfer to a lightly oiled baking sheet. Bake meatballs 30 minutes or until heated through and crisp on the outside. 

Stove top Method;

Grease a kuzhi paniyaram kal and place the balls. Drop a tsp of oil on the balls. Cook until heated and crisp on the outside(add 1 more tsp of oil if the balls are too dry).

Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain well and return to pot. Add pasta sauce and toss until combined and heated through. Add meatballs and toss very gently to combine, taking care not to break up meatballs. Serve hot.

Pizza Sauce/Pasta Sauce

Ingredients:

Onion - 1 cup, chopped finely

Green Bell Pepper - 1/2 cup, chopped finely

Tomato Puree - 2 cups( around 6-7 small sized tomatoes)

Garlic Cloves - 3, chopped finely

Tandoori Masala - 1/2 tsp

Chili Powder or Chili flakes- 1/4 tsp

Italian Seasoning - 1/2 tsp

Sugar - 1/4 tspp

Salt - according to taste

Pepper - 1/2 tsp

Olive Oil - 2 tsp

Method:

Heat the oil in a pan. Add the onions and garlic. Saute for a minute and add the bell pepper. Saute for a couple of minutes. Now add the tomato puree, spices, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 20 -25 minutes. Use in the recipe as directed.

Sending this recipe to Valentine's Day Recipe Contest hosted by Priya