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+ servings

Eggplant Meatballs with Marinara Sauce and Spaghetti

Serving Size: 10
Savory vegetarian eggplant meatballs with a hearty marinara sauce and spaghetti. Also goes great with our Parmesan zoodles or sub miracle noodles for a low carb and gluten free version.

Recipe by: Jen Stone

Cook Times

Active Prep30
Hands-On Cook15
Hands-Off Cook20
Passive0
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Recipe Serving Size10

Cooking Tools Required

Baking sheet, Blender, Can Opener, Colander, Cooling Rack, Cutting board, Food storage containers, Kitchen towels, Measuring cups and spoons, Mixing bowls, Mixing spoon, Oven, Potato Masher, Refrigerator, Saucepan, Saute pan, Sharp Knives, Skillet, Stock pot or >5 Qt pot, Tongs, Top Stove, Vegetable Peeler, Whisk

Ingredients

  • pound eggplant peeled and chopped
  • 5 clove garlic minced
  • 4 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 10 tablespoon blanched almond flour more or less as needed
  • 4 egg For vegan sub: 1 tablespoon flax meal + 3 tablespoons water= 1 egg
  • 3 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Kosher salt

Marinara:

  • 38 ounce canned tomato sauce
  • 1 ¼ cup onion diced
  • 6 clove garlic minced
  • 2 ½ teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 tablespoon fresh basil chopped
  • 3 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 6 ounce tomato paste
  • 3 bay leaf
  • 1 tablespoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
  • ½ tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon coconut sugar optional, or stevia, or maple syrup to tame acidity

Pasta:

  • 1.5 pound spaghetti OR miracle noodles for low carb and GF version
  • 2 tablespoon Kosher salt

Instructions

Eggplant Meatballs

  • Preheat oven to 350 f
  • Peel eggplant and cut into cubes
  • Place water in bottom of pot and boil or steam eggplant until soft
  • Remove eggplant and squeeze out excess water
  • Mash eggplant until smooth or use a food processor to blend until smooth
  • Place eggplant and rest of ingredients
  • Mix well
  • Line baking sheet with parchment paper
  • Rollout balls, they will be soft(don’t worry)
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until tender and firm to touch

Marinara

  • Heat pot with oil and sauté onion and garlic until onions are transparent.
  • Add bell pepper and sauté another minute.
  • Add tomato paste and cook until brown and fragrant
  • Add rest of ingredients and let simmer 20 minutes; stir often
  • When meat balls have cooled, gently place in marinara until ready to serve. Or pour sauce over meatballs. Can garnish with cheese and/ or fresh basil.

Pasta

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the salt then the pasta and cook to al-dente. Drain and serve with meatballs.
Reheating Instructions
To reheat: reheat meatballs in sauce on low heat for 5-10 minutes

Nutrition

Calories: 437kcal | Carbohydrates: 75g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 3540mg | Potassium: 1021mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 1566IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 5mg