Baby Led Weaning Meatless Meatballs

By Aileen Cox Blundell

Over the past 3 years, I have been cooking more and more vegetarian food for my family since my husband and 12 year old son are both non-meat-eaters. It’s slowly crept into my own life and I realised about a month ago that I haven’t eaten any meat now in almost 3 months!

We had a brilliant conversation at the dinner table yesterday where my little boy Oscar (aged 5) announced that he no longer wants to eat meat any more and he wants to be like his big brother. He still loves his fish which makes him pescatarian but I think I am too! Eeeek! I’ve never put a label on food but I find my vegetarian and fish recipe do so much better than the meat ones, but I would love to know your thoughts. Would you be happy with more vegetarian food if there was an option for meat, fish or perhaps tofu or beans, lentils or chickpeas? It’s something I have been doing naturally for the past few months (unwillingly).

My daughter (17 years old) is a complete carnivore and she’s adamant she will never give up eating chicken or steak, so you will still see a few meat dishes (if you are a fully-fledged meat eater don’t despair).

So enough chat and more about the Meatless meatballs!!! This is a recipe I have been working on for quite some time. They have fallen apart, dissolved into the sauce and crumbled, but today I cracked it! Voila! the most perfect, soft but deliciously meatballs EVER! 100% winner with the entire family, from the omnivores to carnivore alike.

Start with a food processor, add all of the ingredients and blend to form a dough. You can use your hands to shape into meatballs but to be honest I think its quicker, easier and a whole lot cleaner to just use an ice cream scoop. These meatballs need to be baked in the oven to allow them to set before adding them to the sauce.

The sauce is super easy and took me less than 10 minutes from start to finish! You can also make it ahead of time and freeze to make life really, really easy on yourself. The simplest ingredients really do make the best dishes in life.

All of the ingredients for this recipe can be found in your local Dunnes Stores. It is actually ones of the most inexpensive recipe ever and you will make it time and time again – just you wait and see.

Here are some of my favourite vegetarian recipes:

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Curry

Dinner

Another healthy slow cooker dinner for your recipe box!

Vegan Quiche – Tofu, Spinach & Mushroom

Lunch

These vegan quiches are a great egg free recipe for your baby.

Vegan Veggie Loaded Moroccan Stew

Dinner

Vegan Veggie Loaded Moroccan Stew Packed full of veggies & chickpeas.

Baby Friendly Minestrone Soup

Dinner

Cut your veggies especially for baby in this healthy minestrone soup.