Golden Beet Vegan Meatballs with Almond Sage Cranberry Cream

Oct 31, 2023 09:30AM ● By Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN

Golden Beet Vegan Meatballs with Almond Sage Cranberry Cream

photo courtesy of Sharon Palmer

Yield: 8 servings (3 veggie balls each)

Golden Beet Vegan Meatballs:

1 bunch fresh golden beets (about 5)

1 15-oz can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained (about 1 ¾ cups)

2 green onions, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup mushrooms, finely chopped

½ cup fresh, chopped parsley

½ cup finely chopped hazelnuts

¼ cup ground flax seeds

½ cup whole wheat breadcrumbs (may use gluten-free)

1 tsp sage

1 tsp tarragon

1 tsp thyme

½ tsp smoked paprika

¼ tsp black pepper

2 Tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 Tbsp tahini

1 lemon, juiced

Almond Sage Cranberry Cream:

1 cup peeled, slivered almonds

4-6 Tbsp plain, unsweetened plant milk (soy or almond)

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 clove garlic

¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

½ tsp ground sage

Sea salt (to taste, optional)

1 Tbsp fresh, chopped sage leaves

¼ cup dried cranberries

To make the vegan meatballs, trim the beets and scrub the outside surface, leaving the peels on. Using a food processor or a box grater, shred the beets.

Place the beans in a large mixing bowl and use a potato masher to mash them slightly to achieve a thick mixture with some lumps.

Add the beets, onions, garlic, mushrooms, parsley, hazelnuts, flax seeds, breadcrumbs, sage, tarragon, thyme, smoked paprika and black pepper. Mix together well.

Mix in the soy sauce, tahini and lemon juice—using hands to combine the mixture well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 375ºF and spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Form 24 golf ball-sized balls out of the mixture and place them evenly on the baking sheet. Bake the vegan meatballs on the top rack of the oven until golden brown, about 40 to 45 minutes.

Serve with the almond sage cranberry cream.

To make the almond sage cranberry cream, soak the almonds in water for 2 hours (or overnight).

Drain the water and place the soaked almonds in the container of a blender or food processor.

Add 4 tablespoons of plant milk, lemon juice, garlic, black pepper and ground sage, and process to make a thick, creamy dip. If too thick, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of plant milk as needed to create the desired texture.

Transfer the cream to a dish and stir in the fresh sage, cranberries and salt if desired. Garnish with additional freshly ground black pepper and fresh sage.

NOTE: To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and soy sauce.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN.

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In-Print, Conscious Eating recipes recipe vegan National Content Gluten Free November 2023

Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather. Sadly, another season has started ramping up. Tick season.

• The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

• According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

• Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details. Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

• May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

• For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

• Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml