Rosemary Sage Balls with Blood Orange Cranberry Sauce

Even before I went vegan, Thanksgiving really was all about the sides.

Mashed potatoes? Yum!

Mac and cheese? Drool!

Stuffing? Fuck. Me. Up!!

The dry-ass bird never stood a chance next to all the other stars.

But yet, once I went vegan, the Thanksgiving table always seemed bare without a focal point. In particular, there was always a dearth of things-you-can-eat-with-cranberry sauce. Without turkey, what’s the cranberry sauce even doing here?!

So, fueled by my love for cranberries, I decided to make a vegan Thanksgiving focal point that:

• is not highly processed like that popular take turkey tofu thing that everything seems to have to resort to;

• is high in protein;

• rich in fiber;

• and has ingredients that support your nervous system & gut health;

• has the same flavors we usually add to poultry so it has the same festive feel.

Well, ladies and gentleman…

I SUCCEEDED.

I present you with:

This Dish

rosemary, sage, thyme, balls with blood orange cranberry dipping sauce!

The Benefits

high in protein & fiber; these balls are incredible for your gut health & nervous system:

Cannellini Beans

• Gut Health: Cannellini beans are high in soluble fiber, which helps feed beneficial gut bacteria and supports bowel regularity, reducing bloating and constipation. The prebiotic fibers in beans ferment in the colon, producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that strengthen the gut lining and enhance immunity.

• Nervous System: Beans are also rich in B vitamins, particularly folate and B6, which are essential for brain health and nerve function, supporting neurotransmitter synthesis.

Shiitake Mushrooms

• Gut Health: Shiitake mushrooms contain beta-glucans, polysaccharides that act as prebiotics to stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria. They are also anti-inflammatory, which helps reduce inflammation in the gut.

• Nervous System: They contain B vitamins, especially niacin and pantothenic acid, which help with stress reduction and nervous system resilience. Shiitake also has ergothioneine, an amino acid that protects nerve cells from oxidative stress.

Oats

• Gut Health: Oats are an excellent source of beta-glucan fiber, which has a soothing effect on the digestive tract and feeds beneficial gut bacteria, promoting balanced gut flora.

• Nervous System: Oats provide magnesium, which calms the nervous system and supports a relaxed mood. They also contain tryptophan, an amino acid precursor to serotonin, helping stabilize mood and reduce stress.

Chia Seeds

• Gut Health: Chia seeds are rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber, which add bulk to stool and help with regular digestion. They form a gel-like consistency in the stomach, which soothes the digestive tract and slows digestion, improving nutrient absorption.

• Nervous System: High in omega-3 fatty acids, particularly alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), chia seeds support brain health and help combat inflammation in nerve cells.

Walnuts

• Gut Health: Walnuts contain fiber, healthy fats, and polyphenols that act as prebiotics, nourishing the microbiome and promoting gut diversity.

• Nervous System: Rich in omega-3s and antioxidants, walnuts support cognitive health, reduce inflammation, and help regulate mood. They also provide melatonin and serotonin precursors, aiding in better sleep and relaxation.

Herbs: Chives, Parsley, Thyme, Sage, and Rosemary

• Gut Health: These herbs have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that help balance the gut microbiome and reduce digestive inflammation. Parsley and chives, in particular, are high in fiber and antioxidants, promoting digestive ease.

• Nervous System: Herbs like rosemary and sage are known to improve memory, mood, and focus due to their high concentration of antioxidants and essential oils. Rosemary and sage both contain rosmarinic acid, which has been shown to support nerve health and reduce oxidative stress on brain cells.

Onion Powder

• Gut Health: Onion powder is rich in inulin, a prebiotic fiber that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria and helps support digestive health.

• Nervous System: Onions contain quercetin, an antioxidant that reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in the nervous system, supporting overall brain health.

The Combination

• The soluble fiber from oats & beans combined with the healthy fats from chia seeds, walnuts, and avocado oil create a laxative-like effect, helping you eliminate

• The combination of the fresh & dried herbs + the high fiber from oats & beans helps fortify your gut with prebiotic fiber while also providing digestive support

The Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 can cannellini beans (you can sub any other white bean, like navy beans, great northern, etc.)

• 4 big caps shiitake, or 1.5 cups sliced & raw

• 1/2 cup rolled oats

• 2 tbsp chia seeds + 6 tbsp tamari

• 1/2 cup walnuts

• 1 bunch chives

• 1/2 cup parsley

• a couple sprigs thyme

• 1 tbsp onion powder

• 1/4 tsp sage

• 1/4 tsp rosemary

Instructions:

1. preheat oven to 400F convection roast

2. strain & rinse your beans

3. remove the stems from the mushrooms & slice them; spray with avocado oil

4. roast the mushrooms & canned beans for 10 minutes (this just helps get the moisture out so your balls don't end up soggy)

5. combine the chia seeds & tamari and let them sit to set

6. pulse all the ingredients in the food processor until you get something that looks like dough

7. roll into balls

8. spray with avocado oil and roast until crispy and golden on the outside-- takes 20 minutes in my oven

Cranberry Sauce Ingredients:

• 2.5 cups fresh cranberries

• 2 blood oranges (save the skin for zest)

• 1 red onion

• 1 shallot

• 1.5 cups pitted medjool dates

• 1 cup water

• a little avocado oil

• optional garnish: orange zest, orange slices, rosemary, cinnamon sticks, star anise

Cranberry Sauce Instructions:

1. heat up some avocado oil in a saucepan on medium-low heat

2. thinly slice your onions & sauté them 

3. while the onions cook down, slice your shallots and add them

4. keep sautéing both until they cook down and start to caramelize. the longer you let them caramelize, the better the flavor, but if you're impatient, you can just wait until they are browning

5. add the cranberries & cover to let them cook

6. meanwhile, blend your dates & water until you get something super smooth

7. peel your oranges & chop them up

8. add the oranges to the cranberry mixture

9. add the date caramel, and let everything cook together. use your wooden spoon to burst the cranberries so you don't get lots of pockets of tart; bursting them lets the sweetness spread and the flavor even out

10. optional, but garnish with a spring of fresh rosemary, some cinnamon sticks, star anise, and blood orange slices

Logistics:

• the balls yield 14-16 or so, depending on how big you make them

• the cranberry sauce yields 2-3 cups

• the cranberry sauce you can definitely make a few days ahead of time

• the balls...not so much. I tried making the "dough" for the balls a few days ahead of time, and then rolling them into balls & roasting the day of, and the balls ended up super dry. you could make them and roast them ahead of time and reheat; and they do taste fine that way. not quite as good, but still good, so that is an option!

Links:

• I use this brand of oats, they're gluten free & glyphosate free

• Hopefully I didn’t miss anything, but just in case, here is a roundup of links to my common recipe ingredients

For More on Gut-Friendly Recipes

If you like this recipe, you may also enjoy my Miso Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Pumpkin Spice Granola from the Thanksgiving series; the Thanksgiving-Themed DeBloat Gummies; my Truffle Potatoes; and my canned-style cranberry sauce;

and

If you want more recipes that will help you debloat & eliminate regularly, I highly recommend checking out my [free] Gut Health Cookbook, which has 5 yummy, gut-friendly, recipes. You can download it here.