Name: Linguine Al Limone with Grilled Chia-Chicken Meatballs
Yield: serves 4
Ingredients: 1/4 cup white chia seeds; 1/2 cup purified water; 1 pound ground chicken; 3/4 cup rolled (old-fashioned) oats; 1/3 cup coarsely grated or minced red onion; 1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese; 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley; 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh oregano, or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced; 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt; 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 12 ounces whole grain linguine; 1/3 cup half-and-half; Juice and zest of 1 large lemon; 2 tablespoons thinly sliced or chopped fresh basil (optional)

Photo by Eric Wolfinger

Chia gel replaces eggs in this recipe, helping keep these chicken meatballs light and fluffy. The sauce is creamy and lemony, a combination that simply melts in the mouth. As an option, try spinach linguine, which pairs nicely with the flavors in this dish and looks beautiful.

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