White Bean Sage Vegan Meatballs:

• 1 small (about 5 ounces) sweet potato, chopped into chunks
• 1 small red onion, chopped in chunks
• 2 stalks celery
• 8 ounces brown mushrooms
• ½ cup hazelnuts
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 large sprigs fresh sage (or 2 tablespoons dried)
• 2 (15-ounce) cans white (cannellini) beans, rinsed, drained
• ½ teaspoon ground mustard
• ½ teaspoon celery salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup (optional)
• 1 small lemon, juiced
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
• 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
• 1/2-1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)

Pomegranate Mandarin Sauce:

• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 1 large mandarin orange, juice and zest
• 1 ½ teaspoons pure maple syrup (optional)
• ½ teaspoon cardamom
• 2 tablespoons corn starch
• 2 cups pomegranate seeds (about 1 large pomegranate), may use frozen if desired