Tandoori Tempeh Meatballs Recipes

TEMPEH MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
• Crumble tempeh into small bits and place in a medium pot, along with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook until all the liquid has evaporated, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer to a large bowl and add all the remaining ingredients EXCEPT for the oil. Mix until everything is evenly incorporated, then set aside for a few minutes to cool.
• Pour enough oil into a rimmed baking dish (like a quarter-sheet pan) to generously coat the bottom - about 1/4 cup.
• Form the tempeh mixture into golf ball-sized balls with your hands, and place on the baking sheet, spacing them about an inch apart.
• Bake for about 10 minutes. Then rotate the balls - either by shaking the pan or flipping with tongs - and continue baking for another 15 minutes or so, rotating the balls every 5 to 7 minutes, until they're brown all over.

TANDOORI TEMPEH MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a small bowl whisk together the 8 ingredients that make up the spice blend. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C), and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Use a food processor to pulse the bread into large crumbs. Pour into a bowl and set aside.
• Preheat a large saute pan over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon oil, and cook the onion and tempeh 5 to 7 minutes or until the tempeh is golden. Reduce heat to medium-low. Slide tempeh and onion to one side of pan, and add remaining 2 teaspoons oil to other side of pan. Add the garlic and 2 ½ teaspoons of the spice blend directly to the oil. Stir, then combine with the tempeh and onion. Stirring frequently, cook for 1 minute and remove from heat.
• Transfer tempeh mixture to a food processor. Pulse 5 or 6 times or until mostly chopped and uniform. Add the breadcrumbs, salt, and yogurt, and process until well combined.
• Use a spoon or small cookie scoop to portion out meatballs (about 1 1/2 tablespoon per ball). Roll between palms, and place on lined baking sheet. Bake 25 to 28 minutes, flipping at the halfway point.
• To make the yogurt dipping sauce, either use the food processor (rinse first), or combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk by hand (make sure cilantro and mint are finely chopped). Transfer to a serving bowl.
• If making the tandoori-yogurt sauce, preheat a saute pan over medium-low heat. In a bowl whisk together the yogurt, remaining 1 ¼ teaspoons spice blend, turmeric, water, hot sauce, and a pinch of salt. Add to the pan, and immediately add the meatballs. Toss to coat. When the sauce is hot, remove from heat and serve.

GRILLED TANDOORI LAMB MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Mince the garlic and chop the scallions.
• Combine the yogurt, egg, garlic, scallions, paprika, coriander, cumin, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne, and breadcrumbs and mix well. Add the lamb and salt as desired and mix well.
• Divide mixture into 8-12 portions and form each into a sausage shape. Insert a metal or bamboo (presoaked) skewer into each sausage so that the tip is almost to the end of the meat.
• Grill or broil for 6-8 minutes, turning gently to cook all sides.