Vegan Meatballs Recipes

THE BEST VEGAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• If you haven't prepared your quinoa yet, do so now (make sure it's cooked and cooled completely before use). 1/3 cup uncooked quinoa will yield ~1 cup cooked. *Prep/cook time does not include preparing quinoa.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C). Add rinsed, dried black beans to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until beans appear cracked and feel dry to the touch (see beans in food processor photo). Remove beans from the oven and then increase oven heat to 375 degrees F (190C).
• Heat a large (oven-safe) skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add water (or oil), garlic, and shallot. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, or until slightly softened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat (and reserve pan for later use).
• Add black beans to a food processor along with garlic, shallot, sea salt, oregano, red pepper flake, and fennel (optional) and pulse into a loose meal (DON'T overmix). Then add cooked/cooled quinoa, vegan parmesan cheese, tomato paste, fresh basil or parsley, and Worcestershire (optional). Pulse to combine until a textured dough forms (you're not looking for a purée, but it should be semi-tacky).
• Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more salt for saltiness/depth of flavor, red pepper flake for heat, herbs for earthiness, or Worcestershire (optional) for more depth of flavor. If it's too tacky or wet, add more vegan parmesan cheese and pulse to combine (we added a bit more).
• Scoop out heaping 1 1/2 Tbsp amounts (using this scoop or a Tablespoon) and gently form into small balls using your hands. Add to a plate and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• Heat an oven-safe metal or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add a small amount of oil to prevent sticking, then add the meatballs. Sauté for a few minutes, gently turning the meatballs to get a slight crust on either side. Then transfer to the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown on the edges and slightly dry to the touch.
• These meatballs are delicious as is, or you can add some marinara to the pan and heat over medium heat for 5 minutes (or until bubbling / hot) to infuse more flavor.
• Serve with marinara and additional vegan parmesan cheese (optional)! These are also delicious atop any pasta. Leftover meatballs keep for 4-5 days in the refrigerator or 1 month in the freezer. Reheat in the microwave or in a 375-degree F (190 C) oven until warmed through.

VEGAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Bring rice and enough water to cover by 3 inches to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat, season with 1 tablespoon salt, and simmer 20 minutes. Add lentils and continue to simmer until lentils are tender, about 27 minutes. Drain and let cool.
• Meanwhile, pulse mushrooms and onion in food processor until minced. Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add 1 tablespoon oil and mushroom mixture. Cook stirring occasionally until mushrooms have released most of their moisture and become golden around the edges of the pan, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl; stir in flaxseed. Let sit at least 5 minutes. Mix in lentils, brown rice, breadcrumbs, and parsley. Stir, pressing mixture against side of bowl with spoon to break up some of the lentils until the mixture clumps together. Season with salt and pepper.
• With wet hands, form mixture into 21 compact meatballs, each 1 1/2-inch in diameter. Chill at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Wipe out skillet; heat over medium high. Add remaining 3 tablespoons oil and meatballs. Cook turning frequently until browned all over, turning heat to medium if the pan starts to get too hot, about 10 minutes. Serve warm with pasta and sauce of your choice.

VEGAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Tip the dried porcini into a bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to soak for 20 mins.
• Meanwhile heat 1 tbsp of olive oil a frying pan. Add the onion and fry over a low heat for 10 mins or until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and paprika and cook for 1 min.
• Tip the black beans and oats into a food processor and blitz until you have a chunky, textured mixture. Tip the beans into a mixing bowl and stir through the miso, breadcrumbs and cooked onion mix. Strain and finely chop the porcini mushrooms and add those (keep the liquid for soup or risottos). Season and roll into 12 balls and chill in the fridge while you make the sauce.
• Heat 2 tbsp oil in a saucepan. Add the onion and fry over a low heat for 10 mins or until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and chilli and cook for 1 min. Stir through the tomatoes and sugar and season to taste. Simmer uncovered for 20 mins.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Heat the remaining 2 tbsp oil for the meatballs in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add the balls and fry for 5 mins until evenly brown. Transfer to a baking tray and put in the oven to cook through for 12 mins.
• Add the cooked meatballs to the pan of sauce and toss everything to coat, then scatter with the basil. Serve with spaghetti or soft polenta.

VEGAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Mix bread crumbs, vegan cheese, pecan meal, tofu, onion, vegan mayonnaise, salt, basil, and sage together in a bowl.
• Combine warm water and egg substitute in another bowl; mix thoroughly and stir into meatball mixture until combined.
• Form into balls and place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven until browned, 20 to 30 minutes.