Perfect Vegan Meatballs

Portions: servings

Calories: 419kcal

This Vegan “Meatballs” recipe will not disappoint. Whether you are a meat lover searching for good party food, or a vegan seeking a great alternative to meat dishes, these are perfect as appetizers. But you can do more with them, so read on to get inspired.

Why I ❤️ it • Recipe • Ingredients • Preparation

Vegan meatballs.

Why I ❤️ it

If you are a meat lover, please don't tune out just yet. Just because you love your meat doesn't mean that you can't enjoy a good, tasty, gluten-free, vegan dish. And for those occasions, or to serve to your vegetarian and vegan friends, I have just the dish: Vegan "meatballs."

Easy vegan meatballs recipe

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So, give this vegan meatballs with its interesting flavor combination a try. These tasty veggie morsels are crispy and filling and make a fantastic party dish to serve both vegans and meat-lovers alike, and served with a dip, make them an elegant appetizer.

Course: Party

Inspiration: Vegan, Vegetarian

Category: best vegan meatballs, easy vegan meatballs, egg-free meatballs, what are vegan meatballs made of

Author: Clara Gonzalez

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Utensils and tools

Ingredients

3 slices whole-wheat bread
½ red bell pepper
1 small white onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 tablespoon of soy sauce or tamari
3 tablespoons of minced fresh parsley
¼ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
1½ teaspoon of salt
2 cups dry of chickpeas, boiled soft
2 tablespoons of instant oats
2 cups boiled lentils
⅓ cup of olive oil

Preparation

Before you start, make sure you have all the ingredients and utensils ready.

Step 1: Grind bread

Pulse the bread in the food processor until it has the texture of coarse sugar. Set aside.

Step 2: Grind seasoning

Mix bell pepper, onion, garlic, soy sauce, parsley, pepper, and salt and pulse in the food processor until you obtain a coarse paste. Reserve.

Step 3: Grind chickpeas

Pulse the chickpeas in the food processor just long enough to break them into smaller pieces (a quarter of their original size).

Step 4: Make mixture

In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, oats, lentils, breadcrumbs, and seasoning paste you previously processed. Mix well. Taste and add salt to taste if you find it necessary.
Make the paste into balls about 1½ inches [4 centimeters] in diameter. Reserve.

Step 5: Cook

Heat oil over medium heat in the skillet.

Pan fry the balls long enough to turn brown on the outside. Rest on a baking tray lined with a paper towel to absorb excess oil.

Top tips

If you want to save some of these, it's best to store them before pan-frying them. Store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to a month or in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Add a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste to the seasoning mixture if you'd like to give them a reddish tone inside.

Serving suggestions

Serve them alongside a dip of your preference. This vegan avocado mayo is great with it, but you can also serve them with a roasted eggplant dip, or this amazing roasted pepper sauce.

You can also serve them with pasta in marinara sauce (perfect with spaghetti or fettuccini). Just remember to add mix them into the pasta after the pasta is mixed with the tomato sauce so the balls don't get soggy. Sprinkle the pasta with vegan parmesan cheese.

Nutritional information

More vegan recipes

More: meatless recipes appetizer recipes snack recipes

FAQs

What are vegan meatballs made of?

These vegan meatballs are made mainly from chickpeas and lentils. Some recipes call for black beans instead, but I prefer chickpeas in these.

Are vegan meatballs healthy?

Vegan meatballs are nutritious, protein-rich, low in fat, so they may fit your diet very well.

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