meatless meatballs?

[emptyspool]

I am looking for a recipe for meatless meatballs to use in spaghetti sauce. I had ones years ago and have lost the recipe. I think we had OD'd on it at the time. Any ideas? Thanks.

[Vanessa]

Hi. I ran a search on vegetarian meatballs:
Savory Italian Meatballs
Ingredients:

1 box Green Giant Harvest Burger patties, thawed
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup fresh grated parmesan or romano cheese
2 1/2 tsp. vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced, or 2 tsp. garlic paste
2 tsp. dried Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
2 TBS. canned tomato sauce
Mix all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. You many need to use your hands some to fully blend them. (If the mixture is too dry, add a little water or e tomato sauce.) Make medium-sized meatballs out of mixture. Spray a glass baking dish with no-stick cooking spray; lay meatballs in it in single layer. Bake in 350-degree oven for 20-30 minutes, or until meatballs are done all the way through. Serves 6-8.

NOTE: these meatballs are also delicious baked in about 1 cup of commercially prepared tomato sauce. Pour the sauce over the top of the meatballs before baking and sprinkle with a little parmesan cheese

Meatless Spaghetti and Meatballs
1 pound of tofu or package of "Gimme Lean" sausage flavor
parsley
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
lemon juice
pepper
lots of garlic, best crushed and finely diced but can be powdered
bread crumbs
(optional) fake vegan parmesan cheese - sold at most health food stores
can of tomato sauce or your favorite spaghetti sauce
spaghetti or other pasta
olive oil
Directions:

Get a big mixing bowl and crumble 1 lb of drained tofu or Gimme Lean sausage flavor. Finely chop 1/2 cup of walnuts and add to mix. Stir well, adding liberal amounts of parsley (I add half a spice container), pepper, lots of garlic (powdered or if fresh, I use several cloves), 1/4 - 1/3 cup of bread crumbs, 1/2 container of fake parmesan cheese (optional) and 1/3 cup lemon juice. Mix so that everything is well distributed. Roll into medium sized balls (should make about 15 balls). Heat olive oil in large skillet or wok until very hot. Add meatballs and and brown well, adding powdered garlic and pepper as you toss them in the olive oil. When they are very well browned (5-10 minutes), pour can of spaghetti sauce or tomato sauce over the meatballs. If just tomato sauce, add some oregano and basil. Cook for 1 minute over medium heat, and serve over freshly cooked spaghetti or other pasta. Serves: 3-4
Preparation time: 30-45 min

[lorilei]

Gail posted a recipe for eggplant meatballs a while back. I made them for dinner, and they were EXCELLENT!

Let me find the recipe... be back!

Whoops. Guess I was mistaken. They're not actually vegetarian... sorry http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Since I can't just leave you with nothing, I'll tell you what I've done before to make "veggie" meatballs. I do have a couple of recipes, but if you're looking for a quick option, I've actually had good luck making falafel balls or veggie burger balls (from mix) to use in sauces. You can bake them (which keeps the fat content low), and cooking them in the sauce keeps them moist and delicious.
]

[This message has been edited by lorilei (edited 05-02-2001).]

[gertdog]

I too have been looking for a meatless meatball recipe... will look forward to trying the ones posted here!

emptyspool, if you would like a store-bought alternative, I love Nate's Meatless Meatballs in mushroom flavor.

[This message has been edited by gertdog (edited 05-02-2001).]

[lorilei]

Here are a few more options. The second option looks intriguing http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

ITALIAN STYLE "MEAT"BALLS

2 c tofu, well broken up
1 c wholewheat breadcrumbs
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 T natural soy sauce (or to taste)
1 c wholewheat flour
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil

Instructions

Combine the ingredients well in a large bowl, kneading the mixture a little to help it hold together. Shape the mixture into balls and shallow- or deep-fry them. Use these with spaghetti or bake them in the oven with a nice Italian-style tomato sauce. (Bake at 350
degrees for about half an hour).

________________________________

YUMMY "GREEN" MEATBALLS

For spinach lovers. Can be served with creamy sauces or Italian marinaras!

2 packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed
1/2 c seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 c Parmesan cheese, grated
3 egg whites
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, minced
1/2 tsp oregano

Preheat oven to 350B0F. Combine all ingredients, mixing by hand. Mixture should be the consistency to form meatballs. If too soft, add breadcrumbs. Form into small balls. Bake on a greased cookie sheet 30-35 minutes.

[emptyspool]

I like the idea on the one using the burgers. Also the spinach ones may work as the kids do like spinach. I have just begun to look for some to buy. Not much in the markets here. Thanks!!!!

[Missi]

Thanks, Lorilei for posting these recipes. I'm going to make the spinach ones tonight. Do you know what kind of tofu might work the best with the first recipe???

[AndreaU]

Here's one I've used time and time again. It originally came from a Kosher deli in NYC.

New York Mama's Meatballs

1/4 cup chopped carrots
2 cups chopped white mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped yellow onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 clove garlic
2 Tbls. vegetable oil
1/2 Tbls. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 large egg
3 large egg whites
1 cup matzo meal

In a blender or food processor, finely chop carrot. Add remaining vegetables and garlic and chop to a fine paste, scraping down the sides of the work bowl several times.

In a large saute pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add vegetable mixture, parsley and pepper; saute until soft, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat and cool and room temperature.

In large bowl, beat egg and egg whites together until blended, about 30 seconds. Add vegetable mixture to eggs; mix until combined. Stirring constantly, add matzo meal slowly, adding only enough to form a mixture that can be shaped into balls. Using wet hands, shape mixture into balls, using about 1 1/2 Tbls. per ball. (They can be frozen at this point or simmered in sauce for 30 minutes.) Bake on a baking sheet at 325 degrees for 40 minutes and serve with sauce. Makes approximately 20-22 meatballs.

Enjoy!
Andrea http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by AndreaU (edited 05-02-2001).]

[emilycat]

Mmm... Andrea, are those supposed to be 1/4 cup chopped carrots?? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[lorilei]

Missi - I always use extra firm tofu when I make meatballs...

[AndreaU]

emilycat,
You caught me! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif I guess it would be kind of hard to make meatballs with 1/4 cup chopped meatballs! I made the change above.

[Missi]

Thanks Lorilei! I will be trying the tofu ones out later in the week and will let you know how they are!

[gertdog]

I made the Savory Italian Meatballs from Vanessa's post (above) last night. They were so good! And so meatlike that my SO and I were a bit freaked out. The Harvest Burgers mashed up beautifully. I had a few white mushrooms in the fridge, so I minced those and sauteed them with a tiny amount of onion, then added them to the mixture. The meatballs baked and browned beautifully, and tasted great with spaghetti and sauce!

The recipe yielded 24 large meatballs; we put those we didn't consume last night in the freezer.

I'm going to try using mashed Harvest Burgers as a base for the CL Greek Burgers with Feta Aioli that I've seen so many people rave about...

[Vanessa]

Glad you enjoyed the Savory meatballs! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[tperes]

Thanks to lorilei for that great recipe for green "meatballs". I made them last night for my BF, and we were amazed at how good they were w/ red sauce. And, they were really easy to make. Thanks again, I will definitely be making these many times in the future!

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif TMP

[lorilei]

You're most certainly welcome! Glad to know that you enjoyed... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[lorilei]

duplicate



[This message has been edited by lorilei (edited 05-16-2001).]