Tofu Meatballs

Tossed in an Italian-style seasoning and cooked to golden-brown perfection, these tender, juicy, and delicious vegan tofu meatballs will have you believing you are dining at an authentic Italian restaurant! The key is minced frozen tofu. They are easy to make, incredibly versatile, and ready to serve in just 40 minutes.

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine American, Dairy-free, Egg-free, Gluten-free, Nut-free, Soy-free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Keyword meatless meatballs, tofu meatballs, vegan meatballs

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Servings balls

Calories 60kcal

Author Nandor Barta

Equipment

Ingredients

4 oz Firm tofu measured as drained and squeezed
½ cup Breadcrumbs
2 tbsp Cornstarch
¼ cup Dairy-free milk
½ Onion
2 cloves Garlic
3 Tbsp Olive oil
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp Oregano dried
1 tsp Basil dried
1 tsp Salt
1 Tbsp Nutritional yeast
⅛ tsp Black pepper

Choose your sauce

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Pre-cooking onion and garlic

Take a frying pan or skillet and pre-heat to medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp of olive oil and the finely chopped onion and garlic. Cook on medium-low heat the onion and garlic until tender but opaque, yellow, and not caramelized.
Add onion and garlic with the remaining oil to a bowl and blend it with a hand blender.

Preparing tofu

For the best result, use frozen tofu. Thaw it overnight, then squeeze it hard. Use your hand or a milk bag. You will have a sponge-like texture at the end.
Use a food processor to chop the tofu into smaller crumble-like pieces.

Mixing and forming meatballs

Add tofu crumbles, breadcrumbs, dairy-free milk, cornstarch, onion and garlic paste, 1 Tbsp olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, basil, salt, black pepper, and nutritional yeast to a large mixing bowl. Mix everything well with a spatula or with your hands.
Form small balls (1 Tbsp size) with your hands.

Baking or frying

Bake the tofu meatballs in a preheated oven of 390 Fahrenheit (ca. 199 °C) for 15-20 minutes.
Or take a frying pan and heat it on medium heat. Add a bit of coconut or olive oil if you don't have a non-stick pan. Fry them on each side for a couple of minutes to give them a nice brown color.
Serving suggestions above the recipe card!

Video

Nutrition