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VEGAN MEATBALLS WITH RED SAUCE
Those Vegan Chefs

Tofu Meatballs, Italian Style with Tomato Sauce

3.50 from 2 votes
Making Tofu Meatballs using the classic Italian method made easy. What I love about these tofu meatballs is that they are braised in tomato sauce, it's a wonderful way to flavor both the red sauce and the Tofu Meatballs. 
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4 People
Course: Dinner, Pasta
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 685
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Tofu Meatballs
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil extra virgin
  • ¼ cup yellow onions small diced
  • 4 garlic cloves grated
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper fresh cracked
  • ¼ tsp red chili flakes
  • 7 oz firm tofu
  • 1 tsp molasses
  • 1 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 3 Tbsp parsley fresh chopped
  • 6 oz silken tofu
  • 1½ cup panko bread crumbs ½ for filling / 1 cup for coating
  • 2 Tbsp potato starch
  • 3-4 Tbsp olive oil for sautéing the tofu meatballs
Easy Tomato Sauce
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil if you need to start with a fresh pan
  • ¼ cup yellow onion diced
  • 4 garlic cloves grated
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp oregano dried
  • 1 tsp cane sugar
  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes recommend plum tomatoes
  • 3-4 basil leaves fresh
  • ½ cup water (optional to thin the sauce)
Pasta
  • 8 ounces dried spaghetti
Garnish
  • 1 ounce Basil Fresh chopped

Method
 

How to make Italian style tofu meatballs
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Heat a sauté pan over medium heat, add the olive oil, small diced onions, grated garlic, kosher salt, fresh cracked black pepper, and red chili flakes. Sauté for 2-3 minutes.
  3. Using your hands, break the firm tofu into small chunks and add it to the pan with the onions and garlic. Using a fork continue to break the firm tofu into smaller pieces. Cook for about 3 minutes, allowing the tofu liquid to evaporate.
  4. Add the molasses and the tomato paste, continue to stir and cook for another 3 minutes. Finish by adding the fresh chopped parsley. Remove the tofu mixture from the pan, place it on a plate, and cool in the refrigerator (approx. 10-15 minutes).
  5. In a large mixing bowl combine the silken tofu, ½ cup panko bread crumbs, and the potato starch. Mix vigorously with a spoon, the mixture should become a thick, tacky paste. This is our panade.
  6. Combine the cooked and cooled tofu mixture with the panade. Stir to combine. The tofu meatballs should have a firm feel and should be moist but not wet. The real test is to form a ball (about 2 ounces in weight), the ball should keep its shape when forming. If it feels a little too soft add 2 Tbsp of panko to the mixture and allow to rest for 3 minutes to hydrate, then reform.
  7. Place the remaining 1 cup of panko bread crumbs on a plate. Form the tofu meatballs about the size of a ping pong ball or 2 - 2 ½ ounces. Place the formed meatball on the plate with the panko.
  8. Heat a heavy sauté pan large enough to cook all of the tofu meatballs at one time. Add olive oil and heat. Gently coat and roll the tofu meatballs with the panko bread crumbs. Place the tofu meatballs in the saute pan. You need to move fairly fast at this stage. Cook the meatballs until deep brown for about 5 minutes, turn the meatballs to cook on all sides. Once cooked, remove and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the meatballs in the oven for 10 minutes.
How to make easy tomato sauce
  1. Heat the pan that you cooked the tofu meatballs in, using the oil that is leftover. (If you find that you have too many burnt pieces of bread crumbs or bits of tofu it's ok to just start with a clean sauté pan, you'll need to add 2 Tbsp olive oil).
  2. Add the onion, garlic, kosher salt, oregano, and sugar to the pan, sauté over medium-low heat for 5 minutes.
  3. Add the crushed tomatoes, bring to a low simmer cooking for 20 minutes. If the sauce becomes too thick add water to adjust the thickness.
  4. Place the tofu meatballs in the tomato sauce. Add whole leaves of basil into the middle of the pan, reserving a few to chifonade as garnish.
  5. Place in the oven for 15 minutes.
How to Finish Tofu Meatballs with Tomato Sauce
  1. Cook the spaghetti acording to package instructions while the meatballs are in the oven.
  2. Place the cooked pasta on a plate or plater.
  3. Spoon the sauce and tofu meatballs over the pasta.
  4. Finish with fresh chopped basil

Notes

Nutritional values are an estimate.