http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=236x71014Oh my.
I dunno.
"Vegetarian meatballs" sounds something like "fake real stuff."
Callalily (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-15-09 06:28 AM
Original message
Anyone have a good vegetarian meatball recipe? I've searched and there are literally hundreds. Because ingredients are so varied with each recipe, I hate to just pick one and hope for the best. So, does anyone here have a tested and approved meatball recipe?
First up, the always helpful, always cheerful, Grandma:
hippywife (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-15-09 07:24 AM
Response to Original message
1. Hmmm. I've never tried to make them, but I think if I were going to attempt it I would probably try to use Quorn crumbles and see if I could get them to hold together with my real meatball method of egg, parm cheese, and seasonings. Now you've tweaked my curiosity to try this.
http://www.quorn.us/cmpage.aspx?pageid=462&productid=15...
It does contain egg, so it will depend on what stripe of vegetarian they will be for.
Or, what the heck, the actually make a meatball product that you can adapt to any recipe it seems:
http://www.quorn.us/cmpage.aspx?pageid=501&recipeid=37
Callalily (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-15-09 07:52 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. LOL! I never thought to look to see if there were "pre-made" vegetarian meatballs. Thanks for the suggestion. Will have to look at my local stores.
I want to make my fabulous buffalo wing meatballs, but one in our group is a vegetarian, so we all go v****e too.
hippywife (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-15-09 08:05 AM
Response to Reply #2
3. Is your vegetarian friend ova-lacto v****e?
If so these will work, if not, I would look for a vegan product in the freezer section of your local Whole Foods and health food stores. Even the local family owned grocery here carries Quorn products and we're in Oklahoma, so hopefully won't be too difficult to find.
Good luck!
ETA: You may want to ask this person, too, about food allergies or if he/she is familiar with Quorn products. It can be problematic to introduce a new food product sometimes. I always hesitate to do it unbeknownst to guest.
Grandma's the only person besides franksolich who uses "unbeknownst."
Cool.
The bitter old sour dour theologian, the defrocked warped primitive:
Warpy (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-15-09 12:08 PM
Response to Reply #2
8. Quorn meatballs have a good texture but they're bland, bland, bland. You'll need to compensate by making sure there's adequate kick to the sauce.
I always made mine by guess and by gosh: tofu for protein, a little soaked bulgur for bite, seasoned with soy sauce, onion, mushroom, finely chopped raisins (yes, dammit, RAISINS), and oregano. Since they were egg free, I'd oil them and bake them rather than try to pan fry them. I'd sauce them at the last minute so they wouldn't fall apart.
People swore I'd cheated and there was meat in them.
Well, as we all know, the unfrocked warped primitive cheated, but not with a recipe.
Jeanette in FL (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-15-09 08:33 AM
Response to Original message
4. Here's my vegetarian meatball recipe
I get rave reviews even from my meat eating friends.
1 package of Morning Star Crumbles
1 package of Morning Star Breakfast Patties, crumbled
3/4 cup of Italian Bread Crumbs
1/2 cup of Parmesan Cheese, grated
2 teaspoons of Basil
1 teaspoon of Oregano
1 teaspoon of Parsley
2-3 cloves of Garlic, minced
1/2 of medium Onion, minced
2 eggs
1/4 - 1/2 cup of Tomato Sauce (or ketchup)
Mix all ingredients well and shape into the size balls you would like. Place on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for about 20-25 minutes until browned.
I bake them rather than frying because they stay together more easily.
I have tried some of the prepared ones in the market, but they always seem to have a bland, mushy taste to me. These have a bit of a texture to them.
hippywife (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-15-09 09:11 AM
Response to Reply #4
5. So, it seems it is doable, then.
Thanx for the recipe. I might try this then with the Quorn ground product.
ETA: The MSF products also contain eggs, and they are primarily soy protein so unless you get one of their organic products, it could be and most likely is GMO.
See last question in their FAQ: http://www.morningstarfarms.com/faq.aspx
Jeanette in FL (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-15-09 10:15 AM
Response to Reply #5
6. That is a problem with Morning Star products
GMO's!
hippywife (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-15-09 11:30 AM
Response to Reply #6
7. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I can't resist their chik'n nuggets and Bill likes their new riblets, but we definitely keep it to a minimum.
