Tofu Meatballs

Ingredients

• 1 block Extra Firm Tofu (16 oz, pressed to remove excess liquid)
• 1 cup Panko Breadcrumbs (use gluten-free breadcrumbs or rice crumbs for gluten-free version)
• 5.5 tbsp Unflavored Unsweetened Soy Milk (or other non-dairy milk)
• 1 tbsp Ground Flaxseed (mixed with 3 tbsp water, or use commercial vegan egg replacer)
• 3 tbsp Water (for flax egg)
• 0.5 tsp Better than Bouillon No Beef Base (see Note 2 for alternatives)
• 4 tbsp Nutritional Yeast
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Onion Powder
• 2 tsp Italian Seasoning
• 1 tsp Dried Oregano Leaf
• 0.5 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 0.5 tsp Salt
• Black Pepper (to taste)
• Oil for cooking (olive oil or neutral oil; cooking spray also works)

Instructions

1. 1

   Mix the Panko with Soy Milk: To a large mixing bowl, add the panko breadcrumbs and soy milk and whisk together. Let sit for 3 to 5 minutes.

2. 2

   Add the Other Ingredients: Add your tofu, flax egg, and spices to the bowl and mix by hand until everything is fully incorporated. You want the mixture to be tacky but not very wet. Add more dry ingredients, like nutritional yeast, or wet ingredients, like soy milk, to adjust the texture as needed. To test the batter, simply pinch and roll a bit between your fingers. If it stays together, move on to the next step. If it's too mushy, add more dry ingredients. Too crumbly, add more wet ingredients.

3. 3

   Make the Tofu Balls: Using a 2 tablespoon scoop, make meatballs out of the mixture. Briefly roll each ball by hand to achieve smoothness and uniformity.

4. 4

   Cook the Meatballs: To a lightly oiled large nonstick skillet (use olive oil or a neutral oil; cooking spray should work fine) to medium heat, add the tofu meatballs. Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to cook in batches. Do not crowd the pan. Cook on each side for about 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. You can also bake these tofu meatballs on a parchment paper lined baking tray in a 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) oven for 25-30 minutes, flipping the meatballs and rotating the tray halfway through.

5. 5

   Serve: Remove the tofu meatballs from the pan and place on a plate or tray lined with paper towels and add to your pasta with your favorite sauce.

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