Tofu “Meatballs” and Sauce

It’s been a little while since we’ve done a vegetarian dish, and tonight, it’s rainy and damp, so it’s definitely time for a spinoff of a versatile classic comfort food! These meatless meatballs are fantastic for vegetarian spaghetti and meatballs or meatball subs. Not only is the end use of the tofu meatballs subject to your fancy…so is the flavour you want to impart in the sauce! Tonight’s sauce uses a store bought marinara as its base, but it is jazzed up with some fun additions…a nice balance of homemade flavours but without all of the effort of making a sauce from scratch.

Time: 25-30 Minutes

Ingredients

• For the Tofu Meatballs:
  • A block of firm or extra firm tofu
  • 1 Egg
  • Some bread crumbs
  • Any seasonings you like…I suggest a little salt, garlic powder, and oregano
• For the sauce:
  • A jar of tomato sauce
  • Any veggies you want to add to customize. I’m using green bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Mushroom and/or eggplant are great too though.
  • A little olive oil or butter

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F, and line a baking sheet with some oil sprayed foil.
• Dice your veggies, heat a sauce pan with butter or oil, and add your veggies. Sautee until caramelized. When the veggies are ready, add your marinara sauce to the pot, and let that simmer while you turn your attention to the meatballs.
• Remove your tofu from the package, and pat it dry with a few paper towels (the more liquid you can get out of the tofu, the firmer your meatballs will be inside when cooked). Then mash it up in a big bowl with your hands.
• Add your egg, bread crumbs, and seasonings to your tofu, and mix to combine.
• Form your tofu mixture into balls, and place on your baking sheet, which goes in the oven after all the balls are formed.
• Let the meatballs cook for about 8-9 minutes on one side before flipping over to finish cooking for another 8-9 minutes.
• When the meatballs are nearly done, you have an option for your sauce…either keep it chunky or make it smooth with an immersion blender, food processor, ninja, or blender.
• Plate, devour, and enjoy!