This Spicy Vegan Meatballs recipe combines farro, chickpeas, flaxseed and oats with spices, and can be customized to suit any flavor profile!
Alright, so about the elephant in the room: vegan meatballs. Yeahhhhhh.
Of course, one could say that these shouldn’t be called “meat” balls when they are, in fact, meatless.
However, considering the utility of said balls, they function as a substitute for meatballs in recipes that call for meatballs.
Philosophically speaking, does utility trump composition?
Yikes, time to back off the green tea this morning.
If you search for meatless meatballs recipes, you will find recipes for farro balls or farro meatballs, flaxseed meatballs and chickpea meatballs.
So, I have worked some magic to make these the best meatless meatballs made from all of those: farro, flaxseed, chickpeas as well as oats, and plenty of seasoning.
The one ingredient that you might not be familiar with is the flaxmeal.
Sometimes called ground flaxseed, or flaxseed meal, flaxmeal is just that: flax seeds that have been ground into “meal.” Flaxseeds contain something super scientific that works to bind ingredients together. <–FACT.
You may have seen recipes (vegan recipes, in particular) that call for a “flax egg.” A flax egg is just 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal mixed with 3 tablespoons of water. It’s sometimes used as an egg replacement in baking, but baking with those kind of substitutes require knowledge of chemistry and I’m just not there yet.
Binding together little balls of farro, chickpeas, and oats? I can handle that.
I get many requests for spicy vegan recipes. Well, this recipe hits the mark there. These vegan meatballs are made with sriracha, ginger, and hot sesame oil to give them a nice zing – I made them to use in Vegan Meatball Bahn Mi, so I wanted the flavor profile to fit with these Vietnamese sandwiches.
The vegan meatballs are super hearty, filling, and flavorful. The texture reminds me a bit of falafel, likely because of the addition of chickpeas. If you’re expecting these to taste and feel like meat, you’re going to be disappointed. It’s just not that kind of recipe.
I love the way these meatballs work for all of my favorite meatball recipes; they are delicious simmered in tomato sauce (seasoned with garlic and onion powder instead of the sriracha, ginger, and sesame oil), stacked into sandwiches, and tossed in teriyaki sauce. They hold their shape perfectly and form a nice crispy exterior crust. I love them, and I know you will, too!
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Here’s the Recipe!
Spicy Vegan Meatballs Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon flax seed meal - ground flax seeds
- 14 ounce can chickpeas - drained and rinsed
- 1 1/2 cups cooked farro
- 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
- 2 cloves garlic - pressed
- 1 teaspoon finely grated ginger root
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon hot chile sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a sheet pan with foil and set aide.
- Combine the flax seed meal with 3 tablespoons of water; stir, and set aside to rest for 5 minutes.
- Place the chickpeas, farro, oats, garlic, ginger, salt, sesame oil, and sriracha in the bowl of a large food processor or blender. Pour in the rested flax mixture ("flax egg") and pulse until the ingredients have just combined. You may need to pause to scrape down the bowl periodically.
- Roll the mixture into one-tablespoon balls (about 14 to 16 total). Bake on the foil-lined sheet for 20 to 25 minutes, until firm and lightly crisped.
Nutrition
Interesting recipe and although this may be a good recipe (don’t know, haven’t tried it) It should not be classified, imo, under middle eastern or Turkish recipes or as a meatball. There is nothing Middle Eastern or Turkish about this. Sriracha, ginger-root and sesame oil are Asian ingredients.
Perhaps rename name them Vietnamese spice balls instead. or squish them down and call them patties.
Wow, I have no idea how those got categorized as Turkish! Must have been a rogue click of the mouse. Thanks for letting me know!
I LOVE veggie burgers and meatballs and can’t wait to try your recipe, it sounds delicious and so hearty! I’m sure they would also taste great in tomato sauce over spaghetti! (Will have to make some and test them on Boyfriend 😉
I love to experiment with different vegetarian dishes. I’ve even made a few vegetarian meatballs, too. This recipe is very interesting. I like all the flavors you have going. This one is a winner. I can’t wait for your follow up recipe, so I have a new recipe to use these in.