Veggie Meatballs Recipe (with Tikka Masala Sauce) - Carlo Cao (2024)

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These Veggie meatballs with Tikka Masala Sauce are an absolutely delicious variation of the traditional Chicken Tikka Masala. They are easy and quick to make and perfect to serve with a bowl of rice or a green salad.

Veggie Meatballs Recipe (with Tikka Masala Sauce) - Carlo Cao (2)

The veggie balls made of quinoa and cauliflower, which means they are not only delicious but also healthy and packed with nutrients and fiber.

The ingredients of the sauce are the same used to make the traditional tikka masala sauce: garam masala, onion, garlic, tomato etc. except for the silken tofu which is used to make the sauce creamier (it can be replaced with a dash of plant-based milk).

Before you jump into the kitchen to make this recipe I suggest you read this blog-post carefully.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Do I have to use silken tofu?
  • How do I form the perfect veggie-balls?
  • Is the tikka masala sauce difficult to make?
  • Do I have to blend the sauce?
  • Related recipes
  • Pin the recipe
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Reviews
Veggie Meatballs Recipe (with Tikka Masala Sauce) - Carlo Cao (3)

Ingredients

To make this recipe you'll need the following ingredients:

  • quinoa
  • cauliflower
  • onion & garlic
  • parsley
  • chickpea flour
  • almond flour
  • all purpose flour
  • bread crumbs
  • ginger
  • garam masala powder
  • ground cumin
  • turmeric powder
  • tomato sauce
  • sugar
  • coconut milk (or plant-based cream)
  • silken tofu (optional)
Veggie Meatballs Recipe (with Tikka Masala Sauce) - Carlo Cao (4)

Do I have to use silken tofu?

Silken tofu is a type of tofu that is characterized by its high water content which makes it perfect for making sauces or for replacing coconut milk or cream.

In this recipe I used it for two reasons: to make the sauce more thick and creamy and to lower the calories of the sauce.

If you can't find it just add a splash of plant-based milk.

How do I form the perfect veggie-balls?

The trick to making perfect veggie-balls is moistening your hands with cold water before forming each ball.

Another essential step is mashing them with flour before frying. This will give them an extra crunchy-texture and prevent them from falling apart.

You followed this steps and the mixture still doesn’t stick together? Then add more bread crumbs, or almond flower this will bind the mixture together.

Veggie Meatballs Recipe (with Tikka Masala Sauce) - Carlo Cao (5)

Is the tikka masala sauce difficult to make?

Short answer: NO!

You only have to brown onion, garlic and ginger in a saucepan with a little oil for a couple of minutes. Then you add in garam masala, cumin and turmeric and sauté for 1-2 minutes.

The next step is adding in pelati and sugar and simmering for 15 min.

The final step is adding in silken tofu and coconut milk, simmer for another 5 min, then pour the mixture in a food-processor and process until creamy.

Veggie Meatballs Recipe (with Tikka Masala Sauce) - Carlo Cao (6)

Do I have to blend the sauce?

You can blend it or not; it’s personal preference.

I personally prefer the blended version because it’s super creamy but if you don’t have a high-speed blender you can leave it non-blended, it will still taste absolutely divine!

If you try these Veggie-Balls with Tikka Masala Sauce, let me know! Leave a comment, rate the recipe, and don’t forget to tag a photo #vegaliciously on Instagram.

Veggie Meatballs Recipe (with Tikka Masala Sauce) - Carlo Cao (7)

If you love this recipe I'm sure you'll love these as well:

  • Sesame crusted Mushroom Pie
  • Vegan Chickpea Nuggets
  • The Ultimate Vegan Wellington
  • Vegan Mushroom Pasta

Pin the recipe

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📖 Recipe

Veggie Meatballs Recipe (with Tikka Masala Sauce) - Carlo Cao (8)

Veggie Meatballs Recipe (with Tikka Masala Sauce)

Carlo Cao

Serve these veggie balls with some rice and roasted veggies and you'll have a delicious lunch/dinner to enjoy.

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Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Servings 6

Equipment

  • food-processor

Ingredients

For the veggie-balls

  • 130 g quinoa raw
  • 250 g cauliflower
  • 2 onions
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon parsley
  • 50 g chickpea flour
  • 50 g almond flour
  • 50 g all purpose flour
  • 100 g bread crumbs
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoon oil
  • chickpea flour to coat

For the sauce

  • 2 onions minced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger minced
  • 1 ½ tablespoon garam masala powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 400 g tomato sauce
  • 2 teaspoon sugar
  • 2.5 dl 1 cup coconut milk
  • 150 g silken tofu

Instructions

For the veggie-balls

  • Place quinoa in a saucepan cover with water and boil for 15-20 min, then drain and rinse and place aside.

  • Steam cauliflower for 10 min, then place aside.

  • Place all the ingredients (except of chickpea flour to coat) in a food processor and process until the ingredients are combined (do not overmix, we want some pieces of cauliflower in there).

  • Wet your hands when forming the balls (so the mixture won’t stick to your hands). Coat the balls with chickpea flour and fry until golden.

For the sauce

  • Place onion, garlic and ginger in a saucepan with a little oil and brown for 5 minutes. Add in garam masala, cumin and turmeric and sauté for 1-2 minutes.

  • Pour tomato sauce in, add sugar and simmer for 15 min.

  • Add in silken tofu and coconut milk, simmer for another 5 min, then pour the mixture in a food-processor and process until creamy.

  • Serve immediately with the veggie balls.

  • Buon Appetito!

Keyword tikka masala, veggie-balls

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Veggie Meatballs Recipe (with Tikka Masala Sauce) - Carlo Cao (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep vegetable meatballs from falling apart? ›

Trouble keeping vegan meatballs together in pan
  1. Roast the meatballs before you sauté
  2. Chill the mix before you form the balls.
  3. Add a little quinoa flakes or oats.
Feb 1, 2017

What are veggie meatballs made of? ›

These quick pan-fried vegetarian meatballs combine canned chickpeas, sliced mushrooms, panko breadcrumbs, onion, egg, and sun-dried tomatoes. Ready in 30 minutes, they're savory and satisfying, and hold their shape well. Go ahead and make these bite-size veggie-loaded meatballs for dinner tonight!

What not to do when making meatballs? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Meatballs
  1. Not seasoning the meat.
  2. Not adding any moisture to the meat.
  3. Over-mixing the meat.
  4. Not shaping the meatballs correctly.
  5. Not forming evenly-sized meatballs.
May 1, 2019

How to make meatballs that don t fall apart in sauce? ›

Here's how to make the perfect meatballs that won't fall apart when you cook them:
  1. Massage your meat. True story. ...
  2. Add breadcrumbs. ...
  3. Add egg. ...
  4. Don't add much apart from meat. ...
  5. Roll your meatballs in flour. ...
  6. Give your meatballs space. ...
  7. Shake your meatballs. ...
  8. Brown your meatballs first.
Mar 3, 2022

Are veggie meatballs good for you? ›

And the good news is, meatless meatballs can taste just as delicious and are even healthier than their meaty counterparts.

What are the ingredients in Beyond meat plant-based meatballs? ›

Water, pea protein*, expeller-pressed canola oil, refined coconut oil, natural flavors, rice protein, yeast, methylcellulose, potato starch, spices, salt, potassium chloride, apple extract, garlic powder, vinegar, lemon juice concentrate, onion powder, pomegranate extract, sunflower lecithin, beet powder (for color), ...

What are the ingredients in Morningstar meatballs? ›

Ingredients: Water, wheat gluten, vegetable oil (corn, canola and/or sunflower), soy flour, soy protein concentrate, wheat flour, spices.

Why won t my meatballs stay together? ›

Because meat shrinks when cooked, mince proteins are likely to separate and crumble unless bound together. Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart.

How do you get homemade meatballs to stick together? ›

Egg: A lot of meatball recipes add egg to the mince mixture because it helps to bind the balls together. Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs also help to bind your meatballs. If the mince mixture is quite wet, breadcrumbs will help soak up excess moisture so that the balls don't fall apart.

What is the secret to making tender meatballs? ›

Another method is not to use meat that is too lean – fat increases tenderness. I have used lean meats and the results are okay but using a fattier meat is pretty key; opt for 15 to 20% fat in your meat. I don't use this one any longer, but a long, low and slow cook with give you very tender meatballs.

How do you keep meatballs from sticking together? ›

Use oil or butter: Adding a small amount of oil or butter to the pan or skillet before cooking the patties will help to prevent them from sticking together.

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