Vegan Sweet and Spicy Meatballs
These sweet and spicy ‘meatballs’ are a flavour explosion and they contain no meat! Perfect to whip up in a big batch, they are gluten free, vegan, dairy free and perfect for meatless Monday or a meat free meal!
When it comes to vegan sweet treats, it’s safe to say I’m quite comfortable.
Whether it be no bake cookies, cookie dough bites or even snack bars using peanut butter three times– I dig it, I enjoy it and yes- It’s vegan.
Before reading further, check out these creations here which are all completely vegan.
Done? Done.
Shocked?
That was me too. Chicken, meatballs and other products you’d never associate with the word ‘vegan’.
When Gardein reached out to collaborate together and try out two of their products, I was immediately drawn to their ultimate beefless grounds and their meatless meatballs. Back in Australia, I’d tried a similar vegan ground beef product and made the most amazing patties with them. Now that I was here and had these new products, I was keen to recreate.
So what exactly is Gardein? Garden is a plant based protein brand which offer quick and easy frozen foods. They are made from non GMO Soy and are all certified vegan. While Gardein do have products which are gluten free, unfortunately, their meatless meatballs are not. Solution? Recreate them using their ultimate beefless grounds which are! Winning!
So did they taste exactly like Gardein’s meatless meatballs?
No. Not even close.
I’ll leave those for Gardein and those whom are gluten free or want to try a sweet and spicy- I’ve got you covered!
These vegan sweet and spicy meatballs are a party in the mouth-Sweet, spicy AND salty. Although the prep is a little bit time consuming, it is so worth it. Although I’m not the biggest fan of dried fruits, they are a necessity in this recipe. They can be made in a huge batch and frozen and simply thawed for an easy weeknight meal or in a sub with salad!
Bonus? These can be made into full sized patties for burgers to throw between some burger buns like these. You know what? I’m kind of cringing that I didn’t whip these bad boys up and serve them to my mates when proving that vegan foods could be impressive.
Please read the instructions carefully when making these- Depending on the ingredients you end up using, you’ll need to play around with the flours/unsweetened milks. In terms of my flour recommendations, it is this one by Gluten Free Mama. Even back in Australia, I’d always need to play it by ear to adjust to form perfect meatballs which don’t crumble or aren’t too moist.
Make these Vegan Sweet and Spicy Meatballs and for those of you whom are full fledged meat eaters- Start adding a meatless meal to your plan each week…starting with these. Check out them raisins…..
Vegan Sweet and Spicy Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 cup Gardein meatless grounds for non vegans/vegetarians, sub for ground meat of choice
- 2 small sweet potatoes mashed*
- 2 T chopped onions
- 2 T chopped carrots
- 1/4 cup gluten free oat flour can sub for bread crumbs, oat bran, oatmeal, crushed up crackers
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup baby spinach chopped finely
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 T mixed herbs
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 1 flax egg- 1 T flax + 3 T water Can sub for 1 egg if not vegan
- 1- 2 T coconut flour sifted (can sub for any flour)**
- Dairy free milk***
- Extra flour for minor dusting
- Oil for frying
- Sweet chilli sauce for dipping
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the meatless grounds, sweet potatoes, carrots, onions, oat flour, raisins, spinach, curry powder, red pepper flakes, mixed herbs, salt and pepper and mix very well. Add the flax egg and stir into the mixture until fully incorporated.
- If mixture is still moist, add the flour 1 tablespoon at a time until a they can be formed comfortably into meatballs.
- If mixture is too crumbly, add dairy free milk 1 tablespoon at a time until mixture can be comfortably formed into meatballs.
- Heat a large frying pan very generously with oil and once hot, dust the meatballs very lightly in flour before pan frying for 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden. Repeat until all meatballs are cooked. Serve and cover with sweet chilli sauce, or condiment of choice.
Notes
** Please refer to directions for flour information
*** Please refer to directions for milk instructions
There are many outcomes for this recipe depending on what flour you use, whether you choose to add the egg or not.
These can be baked in the oven but you'll need to ensure the meatballs remain intact by adding necessary flour. Adapted from Quorn Fruity Burgers
Have you ever tried a Gardein product or something similar?
What is your spice tolerance? Mine is amazing. I need to go to a chilli festival.
Mmm these look delicious- and meatballs aren’t the most picturesque of foods so that says a lot!!! Although I never thought I’d voluntarily stop eating meat, I’ve been following a plant-based diet for the most part over the past 2 months and I’m loving it! We get a similar product in London called Quorn- will have to nab a bag when I get there to make these!
Be warned that, while awesome and meat-free, Quorn products are not vegan.
Thank you, these are made with Gardein 🙂
YES! I based this off a quorn recipe I always made back home! 🙂
Yum! These look crazy good.
Thank you, Allie! 🙂
i love meatballs but never make them myself. i need to change that!
Try out a meaty version first 😉
Vegan meatballs?! WHAT THE WHAT?! I have been trying to do that “meatless monday” dance more often, so I need to check these out! Pinning!
LOL. Taytay I think the two of us are on the same wavelength..I went to a vegan buffet yesterday and not going to lie, I needed eggs.
Obviously you know how much I love meat, but these are seriously making me drool. I will have to sub meat in for the meatless meatballs, so wrong!
YES! They taste great with ground beef or chicken 🙂
The spicier, the better!
That’s my motto!
I’m not gluten free but I want to try these because they look so delicious. Great idea and beautiful photography 🙂
Thanks so much, Debbie! 🙂
Dude – I <3 these balls in a big huge way! I am a huge fan of "meatless" grounds and I am a big huge fan of sneaking in ALL the veggies! Fantastic job with these, Arman! I haven't tried Gardein yet – but, next time I come across it – I am grabbing me a pack for sure!
Do try it out, Shashi- I was so skeptical of it but the grounds are delicious!
I absolutely LOVE that you threw raisins and sweet potatoes in here…I love little pops of sweetness in savory recipes. You know I don’t eat beef so I’m always looking for beef replacements! I’ve never tried Gardein so I guess I’ll have to try…but if I hate it I’M COMING FOR YA!
I promise Gardein products are delicious- If only their meatballs were gluten free!
Love this! I try to eat mostly vegetarian but I love meat so something like this is perfect for me 🙂 I have pretty much zero spice tolerance, I sometimds wish I liked it though because of how people like you rave about it with your chilli festival fantasies 🙂
Ohhhh no! We need to work on your spice tolerance 😉
Those meatballs look awesome! And it’s funny, I had the opposite problem – I wanted to use the crumbles but could only find the meatballs at my store when I went, so I adapted my meatballs by slicing them up for a breakfast sandwich 🙂
Oh that sounds delicious- Yum, Laura!
I’m all about trying new foods, Arman, and I think you already know how smitten I am with sweet & spicy guys, umm, I mean meatballs, so these are a must make!
Please do, Becca- These are delicious!
meatless meatballs…interesting!
So good! 🙂
Okay it’s been too long since I have caught up with you. What the heck! I can’t beleive all the amazing foods I have been missing out on. While I definitley love my meat, these meatless pups look SO tasty! youre creativity never ceases to amaze me
Selena..Can I convince you to swing by NYC!!!!
Meatballs are a vice of mine. Really anything in sphere form is a go to for me. These look delicious!!
Thanks so much, Jenn! 🙂