Training: Run 5km
Today the comfort of our new bed was all too much and I opted to sleep 'in' rather than head to the gym for a pre-work workout. Instead, I ventured out in the sunshine and took myself on a 5km run during my lunch break. I don’t mind exercising during my lunch break, it is just the frantic shower / eat lunch part that I have to fit in afterwards!
Dinner
Ssshhhhh - want to know a secret??
Tonight, I made meatballs for dinner.
Ok so that is not much of a secret, but the fact they contained no meat certainly is!
So I guess you could call them 'no meat' meatballs? Or, if you are not wanting your husband to give you 'the look', I guess you could give them a more mysterious title such as 'secret' meatballs.
Tofu, GF breadcrumbs, almond meal, GF flour, herbs, onion, tamari and garlic.
Combined…
Rolled into balls and oven baked for 1/2 hour.
Served with GF spaghetti…
Fresh basil and tomato…
With passata and ricotta sauce stirred through.
All together now.
I really liked the texture of these ‘meat’ balls, although they did seem to lack a certain flavour punch.
Next time I might add a little more chilli and fresh herbs for good measure.
But for now, a good sprinkle of parmesan worked just fine.
Even if Mr BBB still gave me ‘the look’ ;)
Secret meatballs (makes 16) – gluten free
(adapted from here)
These ‘meat’ balls are not only healthy, but incredibly versatile. Stir them through pasta, or cook them into a casserole – the possibilities are endless. However you decide, tofu and herbs come together to create a dish that will have even the greatest meat lovers coming back for seconds.
- 300g firm tofu, mashed
- 1 onion, very finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1/4 cup almond meal
- 2 slices GF bread, crumbed
- 2 tablespoons GF flour
- 1 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp chilli powder
- 2 tablespoons tamari
- oil spray, to grease
- Preheat oven to 200ºC. Combine all ingredients, except oil, in a bowl and mix well.
- Shape into 16 balls.
- Spray a non-stick baking dish with oil. Add tofu balls and bake in oven for 15 minutes, then turn over and bake for 15 more minutes.
- Toss meatballs in cooked spaghetti and tomato / ricotta sauce. Serve sprinkled with fresh basil and grated parmesan.
What about you? Do you have any sneaky ‘meat’ dishes that you secretly make without meat?
Happy Baking :)
Posts
Um, can I get a "brilliant"? Even though in the first ingredients photo I thought the tofu was hummous ;) These sound amazing!! I know that if/when I make them, though, I'll end up eating them straight without bothering to cook pasta...
ReplyDeleteI almost didn't read the recipe because I thought these were meat as I skimmed the post late at night - glad I read it - one of my early favourite veg dishes was a tofu and nut balls similar to this but plainer.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't do sneaky meat dishes if I tried - the closest I have done is sausage rolls which my brother looked at me and said if you hadn't made them I would think they were meat. So that is how any sneakiness of mine would be received!!!!
I make a pretty fantastic veggie chili with meatless crumbles - all my meat lovin friends ask me to bring it to every event! :)
ReplyDeleteNow those sound RIGHT up my alley. Yum!! I like to make a lot of dishes without meat that traditionally have it - my favorite one is chili!
ReplyDeleteI can't get over how gorgeous your photos are! This dish looks phenomenal!!
ReplyDeleteI never would have thought to use tofu to make "meatballs" what a great idea! I make a pretty delicious meatless taco.
ReplyDeleteI made something similar using mushrooms and tofu once, but they were pretty mushy. I will definitely try these!
ReplyDeletehehe, he may have given you the eye, but did he stop eating them? :)
ReplyDeleteYesssss! So happy these are meatless! They look soo good! You have the best recipes :)
ReplyDeleteI guess all my meals would be sneaky meatless dishes because I don't eat meat! lol My fave right now is quinoa lasagna. Nobody even misses the meat at all!
I constantly try to con my family-they love it! Someday I will have delicious 'meatballs' again! Let me know when you master them!
ReplyDeletewow, these look SO good -what a clever idea! ha, I can't try to hide anything without laughing uncontrollably and/or turning bright red. my parents were lucky :)
ReplyDeleteI would never be able to get away with sneaking a meatless dish by Dennis. The only thing I can get away with is using less or natural sugars, less eggs and oils, and subbing whole wheat/almond/spelt flour into my baking. I've even baked some vegan breads and desserts without him knowing. And watching him gobble them up and asking for more is priceless!!
ReplyDeleteThey look yummy! I has quorn cottage pie last night (only a frozen meal, I was pressed for time)which was delicious. I reckon if I bought quorn mince and made spag bol with it my husband wouldn't know the difference.
ReplyDeleteOoo, my Mum makes those sometimes when I am coming over! They are so awesome!
ReplyDeleteOooh I'd love to give these a go and I think that if you covered them with the sauce then they would look exactly like meat meatballs! :D
ReplyDeleteYummy, they look really good (great pics to BTW), I'd really like to try these.
ReplyDeleteGood idea! Maybe add some 'meaty' style spices like cumin to oomph the flavour? And a slurp of mushroom soy, the sort of things that have a umami taste...
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good idea! I like the twist that you have there. Thanks a lot.
ReplyDelete