Vegetarian "Meatballs" And Mushroom Gravy Recipe

If you're a meatball fan but don't eat meat and aren't a fan of pre-made meat substitutes, you may be on the lookout for a "meatball" recipe made with plant-based ingredients. We're here to make your day and tell you that this recipe for vegetarian "meatballs" with mushroom gravy is for you. The meatball mixture blends quickly in a food processor and the mushroom gravy is a one-pan wonder that can also be used on lentil loaves and veggie burgers.

Wellness coach and recipe developer Miriam Hahn brings us this recipe, and she's especially a fan of the clever use of chickpeas to get that desirable meaty texture, without actually using any meat. "Chickpeas are often used to replicate burger and meatball recipes in the vegetarian world and for good reason. They're loaded with plant-based protein, have a meat-like texture when cooked, and when paired with other essentials, they hold together well," she says. "This recipe is delicious on its own or served over steamy hot, buttered mashed potatoes!"

To make this recipe, you'll need lots of pantry staples that you might already have in your kitchen. For the dry goods, you'll need some chickpeas, breadcrumbs, avocado oil, soy sauce, tomato paste, salt, cumin, pepper, flour, vegetable broth, Worcestershire, dried thyme, and garlic powder. "I have also used rolled oats in place of breadcrumbs in this recipe and that works fine if you happen to have those on hand," Hahn shares.

From the produce department you'll need red onion, garlic, and cremini mushrooms. And finally, some cold items: egg, butter, and white miso paste. To make this recipe vegan, just use a flax egg, dairy-free butter, and vegan Worcestershire sauce.

You'll be using the oven soon so preheat it to 400 F now. Then pull out a large food processor and add the chickpeas, breadcrumbs, red onion, garlic, oil, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, tomato paste, ½ teaspoon of salt, cumin, and pepper to a large food processor.

Pulse the mixture to break down the beans but keep the mixture chunky. "Resist the temptation to turn on the food processor and let it run. When you over blend the mixture, you lose the chunky texture we need for these meatballs," Hahn shares.

Now go ahead and measure out about 2 tablespoons of the chickpea mixture and form it into a ball. You should be able to get 18 meatballs that are 1 ½-inch in diameter. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper and spray the tops with cooking spray. Pop the tray into the oven and bake for 20 minutes, flipping the meatballs and spraying them with more cooking spray at the halfway point.

While the meatballs are cooking make the gravy. Using a large frying pan brought to medium-high heat, add the butter. Once melted add the onion and cook for 3 minutes. Now add the mushrooms and cook for 5 more minutes. "Stir these frequently so that you get even cooking in the pan," Hahn says.

To add some thickness to the gravy, add the flour to the mushrooms and stir to give them a good coating. Then add the broth, remaining soy sauce, miso paste, Worcestershire, thyme, garlic powder, and the remaining salt. Keep stirring until the gravy thickens and all of the ingredients are incorporated before lowering the heat to simmer and setting the timer for 5 minutes.

The meal is ready so dish out some meatballs and top them with the mushroom gravy. Garnish with chopped chives if desired. You can eat the meatballs and gravy alone or serve them on top of mashed potatoes. This makes a hearty winter dinner and is a great leftover lunch. The meatballs and gravy will last well for up to 5 days in the fridge if kept in a sealed container.