Homemade Tofu Italian Meatballs - a Vegetarian Favorite!

Looking for a quick and easy vegetarian option for friends or family? Check out these homemade tofu Italian meatballs! This recipe uses five main ingredients - tofu, egg, croutons, walnuts, and onion, plus seasonings. This recipe makes an average of ~20 meatballs. Enjoy!

Ingredients and Spices:

• 1 package of Azumaya Tofu - Firm
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup of chopped onion
• 1/3 cup of crushed croutons
• 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts
• 3 tablespoons of parsley
• 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
• Salt
• Pepper
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Utensils:

• 1/4 measuring cup
• 1/3 measuring cup
• 1/2 measuring cup
• 1 tablespoon
• 1 teaspoon
• 1 fork
• 1 slotted ladle
• 1 chefs knife
• 1 cutting board
• 1 rolling pin
• 1 deep skillet - 10 inch diameter x 3 inch deep
• 1 handheld oil screen
• 1 small bowl
• 1 large mixing bowl
• 1 weighted bowl
• 1 large plate
• 1 clean towel
• Paper towels
• Set of oven mitts
• 1 stove top with heated burners and oven
• Access to running water and soap via sink

1. Remove the tofu from packaging
2. Drain off the packaging liquid into the sink
3. Wash the tofu with cold water
4. Wrap the tofu in a clean towel
5. Use a weighted bowl to press the tofu
6. Position the weighted bowl in the middle
7. Press the tofu for ~30 minutes to remove excess water

CAUTION: The knife is sharp and can cause bodily injury

Remember: Before preparing the ingredients, please wash your hands thoroughly

Onion:

1. Locate the onion
2. Place the cutting board on the kitchen counter
3. Using the chefs knife, cut the ends off the onion
4. Peel off the onion skin
5. Cut the onion into fourths
6. For the meatball recipe, use 1/4 of the onion
7. Chop 1/4 of the onion into small, diced pieces
8. Place the diced onion into the 1/2 measuring cup
9. If the 1/2 measuring cup is filled - place the diced onion into the small bowl
10. If the 1/2 measuring cup is not filled - repeat the above process - place the ingredient into the small bowl

Walnuts:

1. Open walnut container
2. Pour a selection of walnuts onto the cutting board
3. Using the chefs knife, cut the walnuts into fine pieces
4. Pour the cut walnuts into 1/4 measuring cup
5. If the 1/4 measuring cup is filled - add the walnuts to the small bowl with the onion
6. If the 1/4 measuring cup is not filled - repeat above process - add the ingredient to the small bowl

Croutons:

1. Locate a sheet of three paper towels
2. Lay the middle section of the paper towels onto the cutting board
3. Open the croutons bag
4. Pour the croutons onto the middle paper towel
5. Cover the croutons with the first and third paper towel
6. Locate the rolling pin
7. Position the rolling pin over the croutons
8. Press down onto the croutons and maintain even pressure
9. Roll the rolling pin back and forth over the croutons
10. If the croutons are not breaking - smack the rolling pin against the croutons
11. Open the paper towel to check if the croutons are becoming a powder
12. Pour the crouton powder into 1/3 measuring cup
13. If the 1/3 measuring cup is filled - add the crouton powder to the small bowl with onions and walnuts
14. If the 1/3 measuring cup is not filled - repeat above process - add the ingredient to the small bowl

CAUTION: Oil can become hot and burn the skin

1. Locate the deep skillet - 10 inch diameter x 3 inch deep
2. Place the skillet on the stove top burner
3. Turn on the stove top burner to medium heating (level 4 or 5)
4. Open the extra virgin olive oil
5. Pour the oil into the skillet to a depth of ~2 inch (enough to cover the meatballs)
6. Cover the skillet with a lid
7. Let the oil warm for 15-20 minutes

Remember: Before preparing the ingredients, please wash your hands thoroughly

1. Remove the pressed tofu from the towel
2. Place the tofu into a large mixing bowl
3. Locate a metal fork
4. Press the fork into the tofu and push downward towards the bowl - breaking up the tofu
5. Repeat until the tofu is minced into small pieces

After breaking up the tofu, add the following ingredients to the large mixing bowl:

1. Add the walnuts, onions, and croutons
2. Add 3 tablespoons of parsley
3. Add in 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
4. Add in a pinch of salt
5. Add in a pinch of pepper

After adding the ingredients together, mix well.

1. Then, add 1 large egg to the bowl
2. Use the fork to thoroughly mix the egg into the other ingredients

Remember: Before preparing the meatballs, please wash your hand thoroughly

1. Locate a plate and set it nearby
2. Using your clean hands, pick up a small amount of the mixture from the bowl
3. Start to form a 1 inch ball
4. Press the ball firmly in your hands to compact the ingredients
5. Roll it in your palms to make a sphere
6. Set the ball aside on the plate
7. Repeat the process until the ingredients bowl is empty

CAUTION: Oil is hot and can burn the skin

1. Take the lid off the heated skillet
2. Locate the oil screen
3. Hold it in the free hand to limit oil spitting
4. Pick up individual meatballs and slowly place them into the hot oil
5. Cover the skillet with the oil screen between meatballs
6. Repeat until all meatballs are in the oil

Cooking:

1. Allow the meatballs to cook for ~10 minutes on one side
2. Locate the slotted ladle
3. Turn the meatballs to the other side
4. Allow the meatballs to cook for another ~10 minutes

Reminder: The meatballs will appear light brown and crispy when fully cooked. If the meatballs are pale colored, cook them for a longer period of time.

CAUTION: Oil is hot and can burn the skin

1. Turn off the burner
2. Locate a plate and cover it with a paper towel
3. Use the slotted ladle to remove the meatballs from the hot oil
4. As you remove the meatballs, allow the oil to drain off the ladle into the skillet
5. Transfer the meatballs to the plate - the paper towel will absorb the excess oil
6. Repeat the process until all meatballs are on the plate

Let the meatballs cool for ~10 minutes. Enjoy!

CAUTION: Oil is still hot

1. Place a lid onto the skillet containing the hot oil
2. Put on oven mitts
3. Open the oven door
4. Slowly move the skillet into the oven for safety
5. Close the oven door
6. Allow the oil to cool overnight
7. Discard or store the oil for future use