Do you ever have one of those experimental recipes that randomly comes to you out of no where and leaves you crossing your fingers it comes out?
That’s exactly what happened with these Vegan Sausage Balls.
And you know what? No finger crossing was needed. They came out awesome! Maybe I’m a real cook after all. 😉
The inspiration began with this package of Tempeh I had in the fridge.
I’ve been toying with the idea of creating tempeh sausage patties for a while. I have a new love affair with Fennel Seeds and was convinced I could create a faux sausage using the fennel seeds to season the tempeh. Of course, just creating sausage patties wasn’t enough for me. I had to take it one step further. Enter Vegan Sausage Balls.
You’re going to want to bookmark this recipe – it’s good one. 😉
Vegan Sausage Balls
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
- 1 package Tempeh
- 1/2 chopped Red Onion
- 1.5 tbsp Fennel Seeds
- 3 minced cloves of Garlic
- 2 + 1 tsp Salt
- 3 tsp Pepper
- Dash Red Pepper
- 1 tbsp Thyme
- 3/4 cup WW Flour
- 3/4 cup AP Flour
- 2 tsp Baking Soda
- 1/2 cup Nutri-Yeast
- 1/4 + 1/2 cup Water
Preheat the oven to 350
Begin by adding the vegetable oil to a hot pan
Crumble the tempeh
Add the red onion and garlic
Let the onion sweat a little before adding the fennel, 2 tsp of salt, pepper, and thyme.
The ‘sausage’ mix should cook for 5-10 minutes or until the crumbles have a little color. Feel free to add a little water if mix looks too dry.
Once the ‘sausage’ is complete you can start on the rest of the sausage ball batter by combining all the dry ingredients (flours, 1 tsp of salt, & baking powder) in a big bowl.
To give the vegan version of sausage balls a slight cheesy taste mix a 1/2 cup of nutri-yeast in a separate bowl with a 1/4 cup of water.
Add the nutri-yeast to the flour mix, as well as another 1/2 cup of water and the ‘sausage’
Mix well! And don’t be afraid to add more water as needed.
You want a slight doughy texture – not too wet and not too dry. Just enough to be able to form ping pong size balls.
The dough should make just over a dozen and a half balls. Give or take depending on how you size them
Bake at 350 for 18 minutes.
Voila! Vegan Sausage Balls!
I told you it was a good one! 😉
Now hand one to the closet family member and see if they can tell if there’s tempeh or sausage in there. 😉
Ok, so they probably will know the difference, but I promise they won’t spit it out! These babies are good!
I had four for dinner this evening on top of a mix of Spinach, Tomato, and Mushrooms with a homemade dressing of Deli Mustard + EVOO + Balsamic Vinegar.
I thought the sausage flavor really came through on these. If you don’t have fennel seeds, I think sage leaves would work too.
For dessert I had a mini German Chocolate Cupcake and 1/2 a Chocolate Mousse Cupcake left over from our Sweet! run last night.
I forgot how much I love creating new recipes. I need to do more real recipes on here. Maybe that will be a new goal for 2011? 😉
Good night friends!
Looks great. Thanks for the inspiration! (However, I don’t know how you could only eat four.) 🙂
Mel recently posted..Physical Results – Hitting the Good Health Lottery
They came out so well! I’ve never done anything fancy with tempeh before. This is a great idea 🙂
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) recently posted..Getting Organized- Part Deux
I loathe fennel seeds. Actually “loathe” might be putting it too lightly. I vote for your next recipe to be a healthy appetizer (without fennel seeds!) 🙂
Lacey @ Lake Life recently posted..MLK day black-out
These look great! I love tempeh and it looks like a unique way to use it! 😀
Katy (The Singing Runner) recently posted..Back to Reality and Looking to the Future
Love those times when recipes just come to you! I had bbq tempeh over a vegan caesar salad this afternoon (but I didn’t make it).
Lauren recently posted..Redhead Ramblings
Looks.So.Good. Yum! 🙂
Kristy @ KristyRuns recently posted..A Bad Day
Wahoo for more recipes in 2011! These looks mouth-watering 🙂
Good night!
Kiran recently posted..Home-made Pumpkin Spiced Chai
I love tofu but I never know what to do with tempeh besides just toasting it. Gotta try this recipe!
Kelly recently posted..The leftovers keep coming
I don’t think Bo would ever try these but they look delicious! 🙂
Ash Bear recently posted..An Ugg Type of Day
Nice recipe!! I made a tempeh lasagna the other day where I ran the block through a food processor until it was ground beefy in texture and sauteed it just like taco meat!
Christin@purplebirdblog recently posted..FF- I’m Special
Uuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhh. Best idea ever. Must make this weekend. I keep purchasing tempeh but letting it sit in the fridge till it expires. No more!
Amy @ Amy Starts to Run recently posted..Cibo Pizzeria
looks like the perfect thing for vegan spaghetti & “meat”balls! 🙂 i’ve never cooked with tempeh before, but this one looks like a winner! yay for a successful recipe creation!
I’m so impressed! These look delicious. And the best part is I have almost all the ingredients. Once I use up my meatless meatballs from Trader Joe’s run out, I’ll make yours and I bet they taste even better since they’re homemade!
Ann recently posted..A New Day
ooooo I am so going to make that.
michelle recently posted..Take that 5km!
I just made delicious TVP ‘Meatballs’ – it’s all about thinking outside the box 🙂
Becky at Flybynyght recently posted..Recipe 3-52 TVP ‘Meatballs’ Becky
Those look yummy. Will definitely make in the near future
I love that you love fennel seeds as well!
Sana recently posted..Dominationn
Can’t say I’ve ever tried tempeh! This recipe looks tempting though…
AHH These sounds great.. i wish i had tempeh though!!!
movesnmunchies recently posted..Not Just Another Resolutions Post
My boyfriend would love these. He likes tempeh almost as much as he loves sausage….bookmarking this!
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine recently posted..Five Things
Ewwww, those onion chunks look huge! But definitely a good foundation recipe to roll off of.
I LOVE huge onion chunks, but that’s just me 😉
You have absolutely no idea how much I love you right now.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey recently posted..scholarly pup
What a unique dinner! I’ve never tried tempeh before. I’m intriuged by it. I think I would like to try it sometime.
Hope recently posted..A Late Start & A Chipped Tooth…
They certainly look good. And I adore fennel seeds.
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun recently posted..Sitting Pretty
Those look great! I wish I made up recipes more often.
Kacy recently posted..Surprise!
Okay I LOVE meatless meatball and I have that exact package of tempeh waiting in the fridge for me.
Coincidence? I think not.
Casey @ Insatiably Healthy recently posted..Aussie- Aussie- Aussie
Haha I swear those look just like oatmeal chocolate chip cookies! That’d be quite a surprise 🙂
They do look good and I’d love to try tempeh!
ohhhh i reallly hope i have tempeh so i can make this asap! They look great 🙂
Sarah recently posted..1 degree
Just put these in the oven! I subbed the fennel and thyme for sage and oregano because that’s all I had. Fingers crossed! =)
We have a winner! These were SO good!
Vanessa recently posted..Houston- We Have a Problem
Just bought some tempeh and I’m making this tonight!!!!