philly style vegan "meatballs"

Equipment:

bamboo steamer (or flat surface steamer for seitan) or slow cooker

braising pot to put on the bottom of the bamboo steamer

small saucepan

big mixing bowl

spice grinder, (coffee grinder , or,  plastic bag with small hammer)

tongs

non-vegan friends will not know the difference!

1 cup TVP (texturized vegetable protein, found in most health food stores)

3/4 cup water

1 TBL soy sauce

2 TBL fennel

1 TBL oregano

2 TBL italian flat leaf parsley, washed and minced (fresh if you have it, if not use dry)

2 cloves fresh garlic, minced  ( or...1 1/2 TBL garlic powder if you do not have fresh)

2 tsp black pepper

2 TBL minced onion, fresh

2 1/2 TBL earth balance melted (or 3 TBL olive oil)

1/2 cup unsweetened vegan milk 

3 slices cubed bread, (any type except rye)

1/2 cup gluten flour

to taste...salt or vegan parmesan

Mince your onions smaller!!

Method:  wash hands,

Place TVP in the saucepan with water and soy sauce.

Rehydrate the TVP in the water and soy sauce, under medium heat , and let cool to warm, set aside

Either grind fennel into powder, or, place in plastic bag and crush with small hammer (lightly) set aside

Set up the bamboo steamer with foil or corn husks and let the under water boil

Place all ingredients except gluten flour, in mixing bowl and mix with hands, add the gluten flour and mix with hands very, very well (this mixture will be heavy and dense, don’t worry, it will turn out light, fluffy and not fall apart)

 or link to slow cooker method, easier the meatballs and place in steamer and steam on high heat for around 25 minutes each side.  turn each meatball over with tongs half way through steaming

 Either place in sauté pan to fry for a crisp, brown outside, or place directly in marinara sauce from steamer

 Let "meatballs" simmer in sauce all day, or for as many hours as you wish

makes  around  10  medium  size  “meatballs”

Once steamed, these "meatballs" will keep for days of re-heat and frig in slow cooker pot

PROBLEMS WITH BLOGGER THAT I DID NOT HAVE THE TIME TO DEAL WITH, SO ENJOY, AS JACKED UP AS THE TEXT IS!