Sweet and Sticky Cauliflower Rice "Meat" Balls are easily the best vegan Meatballs ever! Made with riced Cauliflower, and an assortment of Asian spices, these "Meat" Balls are baked until crispy and served with rice noodles and cooked greens. These Vegan Meatballs are easily the healthiest and the best Vegan Meatballs recipe you'll ever need.
Vegan Cauliflower Rice Meatballs
Hey friends! Happy Weekend! So, although it's just the first Saturday of June, it still feels like the Summers, The scorching heat, and the humid days are back. Amidst all of this heat, I do not know why but I was craving for some Asian-style saucy, sticky, and sweet Meatballs. Have you tried my Firecracker Chicken Meatballs or Vegetarian Meatballs Recipe?
And I also wanted to make it Vegan because lately I am trying to include as many Vegan recipes in my menu as possible and it's been a healthy transition! I never thought how much I am going to enjoy this and I am actually loving it.
This also helps the kids to include some healthy diet in the weeknight meals. It's super healthy and nutritious.
Cauliflower Rice "Meat" Balls
Coming back to my Cauliflower Rice Meatballs? Are these healthy? Can this be made ahead of time? Is this freezer-friendly?
Well, YES, YES YES! Cauliflower Rice Meatballs are super healthy and filled with healthy proteins. These are seasoned with some Asian spices and sauteed just until browned in the pan and then these are baked in the oven for that perfect crispy outer texture.
The BEST Vegan Meatballs
- Perfect for a healthy Vegan diet - Include essential healthy nutrients.
- Hasslefree - Absolutely hasslefree meatballs, requiring minimal effort
- Pantry ingredients - Unlike other Vegan recipes, this uses only Pantry ingredients and no fancy ingredient
- Quick & Easy - Quick and easy meal, perfect for weeknight dinners.
- Non-Mushy - These Cauliflower Rice Meatballs are firm and never fall apart.
How to make Cauliflower Rice "Meat" Balls
STEP 1: Make the Meatballs
- In a large mixing bowl, combine Cauliflower Rice with Gochujang Paste, chopped Cilantro, Lemon Zest, Lemon Juice, Tomato Ketchup, Sriracha, Minced Garlic, Sesame Seeds, and Buckwheat Flour (or any other Gluten-Free Flour)
- Preheat the oven to 180C or 350F
STEP 2: Form them into Meatballs
- Flour your hands lightly and roll a tablespoon of the mixture into Meatballs.
STEP 3: Saute the Meatballs
- Heat a little oil in a skillet
- As the oil shimmers, add the Meatballs and saute until lightly crispy and golden brown
- Fry for 2-3 minutes over low heat
STEP 4: Bake the Meatballs
- Place the Meatballs in a greased baking dish
- Bake for 15-17 minutes
STEP 5: Make the Dressing
- For a quick dressing combine Ketchup, Dark Soy Sauce, Vinegar, Garlic, Ginger, and Brown Sugar in a bowl.
- Whisk with some water until combined.
- Pour it in a pot and simmer until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
STEP 6: Serve
- Glaze the baked Cauliflower Rice Meatballs with the dressing
- Serve atop some cooked Rice noodles and salad of your choice.
Tips to make the best Cauliflower Rice Meatballs
- Packaged Rice Cauliflower - I prefer to use store-bought Riced Cauliflower for this recipe as it lacks moisture and is dried. If you are to make Cauliflower rice at home by pulsing the Cauliflower head in the food processor, then make sure you dry the riced cauliflower out by spreading it on a plate under the fan or keep it under the sun for 10-15 minutes to dry it out.
- Spices - Since I love Asian flavors so I have made an Asian dressing for these Cauliflower Meatballs. Also, I have used Gochujang. You can substitute it. Find substitutions below.
- Fry and then Bake - Since these Cauliflower Rice Meatballs do not have Eggs or Flour or Breadcrumbs to hold the moisture so they might lose shape after you form them. So, quickly saute them until they crisp up on the outside before you place them in the oven to get baked.
Possible Substituions
- You can replace Cauliflower Rice with crumbled Tofu
- You can replace Gochujang with Smoked Paprika or Chili Powder
- You can use any Gluten-Free Flour in place of Buckwheat flour
What to Serve these Vegan Cauliflower Rice Meatballs with?
You can serve these with Rice noodles or some Cooked Cauliflower Rice along with salads of your choice.
I hope you liked this recipe. If you happen to make this recipe, then comment below and rate this recipe. Also, tag me with #recipemagik on Instagram.
Sticky Cauliflower Rice "Meat" Balls - Vegan | GF
Ingredients
For "Meat" Balls
- 2 cups Cauliflower Rice
- 1 tablespoon Gochujang Paste or Chili Powder or Paprika
- ½ cup Chopped Cilantro
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Zest
- 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 teaspoon Sesame Seeds
- ½ teaspoon Sriracha
- 1 tablespoon Ketchup
- ¾ cup Buckwheat Flour more for dusting (use any GF Flour)
- 1 tablespoon Canola Oil to sear the meatballs
For the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Dark Soy Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Rice Vinegar
- 2 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- ¼ cup Water
serving (optional)
- rice noodles Cooked and Drained
- freshly chopped cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- In a food processor or a mixing bowl, mix together Cauliflower Rice, Gochujang Paste, Chopped Cilantro, Lemon Zest, Lemon Juice, Tomato Ketchup, Sriracha, Minced Garlic, Sesame Seeds, and Buckwheat Flour (or any other Gluten-Free Flour)
- Flour your hands lightly and roll 1 tablespoon of the mixture into Meatballs. Repeat with the rest of the mixture.
- Heat oil in a skillet. As the oil shimmers, add meatballs and sauté until they turn crispy on the outside.
- Place Meatballs in a greased baking dish. Preheat oven to 350°F or 180°CBake in a preheated oven @350 degrees F or 180 degrees C for 15 minutes.
- To make the dressing combine Ketchup, Dark Soy Sauce, Vinegar, Garlic, Ginger, and Brown Sugar in a bowl. Add some water and whisk until combined.
- Serve these Cauliflower Rice Meatballs glazed with the dressing over some cooked Rice Noodles or cooked Cauliflower Rice.
Video
Notes
Tips to make the best Cauliflower Rice Meatballs
- Packaged Rice Cauliflower - I prefer to use store-bought Riced Cauliflower for this recipe as it lacks moisture and is dried. If you are to make Cauliflower rice at home by pulsing the Cauliflower head in the food processor, then make sure you dry the riced cauliflower out by spreading it on a plate under the fan or keep it under the sun for 10-15 minutes to dry it out.
- Spices - Since I love Asian flavors so I have made an Asian dressing for these Cauliflower Meatballs. Also, I have used Gochujang. You can substitute it. Find substitutions below.
- Fry and then Bake - Since these Cauliflower Rice Meatballs do not have Eggs or Flour or Breadcrumbs to hold the moisture so they might lose shape after you form them. So, quickly saute them until they crisp up on the outside before you place them in the oven to get baked.
Possible Substitutions
- You can replace Cauliflower Rice with crumbled Tofu
- You can replace Gochujang with Smoked Paprika or Chili Powder
- You can use any Gluten-Free Flour in place of Buckwheat flour
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