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Jackfruit Veggie Ball Tacos or Subs. Use these “meatballs” anywhere! Vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, yeast-free, nut-free recipe.
Jackfruit has been the in thing for a while this year. Shredded young jackfruit, smothered in any thick sauces like bbq, served with the toppings of choice! Jackfruit, also called “Kathal” in hindi has been used in many forms in Indian food. It was already called the vegetarian meat way back when Mom would make a jackfruit based saucy curry. This humble vegetable is getting its due.
I wanted to use jackfruit in some other form, so I made it into these veggie balls! Just 2 main ingredients. Jackfruit and chickpea flour, plus of course loads of spices. Serve these with marinara or other sauces and melt some vegan cheese over it!
Young green jackfruit pieces are boiled in water with some spices to soften and infuse with flavor. Then they are shredded and mixed with roasted chickpea flour, more spices, garlic and ginger and made into balls. These balls can be pan fried or baked. I prefer the pan fried as they stay more moist. I was out of sub sandwiches, so I made these into tacos. These Jackfruit balls made fantastic veggie ball subs, or veggie balls to serve over pasta and more.
More fun recipes from the blog
- Vegan Tinga bowl with Hearts of Palm, Chickpeas, Spanish…
- Vegan Mummy Dogs. Veggie Potato Masala Cutlets Recipe
- Pulled Butternut Squash Tacos. Vegan Glutenfree Recipe
Oh yes “meatballs”. The most often searched term even if searching for veggie version is “veggie meatball” not veggie ball. These certain terms have to be used to get people to the post. So everyone vegan or not can find a veggie ball recipe! Meat doesn’t mean animal. Its a term also used for any internal stuff of other things, like coconut meat.
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Over 4.7 billion plastic toothbrushes that will never biodegrade are dumped in landfills and oceans every year worldwide! These toothbrushes and parts pose a huge plastic pollution problem for the environment. We use so many brushes in our lifetime, that this one change to a sustainable eco friendly option will make a difference.
Today, the amazing team at Brush with Bamboo is giving away a bunch of brushes to the blog readers (US only)! 4 winners will each get a 2 pack set of brushes! to Enter, please leave a comment on the post about your opinion on plastic brushes. Ends July 1
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Meanwhile, we continue with the regular post of these fantastic jackfruit balls.
Jackfruit Meatballs Tacos
Ingredients
For the jackfruit:
- 20 oz can jackfruit, drained (green jackfruit in brine), or about 2 cups pelled chopped green jackfruit
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
For the Veggie balls:
- 1 cup chickpea flour
- 1 hot green chili, finely chopped or use cayenne to taste
- 1/2 tsp garam masala
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- 1/3 to 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp finely chopped mint, optional or cilantro, or use 1/2 tsp dried fenugreek leaves (kasoori methi)
- 1/2 tsp lemon juice
- 1.5 tbsp garlic paste , or crushed garlic
- 1 tbsp ginger paste , or grated ginger
- 1 tsp oil + more as needed
Instructions
- For the jackfruit: Combine all the ingredients (jackfruit + water + spices) in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium high heat. about 6 minutes. Cook for another 6 to 7 minutes. Total 14 minutes.
- Cool slightly, drain and keep aside.
- For the Veggie Balls: Meanwhile, dry roast 1 cup of chickpea flour in a large skillet over medium low heat. Stir every 2 minutes. about 7 to 8 minutes. or dry roast over medium heat and stir every 30 seconds to avoid burning. 4 to 5 minutes. The flour should start to smell nutty and change color slightly. Keep aside.
- Using a fork or a food processor shred the boiled and drained jackfruit. Add the spices, ginger, garlic, oil and mix well. Add 3/4 cup chickpea flour and mix well. Add a tbsp flour at a time until the mixture starts to come together, not too sticky, but also not dry. Oil your hands and Shape the mixture by pressing lightly into 1 inch balls.
- To pan fry, add 1 to 2 tsp oil in a skillet and heat over medium high heat. When hot, add the jackfruit balls and pan fry for 1-2 minutes on all sides. (total 6 to 7 minutes).
- To Bake: Preheat the oven to 410 degrees F / 210ºc. Place the shaped balls on parchment lined baking sheet. Brush oil on top. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes.
- I like these balls pan-fried. Serve with marinara and vegan mozzarella in sub sandwich or tacos or over pasta.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
We are giving away Brush with Bamboo toothbrushes on this post to 4 people(US only)! To Enter, please leave a comment on the post about your opinion on plastic brushes.
You can buy some to use right now! Use code “veganricha” on brushwithbamboo.com to get 10% off + Free Shipping on your order.
These meatballs tacos looks delicious, I should try to make them by myself 🙂
I would love to try a bamboo toothbrush. I never really thought about what happens to regular toothbrushes after they are discarded.
It’s ridiculous and scary sometimes when you stop to think of all the little things we use everyday that uses plastic!
Bamboo is here to save us! Plus it’s so pretty–like your food!
I never new. For years now I have been eating with bamboo mostly because I can’t stand the taste of silverware. But bamboo toothbrush amazing. Hook a girl up!! I gotta try these out. Plus these would be awesome for camping.
Oh, I so hate the use of plastic toothbrushes.. Never felt good using it, i rather use the miswak stick always.. Ur jackfruit meatballs are out of the world.. amazing imagination
Learn something new everyday, I honestly never thought about the impact of toothbrushes on the environment. Just one of those things you don’t realize. I think these bamboo ones sound great though and would be awesome to try them out. Thanks for the giveaway!
Preserve makes toothbrushes that you can send back to them so they recycle, but it’s still plastic right? bamboo would be verybamboo
i used preserve for a few years. These are definitely a better option with the biodegradable and sustainable bamboo. i hope they get the exposure and business so they start making other size brushes as well!
I never had an opinion about plastic toothbrushes until now. And if there is a better alternative then i would say that they are out-dated and time for some eco-change 😀
I try and be as Eco as possible and toothbrushes just didn’t occur to me! D’uh.
So I heart declare I will change over my households toothbrushes as being biodegradable and ecological is the way forward for our beautiful planet.
Peace and love ✌