Sweet and Sour Tofu Meatballs

5 stars (1 ratings)

Sweet and Sour Tofu Meatballs

Learn how to make Tofu Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Sauce! This simple high-protein meal tosses baked tofu meatballs, stir-fried vegetables, and pineapple in a tangy sauce. Great for dinners or a party appetizer.

Prep Time30

Cook Time35

Tofu pressing time30

Total Time1 35

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese-Inspired

Servings: servings

Calories: 395kcal

Author: Nora Taylor

Ingredients

Tofu Meatballs

14.5 ounces extra-firm tofu
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
2 teaspoons dried parsley or 1/4 cup fresh

The Rest

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup seasoned rice vinegar
1/4 cup ketchup
2 cups pineapple juice
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion diced into 1-inch chunks
2 bell peppers, any color seeded and chopped into 1-inch chunks
1 cup fresh pineapple chunks or canned
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
3-4 cups cooked rice for serving

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper (or spray with oil).
Press the tofu by wrapping it in paper towels (or a clean dry tea towel). Place a heavy pan on top of the wrapped tofu. Let the tofu press for 30 minutes.
Crumble the tofu with your hands into a food processor, then add all the remaining meatball ingredients. Pulse until well combined and you can easily form the mixture into balls.
Form into 1.5 tablespoon balls and arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes, flipping them over about halfway through. Remove from the oven.
In a small bowl, add the sugar, rice vinegar, ketchup, pineapple juice, soy sauce and cornstarch. Whisk well to combine and set aside.
In a large pan, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and bell peppers and sauté for 4-5 minutes. Add the pineapple and cook for another minute. Whisk the sauce in the bowl one more time before adding to the pan. Stir constantly as it thickens, then lower the heat to low.
Add the tofu meatballs to the pan and stir to coat in the sauce. Cook for 3-4 more minutes, then remove from heat.
Serve warm over cooked rice with green onions.

Notes

Gluten free - Substitute gluten-free breadcrumbs and use tamari instead of soy sauce.
If you just want the meatballs and sauce, double the tofu meatballs and leave out the peppers and onions. You can serve them with toothpicks as an appetizer.

Nutrition