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    Best Vegan Mushroom-Walnut Balls for Thanksgiving

    Nov 22, 2021 · 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    VGGFSFKFVEF

    I filled these Vegan Mushroom-Walnut Balls with delicious umami flavor and nourishing, filling ingredients to create an incredibly satisfying plant-based entrée! They're easy to make and pair perfectly with your Thanksgiving dinner...or over pasta!

    Mushroom-Walnut Balls

    I get a lot of requests for plant-based main dishes, and this is one I'm really excited to add to the site! These are Vegan Mushroom-Walnut Balls that are perfect for Thanksgiving, pasta night, snacking, or an appetizer. Walnut creates the perfect textural base for these, and the mushroom and caramelized onion flavors infuse the whole dish with the most incredible savory umami flavor! I really think you're going to love them.

    Easy Vegan Thanksgiving Balls
    Mushroom-Walnut Balls Ingredients

    Vegan Walnut Meat

    I'm often met with some skepticism when I say I use walnuts as a vegan meat option! Hear me out, though: the texture works so well, and when seasoned properly, it honestly tastes like the real deal. I make a Vegan Walnut Taco Meat that's delicious! Walnuts are filling and can control blood sugar levels, which make them an excellent choice for creating vegan taco meat. Walnuts also contain omega-3 essential fatty acids that could lower your overall risk of heart disease, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In addition, omega-3s also reduce joint pain and improve brain function and development.  Walnuts are also a good source of magnesium, which can lower blood pressure.

    Gluten-Free Vegan Meatballs

    Caramelized Onion

    So much of the delicious flavor in these Vegan Mushroom-Walnut Balls comes from the addition of caramelized onions! When caramelized, onions get this rich, deep, almost-sweet flavor that's unbelievable. They're so good on top of salads, bowls, or mixed into this recipe! Since it takes a full hour for onions to caramelize, I recommend doing this ahead of time.

    Mushroom-Walnut Meatballs
    Mushroom-Walnut Balls Ingredients
    Mushroom-Walnut Balls Ingredients

    All About Mushrooms

    Mushrooms are low in calories and high in dietary fiber and riboflavin.  They are also a good source of niacin, copper and pantothenate. Make sure to select mushrooms that are firm and well-shaped without any slimy spots on them. You can refrigerate mushrooms for up to a week, but I prefer to use them within a day or two of bringing them home from the grocery store! For this recipe I recommend shittake mushrooms because their flavor is just so incredible in this recipe. I have. not yet tested this recipe with other mushroom varieties. Mushrooms do vary in texture and flavor so I do highly recommend shittake in this particular recipe.

    Vegan Meatballs
    Vegan Meatballs
    How to Make Vegan Meatballs
    How to Make Vegan Meatballs

    Gluten-Free Vegan Mushroom-Walnut Balls

    I used oats as a binder and to add more substance to these Vegan Mushroom-Walnut Balls. Oats have the added benefit of being really good for you! It's full of soluble fiber, and they’re higher in protein and healthful fats than most other whole grains. I love getting an energy boost and feeling full a little longer after eating oats!

    Vegan Meatball Recipe
    Thanksgiving Meatball Recipe
    Thanksgiving Vegan Balls

    This entrée is vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and made without refined sugar. I hope you make and enjoy it! Please tag me on Instagram if you do; I love seeing my recipes in the wild. It's incredibly helpful if you leave a review for this recipe below!

    Vegan Thanksgiving Entree
    Vegan Thanksgiving Meatballs

    More Vegan + Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Dishes


    Herb Roasted Root Vegetables
    Quinoa Stuffing
    Easy Cranberry Sauce
    Cauliflower Steak Marbella with Roasted Chickpeas
    Sweet Potato Rounds with Vegan Ricotta and Toasted Walnuts
    Sweet Potato Casserole
    Maple Roasted Butternut Squash Hummus
    Best Creamy Vegan Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Garlic
    Vegan Mashed Cauliflower
    Best Vegan Mashed Potatoes
    Green Bean Casserole
    Maple Roasted Butternut Squash and Apple Quinoa Salad
    Quinoa-Pecan Stuffed Acorn Squash
    Pecan Pie Bars
    Pumpkin Pie

    See all my favorite Thanksgiving recipes here.

    Print
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    Easy Vegan Thanksgiving Balls

    Vegan Thanksgiving Mushroom Walnut Balls


    5 from 2 reviews

    • Author: Elaine Gordon
    • Total Time: 10 minutes
    • Yield: 18 balls 1x
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    These Vegan Mushroom-Walnut Balls are made with walnuts, oats, caramelized onion, mushrooms, and the perfect blend of spices!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 cup cooked brown rice (tip: microwave frozen brown rice to keep it easy!)
    • 1 caramelized onion
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 10 ounces shiitake mushrooms, chopped
    • ½ teaspoon fine salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
    • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
    • 1 cup raw walnuts
    • 1 cup oats (gluten-free if desired)

    Instructions

    1. Prepare brown rice ahead of time.  I like to use frozen brown rice that microwaves in two minutes to keep this recipe quick and easy.  Stovetop or instant pot brown rice also works.
    2. Prepare the caramelized onion in advance since this takes an hour to fully caramelize. 
    3. Add oil, mushrooms and all seasonings to a non-stick, non-toxic skillet and cook over medium heat for 20-25 minutes until the mushrooms have released their juices and softened.  I like to give them time to sear a bit and allow their umami flavors to fully develop.  Set cooked mushrooms aside.
    4. To a 7-cup food processor add walnuts and oats and process for 20 seconds until crumbly.  Add cooked brown rice, caramelized onion and cooked mushrooms.  Pulse until everything is well combined and no large chunks of anything remain.  Do not over-process the mixture - you don't want it to turn into mush.  A little texture is good.
    5. Use a 1.5 tablespoon retractable cookie scoop and form the mixture into balls with your hands.  You should have about 18 balls.  Preheat a large non-stick, non-toxic skillet over medium heat and coat the bottom of the pan in olive oil.  Once the oil is hot, place the balls in the skillet.  The balls should not be touching.  Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to do this in two batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.  Cook the balls about 5 minutes per side until all sides are seared, crispy and golden brown.
    6. Serve immediately as a main course overtop spaghetti with marinara sauce, fresh basil or parsley and a sprinkle of vegan parmesan cheese if desired! Use them for Thanksgiving dinner alongside my Fluffy Creamy Vegan Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Easy Refined Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce and my Vegan Green Bean Casserole!
    7. Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
    • Prep Time: 10

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lisandra Tabares-Perez says

      September 09, 2021 at 11:32 pm

      Wow these are so delicious and hold together so well!






      Reply
      • Elaine Gordon says

        September 10, 2021 at 10:24 am

        Thank you so much, Lisandra! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed them! Thank you for the five star rating! Best, Elaine 🙂

        Reply
    2. Leigh says

      January 07, 2022 at 6:18 pm

      We have made these so many times now and they are always such a hit, with vegans and meat-eaters alike. Thank you!






      Reply
      • Elaine Gordon says

        January 08, 2022 at 9:29 pm

        Thank you so much, Leigh! So great to hear from you after all these years! Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. I'm so happy to hear that you all have been enjoying them! XO, Elaine

        Reply
    3. Diana D says

      November 08, 2022 at 4:32 pm

      can you use gravy as a side? and can breadcrumbs be used as subsitute to oats?

      Reply
      • Elaine Gordon says

        November 15, 2022 at 11:16 am

        I think gravy could pair nicely with these, yes. I'm not sure about the breadcrumbs. I think you could add some in but I wouldn't take out the oats... they help to bind the meatballs together. Please let me know if you make them how they turn out for you!

        Reply
    4. Sandy says

      December 07, 2022 at 9:18 am

      I love all your recipes but these mushroom walnut balls did not stay together. We ate the crumbled mess and the flavour was delicious. Not sure what happened.

      Reply
      • Elaine Gordon says

        January 10, 2023 at 11:34 am

        Thank you so much for letting me know, Sandy. I'm so sorry to hear this happened to you. Did you happen to change anything at all about this recipe. It is definitely one you have to follow closely for the best results. It is important to process them long enough so they hold together and it is also important to use enough oil on the cast iron skillet. Try not to touch the balls for a couple minutes to allow them to sear and create a base that holds together. Please let me know more info and I can try and troubleshoot more with you here. Best, Elaine

        Reply

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