• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Fork and Beans

Making food fun for the family

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • Privacy Policy
  • RECIPES
    • Specialized Diets
    • Breakfast
    • Kid Lunchbox
    • Dinner Ideas
    • Snacks for Kids
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Candy/Candy Bars
    • Copycat Snacks
    • Sauces/Spreads
    • Gluten Free Bread
    • Baking 101
  • Holidays
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving | Fall
    • Christmas
    • Hanukkah
    • Valentine’s
    • St. Paddy’s Day
    • Groundhog Day
    • April Fools
    • Easter | Spring
    • Earth Day
    • Cinco de Mayo
    • Mother’s Day
    • July 4th | Summer
    • Birthday Ideas
  • Crafts | Activities
  • My Cookbook

Turkey Meat-ah-balls.

November 11, 2011 by Cara

We have just a few days left of:

before I collapse from the bird flu.

The candle is burning slowly now…

Until that day occurs,

I think I am going to pitch my own vegan advertisement

for meatless products.

Here is what I have so far:

“Turkey  Mockballs.

The other white, non-meat.

It’s what’s for dinner.” 

Or:

“My meatball has a first name, it’s:

K-I-D-N-E-Y

My meatball has a second name, it’s:

B-E-A-N-S”

Oh come on, they’re great slogans!

Sure, they are a bit recycled, but I think I am sitting on a gold mine.

You know what else is priceless?

Turkey Mockballs.

I want to eat my screen, they are so precious.

And delicious.

I had 3 last night for dinner 🙂

I think I can improve the texture a bit next time–they are a little soft.

But full of flavor? Absolutely!

And they look like turkeys!

If this doesn’t impress you, well then, I have nowhere to go from here. 

Balls of Meatless Nature Recipe

Makes approx. 14 balls ←I feel weird writing that (probably because I am immature)…

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 can red kidney beans; rinsed, drained and mashed by fork
  • 3/4 c. Italian GF seasoned bread crumbs = (1/2 c. for mixture ; 1/4 c. to coat outer layer of balls)
  • 1/4 onion, chopped
  • 1 Tb flaxseed meal + 2 Tbs water, mixed and left to sit 5 minutes (egg replacer)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 Tbs worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tbs fresh basil, chopped
  • 2 Tbs spinach, chopped
  • 1 Tb fresh parsely, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp fresh oregano, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Add everything into a mixing bowl (except for 1/4 c. breadcrumbs) and stir until combined. You might have to get the dainty digits dirty…
  2. Roll dough into 14 small-ish balls. Roll them into 1/4 c. of breadcrumb mix to lightly coat.

     3.   In a non-stick skillet, heat up 1/2 Tb butter + 2 Tbs olive oil (you might need more as you go along). When hot, add beanballs into skillet and brown on all sides (I threw them into the toaster oven for another 5 minutes afterwards just to ensure that they heated throughly–optional).

ASSEMBLING TURKEY MEATBALLS:

Per Turkey:

  • 6 al dente Penne GF pasta pieces
  • 2 capers
  • orange bell pepper, end sliced
  • 1 slice of red bell pepper

Greg’s 5 year old nephew helped me make these little guys.

We both had a fun time as we watched the turkey come to life.

He even helped out with the photo shoot.

He chose the white napkin to be placed under the plate,

which I think was a great idea.

Here are his photos that he took:

He did a great job taking pictures, wouldn’t you say so?

He watched me take mine and really got the idea behind it.

Me thinks we have a Nigel Barker on our hands…

YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

  • Vegan Sweet Potatoes with Candied PecansVegan Sweet Potatoes with Candied Pecans
  • A Feast Among FriendsA Feast Among Friends
  • A corny post.A corny post.
  • The Spunky Nut.The Spunky Nut.

Filed Under: Kid-Friendly Tagged With: holidays, thanksgiving

About Cara

Based in Chicago with her husband and son, Cara is the creator behind the site Fork and Beans: A place where kids can have fun with their food.

Previous Post: « Turkey Rice, Rice{cake} baby.
Next Post: Thanksgiving Turkey Breakfast »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ashley

    December 2, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    I made these tonight and me and the boyfriend loved them!! Thanks for the recipe 🙂

    • Cara

      December 2, 2011 at 3:56 pm

      Another satisfied person! Hooray!!! They really *are* tasty, aren’t they? You just have to get past the differing texture… I’m so happy to hear this, Ashley!

  2. Angela @ Vegangela.com

    November 16, 2011 at 4:33 pm

    (can you tell I’m playing catch-up? can you tell i have a report due for work and don’t feel like working?)

    oh i love these. i make mushroom based balls, but i like the protein factor in these. anoher bookmark!

  3. Lou

    November 12, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    Imagine an army of little turkey bean balls, 10, 20, 100 of them!! hehehe so cute, you are awesome 🙂

    • Cara

      November 12, 2011 at 4:11 pm

      I’m not sure if they would attack us or if they just make everyone smile (and full)–you know how armies of turkey balls can be. Well, not really, they are so unpredictable! ha!

  4. Isobelle

    November 11, 2011 at 7:10 pm

    You know, I never used to like turkeys until you started making them out of food. I mean, they’re sort of really scary looking and they make a lot of noise. But you just make them seem so cute and friendly. Like I could cuddle them and have a great conversation with them before I ate their faces and stuff.
    I kind of wish your turkeys had some kind of tv series (I like to watch little kid shows sometimes and I’m not embarrassed to admit it!). All the turkeys could be friends with each other. And they all live in Cara’s house..yeah.

    Anyway, I think that these are a great idea. And your nephew might need his own food blog soon. Better watch out!

    • Cara

      November 12, 2011 at 6:53 am

      Kinda like the “Smurfs” or something–they all can just wear pants and funny little hats with their own unique name based off of their personality…. hahaha. Hilarious. Well, I am so glad to hear that I have opened your eyes to the world of turkeys. Just call me the Turkey Whisperer 🙂

  5. Bliss Doubt

    November 11, 2011 at 11:39 am

    Love this recipe because it doesn’t require a blender or food processor.

    • Cara

      November 11, 2011 at 11:59 am

      Just requires some good ol’ fashioned elbow grease 🙂

  6. naturalnoshing

    November 11, 2011 at 9:57 am

    LOVE this Cara! How adorable can you get?!?!? Turkey meatless meatballs and gluten free – you are fabulous!

    • Cara

      November 11, 2011 at 10:05 am

      How adorable can I get? Hmmmm, good question. A lot? hahaha. Totally kidding 🙂 Hope you are finding some time to breathe in the midst of your crazy schedule, Nora! xo

  7. Kris

    November 11, 2011 at 9:57 am

    look at the young photographer, working from many angles! love it.

    these are SO cute!! and I love the caper eyes, YUM.

    • Cara

      November 11, 2011 at 10:03 am

      Isn’t that adorable? He was so excited to help out–and so serious as he was tapping into his artsy fartsy side 🙂

  8. Dawn

    November 11, 2011 at 8:07 am

    These cuties might have to find their way onto my Thanksgiving plate. They look and sound delicious. And stop with the movies already 😉 The Holiday? Are you for serious? Most people I know don’t even know what that is when I mention it. I was just thinking yesterday it was time for another watch.

    • Cara

      November 11, 2011 at 8:45 am

      I literally watch that movie, “Mean Girls” and “Love Actually” on rotation right around this time of year and watch them over and over and over and over and over (you get the point) again until the ushering of the new coming year. It’s tradition! You just need to move to Cali now, Dawn, so we can quote movies all day long 🙂

  9. GiGi

    November 11, 2011 at 7:51 am

    The great turkey caper! haha. You and the kid have a book in the making. What fun and these look yum.

    • Cara

      November 11, 2011 at 8:01 am

      GiGi, *you* are the one who must write a book–“The Best Vegan Jokes” or something. Okay, maybe that is a lame title but your humor must be on paper stat! xo

  10. Amanda

    November 11, 2011 at 7:13 am

    These are cute, they look like sleeping turkeys! Can you tell me where you find vegan/gluten free Worcestershire sauce? I can find vegan, but not gluten free. 🙁 Any ideas you have would be great!

    • Cara

      November 11, 2011 at 7:23 am

      Hey Amanda! (Have you ever seen “The Holiday” by the way? I always say your name in my head with a British accent because of this movie…) Check these worcestershire sauces out: http://www.edwardandsons.com/sauces_shop_wizards.itml and http://www.themississippigiftcompany.com/vegan-gluten-free-worcestershire-sauce.aspx

      • Amanda

        November 11, 2011 at 8:08 am

        I haven’t seen that movie, but now I am curious! I like British accents, so that is perfect. Now I am saying your name in my head with a British accent. “Hello Cara” (sort of pronounced Kara)

        I haven’t seen these sauces in stores before, so THANK YOU! I think I’ll have to order one. Since going GF, I have been missing Worcestershire. It is not like I used it a lot before, but sometimes you miss something when you find you can’t have it. LOL!

        • Cara

          November 11, 2011 at 8:43 am

          Oh, I just love that movie–you *must* see it! haha. I totally understand what you mean about missing something you never really used once you are told you cannot have it. Our brains can be so fickle sometimes 🙂

  11. Brooke

    November 11, 2011 at 7:09 am

    That kid is a great photographer! And those are some great lookin’ meatballs! The big question is, though, did he like to eat them? In this house, it doesn’t matter how cute something is, it will still be deemed unacceptable if it has one weird thing in it. Of course, I hardly ever make such stinking cute food. The recipe looks major yummy, to me, turkey tail or not. Though… Hah!… This just gave me a great idea… My Dad and I are both vegetarians… These may be making an appearance on Thanksgiving! Do you think I could make the balls up a day ahead and cook and assemble them the next day?

    • Cara

      November 11, 2011 at 7:13 am

      He had to leave before we could eat them but let me just say this: The kid begged for a slice of raw onion. ???!!!! And he was curious about the capers and wanted to try one as well. He is definitely adventurous when it comes to food, especially if Greg and I are eating it, he doesn’t want to feel left out 🙂 And Yes! You can definitely make these the day before, even ball them up and then cook them of ThanksVegetarian. Be warned that they still need some work (ie: I’m still scratching my head as to how to make them not as soft) so if you figure it out, share the wealth!

      • Brooke

        November 11, 2011 at 10:23 am

        Looks to me like it might need a binder. What do vegans use instead of egg?

        • Cara

          November 11, 2011 at 10:29 am

          The flaxseed meal and water is the binder. Usually that or Ener-g Egg Replacer (which is like starches and the such) are egg substitutes.

          • Brooke

            November 11, 2011 at 11:08 am

            Errr… Is it flax seed or flax seed meal?

          • Cara

            November 11, 2011 at 11:59 am

            Meal 🙂

      • Bliss Doubt

        November 11, 2011 at 11:41 am

        Maybe add some chickpea flour to the mixture? I dunno but it seems it might absorb some of the moisture and firm them up.

        • Cara

          November 11, 2011 at 12:00 pm

          Flour! Great idea!!!

          • Brooke

            November 11, 2011 at 8:10 pm

            Because the recipe calls for flax seed… Just sayin’… The chickpea flour is a great idea… Cogs cogitating…

          • Cara

            November 12, 2011 at 6:54 am

            Whoopsie. Changing now. Thank you for letting me know!

  12. uncommonlife

    November 11, 2011 at 6:52 am

    Finally – a soy-free, gluten-free vegan meatball! I have been on the search for something like this for a long time. I can’t wait to try them.

    • Cara

      November 11, 2011 at 7:14 am

      YAY for beans; the lifesavers of all things edible! 🙂 I hope you like them Dawn…

  13. coldandsleepy

    November 11, 2011 at 6:10 am

    Mmm. Caper eyeballs. So cute, yet so tasty!

    Your balls look great (hur hur). I’m definitely impressed. Also, how cute that Greg’s nephew helped with them!

    • Cara

      November 11, 2011 at 7:16 am

      Hey, stop talking about my balls 🙂 hehe. Oh brother, how can one *not* be immature with this topic matter 🙂

  14. Jan

    November 11, 2011 at 4:33 am

    A pair of turkey balls…snicker….

    • Cara

      November 11, 2011 at 7:17 am

      Ouch, bite bite…

Primary Sidebar

Welcome, I’m Cara! At Fork and Beans you will find creativity at every corner. From snack ideas, to holiday fun–even crafts and activities to do with your kids. If you are a parent (or just love fun food), you’ve come to the right spot! Come check out the latest idea I’ve made for my family and stay awhile, won’t you?

Footer

Featured On

Fork and Beans featured on WholeFoods Fork and Beans featured on VegNews Fork and Beans featured on Martha Stewart Fork and Beans featured on Super Simple Fork and Beans featured in FamilyFun Magazine Fork and Beans featured in Melissa & Doug Fork and Beans featured on Gluten Free & More Fork and Beans featured on Red Tricycle Cara Reed - Fork and Beans Page Street Publishing

Named One of the Best Kid/Gluten Free/Vegan Food Blogs By

Fork and Beans featured on Cool Mom Eats Fork and Beans featured on The Academy of Culinary Nutrition Fork and Beans featured on Feedspot Fork and Beans featured on Healthline
  • Work With Me!
  • Fork & Beans’ Sponsors
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework

Fork and Beans
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • Privacy Policy
    • Back
  • RECIPES
    • Specialized Diets
    • Breakfast
    • Kid Lunchbox
    • Dinner Ideas
    • Snacks for Kids
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Candy/Candy Bars
    • Copycat Snacks
    • Sauces/Spreads
    • Gluten Free Bread
    • Baking 101
    • Back
  • Holidays
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving | Fall
    • Christmas
    • Hanukkah
    • Valentine’s
    • St. Paddy’s Day
    • Groundhog Day
    • April Fools
    • Easter | Spring
    • Earth Day
    • Cinco de Mayo
    • Mother’s Day
    • July 4th | Summer
    • Birthday Ideas
    • Back
  • Crafts | Activities
  • My Cookbook