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Fauxbulous Fauxballs

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 20 -24 fauxballs

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces shiitake mushrooms sliced
  • 1 medium sweet onion diced
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil divided
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 3/4 cup cooked and cooled brown rice
  • 1/4 cup lightly packed fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup sundried tomatoes
  • 3 tbsp aquafaba leftover brine after draining chickpeas- see Sound bites in http://www.believeinvegan.com/vegan-pineapple-ginger-coconut-muffins/
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup nutritional yeast see Sound Bites below
  • 1/2 cup plain panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup vital wheat gluten
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley
  • 2 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds crushed
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1-2 tsp salt or more to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 F.
  2. Prepare baking sheet by covering with silicone mat or aluminum foil sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
  3. In medium pan saute mushrooms and onion in 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until soft and slightly browned. Cool in pan.
  4. Throw remaining ingredients into food processor EXCEPT for the vital wheat gluten.
  5. Add cooled onion/mushroom mixture to food processor.
  6. Pulse for 15-20 pulses until mixture comes together, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary.
  7. Scoop mixture from processor into large bowl and sprinkle with vital wheat gluten.
  8. Encorporate gluten with mixing spoon, then knead with your hands in bowl about 8 times.
  9. Roll mixture into balls slightly larger than golf balls.
  10. Add remaining olive oil to reserved pan.
  11. Brown balls over medium heat, turning frequently until browned all around.
  12. Place browned balls on baking sheet.
  13. Bake for 20 minutes.

Recipe Notes

What the what is nutritional yeast? Well, let's first call it nooch, which sounds a whole lot better. This wonderful stuff is a type of yeast made from beet molasses and sugar cane. It is not the yeast used to make bread rise, or any other yeast you might be thinking of. It's loaded with B-vitamins, has a cheesy savory flavor, and widely used for it's deliciousness in vegan recipes. mmmmmm...noooooooch