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Dinner recipe · from the recipe book

Baked Tofu Meatballs with Basil-Parsley Pasta

Golden, tender tofu-and-mushroom meatballs tossed with spaghetti in a bright basil, parsley and lemon herb sauce with a nutty Parmesan finish.

Baked Tofu Meatballs with Basil-Parsley Pasta

Ingredients

  • 14 oz400 gFirm tofupressed and crumbled
  • 2¾ cups sliced200 gWhite mushroomsfinely chopped
  • ½ cup chopped80 gYellow onionfinely chopped
  • 4 cloves12 gGarlicminced, divided
  • ½ cup60 gPlain dry breadcrumbs
  • 1 large50 gEggsbeaten
  • ⅓ cup grated40 gGrated Parmesandivided
  • 2 tsp2 gDried oregano
  • 3½ tbsp45 gOlive oildivided
  • 11½ oz320 gPasta, dry
  • 1⅔ cups leaves40 gFresh basilleaves
  • ½ cup chopped30 gFresh parsleyleaves
  • ¼ cup chopped30 gWalnutstoasted
  • 2 tbsp30 gLemon juice
  • 4 cups loosely packed120 gBaby spinach
  • ¾ tsp4 gSaltdivided
  • ¾ tsp2 gBlack pepper
  • ½ cup120 gWaterreserved pasta water

Steps

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a sheet pan with parchment.
  2. Heat one third of the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook the onion, mushrooms and half the garlic for 7–8 minutes until dry and browned. Cool for 5 minutes.
  3. In a bowl, mash the tofu, then mix in the mushroom mixture, breadcrumbs, egg, half the Parmesan, the oregano, half the salt and the black pepper.
  4. Roll into about 20 balls, set on the sheet pan and brush with half of the remaining olive oil.
  5. Bake 22–25 minutes, turning once, until golden and the centers reach 160°F (71°C).
  6. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling water until al dente; scoop out the reserved pasta water before draining.
  7. For the herb sauce, blend the basil, parsley, walnuts, lemon juice, the remaining garlic, the remaining olive oil, the remaining Parmesan, the remaining salt and half the reserved pasta water until smooth.
  8. Return the drained pasta to the pot, add the spinach and the herb sauce, and toss off the heat until the spinach wilts, loosening with the rest of the reserved pasta water.
  9. Divide the pasta among plates and top with the tofu meatballs.

Contains: Milk, Egg, Tree nuts, Gluten, Soy.

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Saved in the Every Helping recipe book on October 24, 2026.

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