Try this healthy Vegan Filipino Bola Bola recipe, a plant-based version of the Philippines' traditional meatballs with a sweet and sour sauce. Discover the delicious flavors of this simple and tasty dish today and satisfy your comfort food cravings. Check this out!
Looking for more vegan Filipino recipes? Try my Vegan Binakol, Vegan Cansi, and Vegan Kare-Kare recipe!
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What is Vegan Filipino Bola Bola?
This Vegan Filipino Bola Bola is a plant-based variation of Bola Bola recipe, a popular sweet and sour meatball dish in the Philippines. Bola Bola are traditionally made with ground pork, or beef, or a combination of the two, then seasoned and steamed to deliciousness! In this vegan recipe, we used garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas, as the meat alternative.
These Filipino meatballs are usually served with a savory sauce with white rice. They can be used as a filling for any siopao recipe, or a plant-based protein in a variety of recipes, including soups and main courses.
This vegan Filipino bola bola recipe is perfect to serve on any occasion or celebration with the whole family. It's also a great option for a delightful Filipino cuisine experience. Learn more below and give this a try!
Health Benefits of Garbanzo Beans
Here's a fun fact: Did you know that garbanzo beans (chickpeas) are the healthiest beans you can eat? The following are their amazing health benefits:
- Promotes heart health.
- Packed with vitamins and minerals.
- Rich in protein, folate, fiber, and iron.
- It may help prevent diabetes, gut flora, and obesity.
Substitutions
- Oil - If you don't like cooking with coconut oil, use vegetable or olive oil instead.
- Binder - If oats are unavailable, replace them with gluten-free breadcrumbs, crushed corn flakes, or rice cereals.
- Plant-based Ground - you may substitute chickpeas with crumbled tofu, tokwa, or tempeh, chopped mushrooms, mashed lentils or beans, textured soy protein (TVP), or vital wheat protein.
Variations
- Spicy - mix in some finely chopped green chilies, jalapeños, or bell peppers with the meatballs for a spicy kick.
- Aromatic - add fresh herbs like basil, parsley, and cilantro to make aromatic and tasty meatballs.
- Asian flavor - mix finely chopped water chestnuts and green onions into the meatball, and season with soy sauce and hoisin sauce. Then, serve them with a sesame-ginger dipping sauce for an Asian twist.
Storage Tips
- Let the cooked meatballs cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Then, refrigerate them for up to 5 days.
- Feel free to freeze the bola bola in a freezer-safe bag for up to 6 months.
Ingredients
Listed below are all the ingredients you will need:
Veggie Meatballs (Bola Bola):
- garbanzos beans
- cumin
- coriander powder
- pepper
- oats
- all-purpose flour
Bola Bola with Sauce:
- unrefined coconut oil
- white onion
- garlic
- soy sauce
- tomato sauce
- tomato paste
- pineapple chunks
- green bell peppers
- red bell peppers
- salt
- black pepper
Instructions
In a blender, add the garbanzo beans and the liquid from the garbanzo beans. Then, blend until pulpy and pour into a medium-size bowl.
In the same bowl, mix together the cumin, coriander powder, teaspoon of pepper, rolled oats, and all-purpose flour:
Once everything has been combined, take 2-3 tablespoons and roll it into a ball:
In a frying pan over medium heat, add unrefined coconut oil and sauté the onion and garlic until translucent:
Add meatballs and fry until all sides are golden brown:
In the same pan, mix together the soy sauce, tomato sauce, tomato paste, pineapple chunks, bell peppers, salt, and pepper:
Simmer for about 2 minutes, and best served hot. Enjoy!
FAQs
More Vegan Recipes
Vegan Filipino Bola Bola
Ingredients
Veggie Meatballs (Bola Bola):
- 1 can garbanzos beans drained
- 2-3 tablespoons liquid from garbanzo beans
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2-3 tablespoons oats
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon coriander powder
Bola Bola:
- 2 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil
- 1 small white onion sliced into cubes (petals)
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 180 grams tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup pineapple chunks drained
- ½ cup green bell peppers
- ½ cup red bell peppers
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
To make the meatballs:
- In a blender, add the garbanzo beans and the liquid from garbanzo beans. Then, blend until pulpy and pour to a medium size bowl.
- In the same bowl, mix together the cumin, coriander powder, teaspoon pepper, rolled oats, and all-purpose flour.
- Once everything has been combined, take 2-3 tablespoons and roll into a ball.
Bola Bola with sauce:
- In a frying pan over medium heat and add coconut oil.
- Sauté onion and garlic until translucent, then add meatballs and fry until all sides are golden brown.
- In the same pan, mix together the soy sauce, tomato sauce, tomato paste, pineapple chunks, bell peppers, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer for about 2 minutes and best served hot.
Situs Judi Togel says
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Lainey says
Hey Situs, thanks for swinging by! 🙂
Ching says
Wow. It looks so tasty and healthy. This is such a great option for vegetarians like me. Thank you for this recipe!
Jane says
Do I need to use garbanzo beans?