Instant Pot Spaghetti And Soy Protein Meatballs

These Soy Protein Meatballs Are Made With Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Also Know As Textured Soy Protein (TSP), Soy Meat, Or Soya Chunks / Soya Granules. This Is A Quick , And Easy High – Protein Meatball Recipe. Meatballs Are Perfectly Juicy, Tender , And Gives The Same Texture Like In Any Other Meatballs. Meatballs Can Be Served With Spaghetti, In Any Meatballs Dishes , And Can Be Added In Various Different Sauces. Takes Only “30 Minutes”(Includes Preparation + Cooking Time) To Prepare In The Instant Pot. Not To Forget, Soy Meal Is A Significant Cheap Source Of Protein, and 100% Vegetarian.

Good To Know About Texture Vegetable Protein

Textured or texturized vegetable protein (TVP) is a defatted soy flour product, a by-product of extracting soybean oil. It is often used as a meat analogue or meat extender. It is quick to cook, with a protein content comparable to certain meats and its 100% vegetarian.

If all your hacks of trying to get your kids to eat healthy have failed, then the Soya Chunks / Soya Granules is the answer. With soya chunks / granules you can make this dish that are both healthy, and tasty. The highest source of protein in TVP is equal to consuming many servings of cooked daal, boiled eggs, and drinking more glasses of cows milk!

I tried so many different ways , methods , and combination of using instant pot – oven – stove top to make this recipe simple and quick, at the same time to give that robust flavor to the meatballs. I failed many batches to get the right texture, and flavor of the meatballs – spaghetti. But today I’m proud to say, that my recipe is the first “Instant Pot Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) Meatball” Recipe On The INTERNET . Completely baked, and pressure cooked using the Instant Pot.

Soya Chunks Or Soya Granules ?

In this recipe I’ve used soya granules which I bought from Indian Store . Soya granules are also available in amazon , or in any leading grocery store. Bob’s Red Mill brand Textured Soy Protein also works well.

Note – I do not recommend using Textured Soy Protein Powder for this recipe.

Substitute soya chunks for soya granules to make the meatballs. Difference between, using soya granules and soya chunks in this recipe is, If using granules – after soaking in hot water, you do not have to grind it in the food processor to mince it down.

If using Soya Chunks – Soak the chunks in hot boiling water for three minutes, drain the hot water , add cold tap water , rinse chunks using your hands , SQUEEZE THE EXCESS WATER FROM THE CHUNKS USING YOUR HANDS ( make sure to press firmly and remove the water from the chunks ). Then grind it in the mixer / food processor, to break them into smaller pieces ( Only whip , do not over run the mixer, and make it into a paste ). The texture is very important.

What Pasta Sauce To Use ?

I’ve used red pasta sauce with garlic in it, so I skipped adding garlic to the sauce. If using plain pasta sauce , then mince few garlic cloves , and add them with other dry ingredients while pressure cooking. You could also adjust the spice levels by increasing the chilli flakes and pepper power quantity , or finely mince fresh chilies and add.

Baking The Meatballs In Regular Oven

Baking the meatballs before adding it to the sauce is important, to hold its shape. (If you add the meatballs directly to the sauce and pressure cook it, balls will dissolve in the sauce , and will not hold its shape).

In this recipe , I’ve baked the meatballs in the Instant Pot itself . But if you do not have this feature on your Instant Pot , then bake in your regular oven. Pre heat the oven to 350 F / 180 C , and bake the meatballs for FIVE MINUTES. Then layer it in the sauce for pressure cooking as given below in the recipe instructions.

How to Double This Recipe?

Simply adjust/ increase the servings on the below recipe card to 8 , the ingredients quantity will also be doubled. Or adjust to your preferred servings. Make sure to add the exact amount of water and pasta sauce to cook the spaghetti.

Storing And Reheating Instructions

Refrigerate  any leftovers immediately in an airtight container. When reheating , place the required amount of pasta on the plate, and drizzle some olive oil, mix once before heating it in the microwave ( it prevents the meatballs from getting dry) . Heat covered in the microwave on high for a minute or more depending upon the quantity.

I usually make some extra, and refrigerate some pasta for the next day lunchbox for kids , and it is an easy grab N go lunch for busy workdays too.

Other Recipe using Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) / Soya chunks / Soy Protein

• PF Chang’s Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps
• Soya Chunks Burger
• Soya Chunks Cutlets

Recipe Yields 10 Medium Size Meatballs

Step By Step Pictures How To Make The Spaghetti And Soy Protein Meatballs

Measure , and keep ingredients ready for making soya meatballs – Soya granules , Italian seasoning , pepper powder, salt, egg (lightly whisk the egg ), garlic cloves minced, parmesan cheese grated , oats flour ( I used instant / quick oats and grind into fine powder).

Other ingredients for the spaghetti and sauce – thin spaghetti (break into two equal half), pasta sauce, water ( measure the exact amount ), parmesan cheese grated , olive oil , chilli flakes, pepper powder, and salt. I used Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus 8 Qtrs for baking , and pressure cooking.

Preparing the soya granules – soak the soya granules in the hot boiling water for THREE minutes , drain the hot water , add cold tap water , rinse using your hands , SQUEEZE THE EXCESS WATER FROM THE GRANULES USING YOUR HANDS ( make sure to press firmly and remove the water from granules , else it will not combine to form the ball shape). If using Soya Chunks instead of granules ( refer the notes below).

Making The Soya Meatballs

Add the eggs in a bowl and whisk lightly , then add Italian seasoning , pepper power , salt and minced garlic to the egg and mix well.

Add the soya granules , oats flour, parmesan cheese to the egg mixture, and mix well using your hands. Once all the ingredients are combined , use your hands , scoop a small portion of mixture , and make a medium size ball ( press firmly and make the balls). Repeat the same to make the remaining balls ( you will get TEN medium size MEATBALLS).

Bake The Meatballs In The Instant Pot

I used Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus 8 Qtrs for baking. Use a oven safe pan , line the pan with foil sheet , arrange the prepared meatballs in a single layer. Spray any cooking oil over the meatballs. Press BAKE Mode on the the instant pot, CUSTOM SETTING to FIVE MINUTES on HIGH. Make sure the VENT IS SEALED. Pour 180 ML or 1 cup of water in the inner pot, place the TRIVET ( water level should be below the trivet level). Place the baking pan on the trivet, and close the lid of the instant pot, and press START. Bake for FIVE minutes, and once down , QUICK REALEASE the vent. Open the lid and remove the baking pan, meatballs are baked now, set aside. Remove the trivet , and discard the remaining water from the inner pot.

Final Step – Pressure Cooking The Spaghetti And Soya Meatballs

Place the inner pot , add the mentioned amount of water in the inner pot, then add parmesan cheese , olive oil , chilli flaxes , pepper powder, salt and give it a quick stir using a spoon or ladle. Now arrange the baked soya meatballs in a single layer over the liquid mixture.

Then evenly spread the broken spaghetti on the meatballs (as shown in the picture). Finally pour the pasta sauce over the spaghetti (refer the picture). DO NOT STIR OR MIX AFTER THIS. Close the lid of the instant pot.

Press the PRESSURE COOK mode on HIGH , and CUSTOM SET TIMER to SIX MINUTES. SEAL the Pressure Valve. Off the KEEP WARM MODE ( light should not be on in the keep warm mode). Now press START. After the pressure cooking is done. Press CANCEL . Then do QPR (quick pressure release) by moving quick release switch from SEAL TO VENT.

After the steam is released, open the lid of the Instant Pot. Stir the mixture once or twice , and let it Stand / Rest for FIVE MINUTES (the consistency of the sauce thickens). Remove the inner pot , serve spaghetti with meatballs with some warm breads.