No Meat Broccoli Ricotta Meatballs

No Meat Broccoli Ricotta Meatballs
A creamy, cheesy meat-free alternative for any day of the week.

These broccoli ricotta meatballs are soft, golden, and packed with flavour. They crisp up beautifully in the air fryer, offering a meat-free option that doesn’t sacrifice texture or taste. Perfect for a no-meat day or as a healthy, comforting dinner.

Ingredients

• 175g ricotta

• 1 small head of broccoli (just the florets), blanched and chopped

• 1 garlic clove, finely grated

• 40g breadcrumbs (plus more if needed)

• 1 egg

• A handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 1 tsp soy sauce

• 1 tsp olive oil

• Tomato sauce, to serve

Method

1. Prep the Broccoli
Blanch the broccoli florets until tender but still slightly firm. Once cool, use your hand to crush it up in to pieces — avoid large chunks that could burn.

2. Make the Mix
In a bowl, combine the crushed broccoli with ricotta, breadcrumbs, grated garlic, egg, chopped basil, salt, and pepper. Stir until the mixture is well combined. If it’s too wet, add more breadcrumbs to firm it up, but keep in mind it will solidify a little as the breadcrumbs absorb moisture.

3. Shape the Meatballs
Scoop out spoonfuls of the mixture and gently roll them into balls. You can freeze extras or store the mixture in the fridge if you're not cooking them all at once.

4. Add Colour
In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce and olive oil. Lightly roll each meatball in the mixture to give them a golden, crispy crust when cooked.

5. Air Fry
Preheat your air fryer to 180°C. Place the meatballs in the basket and cook for 15 minutes, or until golden and slightly crisp on the outside.

6. Serve
Warm up the tomato sauce and spoon it over the meatballs before serving. These are perfect with pasta, rice, or even served on toast with extra sauce.

Serving Notes
These meatballs are great on their own or paired with a variety of sides. Try them in a hearty pasta dish or as a topping for your favourite grain bowl! Leftovers store well in the fridge and reheat easily.

Enjoy – Del x

 If you need a tomato sauce recipe then look no further here is mine! Tomato Sauce Recipe