Good news for vegetarians ​​​​​​​who’ve always wanted to sink their teeth into Ikea’s famous Swedish meatballs. It has launched a sustainable meatless alternative called the Plant Ball, made with yellow pea protein, oats, potatoes, onions and apples. Nope, it’s not exactly the same as the Veggie Ball that was first introduced in 2015 and relaunched again earlier this year.

While that earlier veggie version had chunks of chickpeas, green peas, carrots, bell peppers, corn and kale in it, these newer plant balls apparently “taste, feel, and look like our iconic meat ball,” claims Ikea. Plus the Swedish furniture giant says it leaves behind a “climate footprint that is only 4 percent” of Ikea’s meaty version.

At first glance, the Plant Ball is almost identical to the famed meatballs, unlike the previous Veggie ones that were more colourful with bits of veg studded in it. However, its scent is a different story — there’s a whiff of what seems like pea instead of meaty savouriness. When sliced, its cross section also has a tighter crumb versus the more crumbly pork-and-beef version.

We got a pack of the frozen balls (24 pcs a packet) which we defrosted and pan-fried at home. We like that its exterior is slightly charred and crisp (thanks, ahem, to our frying), however, the interior is rather starchy and chewy, and the flavour of potato overwhelms most of the other ingredients.

This is traditionally paired with the classic cream sauce ($2.60 a jar), but a rather odd raspberry & blueberry jam instead of lingonberry ($6.50 a jar). They add some richness and sweetness (we’d just buy the cream and skip the jam) to the plant balls, though you can still taste the fact that these orbs are not made of flesh.

Smells like pea, tastes more like potato. It’s no meatball, but it’s not bad we suppose — especially if you wanna help reduce the world’s carbon footprint. Also, the frozen packet of plant balls costs half that of the pork-and-beef version ($8 vs $16).

The Plant Ball is now served at all Ikea restaurants & also sold frozen at Ikea’s Swedish Food Market. Two outlets, including 60 Tampines North Drive 2, S528764. Tel: 67866868. https://www.ikea.com/sg/en/

Photos: Ikea Singapore/ Chaw Su Maung