IKEA launches plant-based meatballs that taste just like the real thing

Have you ever wondered just how IKEA made their Swedish meatballs quite so delicious?

After a long afternoon spent traipsing around one of those colossal IKEA stores that is part furniture warehouse, part never-ending, spiral-within-spiral maze, it's easy to work up an appetite.

This goes doubly true if you're carrying a massive roll of carpet, two kitchen chairs, a flat pack coffee table and several houseplants under your arm because you only went in to 'have a browse' and so ignored the trollies at the entrance.

Arms aching, sweat pouring down your forehead, blinking bewildered at the vast array of exposed-bulb lighting solutions, you see that god-sent sign: cafe this way.

It can mean only one thing: it's time to eat an altogether astonishing number of Swedish meatballs.

But, reader, what if you happen to be vegetarian or vegan? Until now, you would've been pretty stumped and - let's face it - pretty frustrated as you dumped your mounds of shopping by the side of your table.

Yet there's good news on the horizon, because IKEA has just officially announced the launch of a brand new vegan meatball that they say will taste just as delicious as the original.

That's right, IKEA has promised "the same delicious taste and texture" as the much loved original Swedish meatball.

Per the Evening Standard, the vegan meatballs are made from "yellow pea protein, oats, potatoes, onion and apple which, all mashed together, gives the same texture Ikea fans would expect from the classic meatball."

One reporter took to Twitter to write of the new meatball, "IKEA is launching vegan meatballs. Ingredients: yellow pea protein, oats, potatoes, onion, and apple. IKEA says they have just 4 per cent of the climate footprint of the original meatball. But the "same great taste", apaz."

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It's reported that diners will pay £1.50 for eight balls in store.

Country Sustainability Manager of IKEA UK and Ireland, Hege Sæbjørnsen, said of the announcement:

“At IKEA, we are committed to having a positive impact on people and the planet. In order to reduce the climate footprint of the total IKEA business, including our food business, and make climate friendly, delicious food available for everyone, we are making sure meat alternatives are an easy, desirable and affordable choice.

“With the new plant ball we can now offer meat lovers a great tasting, more sustainable alternative – without compromising on the IKEA meatball experience that is loved by so many.”