Step 1
Place a rack in center of oven; preheat to 400°. Grease a rimmed baking sheet with extra-virgin olive oil. Place one 14-oz. bundle extra-firm tofu, drained, patted dry, in a big mixing bowl. Utilizing your fingers, squish into a rough meal (it ought to be the consistency of floor meat). Add 1 giant egg, 3 garlic cloves, finely grated, 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 tsp. dried oregano, ¼ tsp. crushed crimson pepper flakes, 1 oz. Parmesan, finely grated (about ½ cup), and 1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt. Mash and blend together with your fingers to mix, breaking apart tofu extra (in contrast to floor meat, tofu gained’t get powerful when blended vigorously).
Step 2
Roll tofu combination into golf-ball-size balls (it is best to have about 16) and place on ready baking sheet. Drizzle with oil, then flip to coat. Bake tofu balls, turning as soon as, till evenly browned and crisp, about half-hour.
Step 3
In the meantime, warmth 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in a medium Dutch oven or different heavy pot over medium-high. Add 1 giant shallot, halved, thinly sliced, and cook dinner, stirring sometimes, till softened, about 3 minutes. Add 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced, and cook dinner, stirring usually, till barely softened, about 1 minute. Add 2 Tbsp. double-concentrated tomato paste and remaining 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt; season generously with freshly floor black pepper. Prepare dinner, stirring usually, till tomato paste is darkened in colour, about 2 minutes.
Step 4
Add 1½ lb. cherry tomatoes (about 3 pints), halved if giant, and a couple of cups water. Prepare dinner, stirring sometimes and urgent down on tomatoes with a potato masher or wood spoon to assist burst, till sauce is thickened, 15–20 minutes. Take away from warmth if meatballs aren’t completed but. Season with salt and black pepper.
Step 5
Add meatballs to sauce and cut back warmth to medium-low (or return to warmth). Convey to a naked simmer, stirring sometimes; cook dinner simply to warmth by means of. Ladle into shallow bowls and high with extra Parmesan.
Do Forward: Tofu meatballs could be fashioned 3 months forward; freeze on a baking tray. When stable, switch to a sealable hermetic container. Bake from frozen, including 5–10 minutes to the cook dinner time.
