UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS  

Ready-cooked meal

SustainaBalls

UNITED KINGDOM - 2025

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A chickpea, tempeh and grape protein ball filled with a carrot top pesto covered in a mixed seed outer coating.

The SustainaBalls, a savoury, pesto-filled protein ball, presents a new milestone of valorising food waste through the addition of up-cycled grape skins and carrot tops (Figure 1). Inspired by rustic Mediterranean cuisine, the product features an exciting and balanced spectrum of flavours. The outer dough has a signature texture with a firm bite and notes of tomato and oregano, which are complimented and enhanced by the richness of post-wine production grape skins. This is paired with herby, and earthy notes expressed through the basil and roasted seeds within the pesto, contributing to the overall product texture, flavour, and aroma. The ‘first bite’ and visual acceptability are amplified through the seed coating, providing an array of colours across the protein ball, alongside textural variation through an elevated crunch.