It’s one of life’s great equalisers: navigating the maze that is the aisles of IKEA. It’s only the bravest of souls that can commence the journey with an empty trolley, travel through secret short-cuts, and emerge with nary a 20-pack of tealights in sight. And the reward for this epic challenge? Why it’s a plate of IKEA’s cult-classic meatballs of course which up until now has been a win for carnivores but left meat-averse shoppers woefully unfilled. Fortunately, the gods of the flat-pack have heeded the call and created a plant-based version that looks, feels and tastes like the original meatball.

Not to be confused with the Veggie Balls which already exist, the new faux meat Plant Balls are made from a combination of yellow-pea protein, oats, potatoes, onion, and apple, making it an ideal meat-substitute suited to a variety of diets – vegetarians, flexitarians, and yes, even carnivores.

You’ll be able to pick up a package of frozen plant balls from the Swedish Food Market or sit down for a breather and tuck into a plate of plant balls served the usual way with mashed potatoes, lingonberries, and cream sauce – and at the same low price ($7.95 for 10, $10.95 for 15).

Besides being super tasty, they’re also more sustainable having a carbon footprint that is a mere 4% of the classic version, a change that will help IKEA reach its goal of becoming climate positive by 2030.

“With the new plant ball, we’re able to offer a more sustainable option of our well-known original meatball without compromising on the classic IKEA meatball experience that is loved by so many people around the world”, says Matthew Taylor, Country Food Manager for IKEA Australia.

Considering that IKEA already sells over one billion meatballs every year, that’s a lot of love, but if 20% of those meat-eaters developed feelings for its plant-based twin, that would translate to an impressive 8% reduction of IKEA’s food business’ climate footprint.

So much for leaving without any impulse buys.

The plant ball lands in IKEA stores in Europe this month and will have bounced its way over to Australia before the end of the year.

Related food news: IKEA has just launched a veggie hotdog with a full plant-based menu to come later this year