For the Vegan Meatballs:

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Slice the eggplant into thin slices and roast them in the oven for about 25 minutes or until softened, flipping them halfway through.

2. Prepare the lemongrass by bashing it with a rolling pin to release the flavors. Remove the tough outer leaves and roughly chop the lemongrass. Also, roughly chop the onion and garlic cloves.

3. In a food processor or blender, combine the chopped onion, garlic, lemongrass, roasted eggplant and chickpeas. Blend them together until well combined.

4.  Transfer the mixture to a bowl, then add the soy sauce, sugar, black pepper, and flour to the mixture. Mix everything until well incorporated

5. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and refrigerate for 2 hours or place it in the freezer for 20 minutes. Chilling the mixture will help it firm up, making it easier to shape into meatballs. If needed, add more flour to the mixture to achieve a firmer consistency.

6. After chilling, shape the mixture into meatball shapes. If necessary, you can roll them in a bit more flour to help them hold their shape.

7. You have two options for cooking the meatballs. You can either fry them in a pan until they are golden and crispy, or you can bake them in the oven until they achieve the desired texture. Choose the method you prefer.

To assemble:

1. Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions. Once cooked, rinse them under cold water and drain well.

2. Thinly slice the lettuce. You can also prepare additional herbs like cilantro, mint, and Thai basil if desired.

3. In a bowl, combine the vegan fish sauce (or soy sauce), sugar (or sweetener of choice), rice vinegar, lime juice, water, minced garlic, and chili. Mix everything well to create the sauce. You can adjust the sweetness, tanginess, and spiciness to your taste.

4. Divide the sauce into two serving bowls, add the vegan meatballs in.

5. Arrange the rice noodles, lettuce, cucumber, and herbs on separate plates.

6. To serve, add a small portion of rice noodles and herbs to your sauce bowl and enjoy. Repeat this step until you have finished all or most of the ingredients.