Roasted Veggies and Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
A healthy twist on the Belgian classic meatballs in tomato sauce. Make sure to opt for organic grass-fed beef to avoid hormones, antibiotics and other nasty chemicals they use in the meat production.
Servings: 2
Calories: 689kcal
Ingredients
For the sauce & meatballs
- 1/2 cup onion chopped
- 1 Thai chili pepper finely chopped and seeds removed
- 1/3 cup spring onion (scallion) chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups tomato cubed
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce/Tamari
- sea salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 10 ounce ground organic beef grass-fed
For the veggies
- 1 parsnip roughly chopped
- 1 cup carrot roughly chopped
- 1 cup bell pepper (capsicum, any color) roughly chopped
- 2 small sweet potato (any color or variety) or regular potato
- 1/2 cup onion roughly chopped
- 4-5 cloves garlic lightly crush the cloves, but leave the skin on for roasting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400-430°F (200-220°C)
- Add veggies and a little coconut/olive oil to a big oven tray. Make sure the veggies are well coated with the oil. Cook for about 30-45 minutes or until soft. Stir occasionally (every 10-15 minutes). Add freshly cracked pepper to taste.
- In the meantime, heat coconut/olive oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic, chili, and onion and cook until fragrant.
- Add tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, and soy sauce.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Optional: season minced meat first before making meat balls. I added parsley, mint, pepper, sea salt, garlic, onion, and panko breadcrumbs. (if the mixture is too dry add an egg as well or water, too wet add more breadcrumbs)
- Mix tomato sauce in a blender or use an immersion blender
- Cook meatballs in a skillet over high heat until crusted.
- Then add sauce and cook for another 5-10 minutes.
- Stir occasionally and add spring onions the last 2 minutes.
- Serve with roasted veggies.
Notes
- Tamari and soy sauce share a similar color and flavor and are both a byproduct of fermented soybeans. The only difference, Tamari is made without wheat and doesn’t contain any gluten.
- ALSO READ: Eating Less Meat: Its Importance and Benefits