What do you cook when you have 500g beef mince sitting in the fridge needing to be cooked? Baked meatballs with simple tomato sauce is a tasty, iron-rich answer.  It’s a meal that can feed everyone (1 baby and 2 adults) in our house.  I cut some up for George to eat as finger food and Charlie and I enjoyed it with buccatini (a spaghetti type tube pasta – you should definitely try some!).  The leftover meatballs were gobbled up on sandwiches the next day and a few put in the freezer for George.  I definitely recommend doubling the recipe so you have a batch in the freezer for another day.

Nutrition Note:  This tomato sauce is so so simple and by choosing no added salt tinned tomatoes it is virtually salt free. Perfect for the whole family!

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Ingredients

• 500g lean beef mince
• 1 small onion, grated
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 3 tbsp fresh parsley, basil or coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 x 400g tins no added salt crushed or chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 tsp sugar

Method

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 220 degrees celcius. In a large bowl, combine the beef, onion, breadcrumbs, half of the fresh herbs, egg, cumin, paprika and pepper. Mix together with your hands and shape into small balls. -

Step 2

Place the meatballs into a large roasting tin, coat gently in the oil and bake for 10-15 minutes. Transfer them to a frying pan over medium heat and add the tomatoes and sugar. Carefully stir the meatballs and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Stir through the remaining fresh herbs. -

Step 3

Serve the meatballs whole or cut-up as finger food or as a main meal, served alongside steamed vegetables or salad and cooked pasta spirals or roasted potatoes. -