Description
Juicy meatballs in a flavorful tomato and maple sauce, perfect for a hearty meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Meatballs:
- 500g (17.6oz) extra lean beef mince (ground beef)
- 30g (1oz) fresh breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons 2% milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- For the Sauce:
- 1 small onion, chopped
- ½ red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- Low-calorie spray (for cooking)
- ½ tablespoon paprika
- 1 cup (240g) passata
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste (purée)
- 1 cup (240ml) chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and milk. Let them soak until the milk is fully absorbed.
- In a larger bowl, add the ground beef, egg, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder to the breadcrumb mixture. Mix until just combined.
- Shape the mixture into 16 equal-sized meatballs and set aside.
- Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat and coat it with low-calorie spray.
- Sauté the chopped onion, red pepper, and crushed garlic until softened.
- Stir in the passata, tomato paste, paprika, chicken stock, maple syrup, and balsamic vinegar. Bring the sauce to a boil.
- Carefully place the meatballs into the sauce, spooning the sauce over them to ensure they are coated.
- Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover with a lid, and cook for 20–25 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce has thickened.
- If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little more chicken stock.
- For the final 5 minutes, remove the lid to allow the sauce to reduce further.
- Serve hot with your favorite sides and enjoy!
Notes
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can cook the sauce uncovered for the final few minutes.
- Ensure the meatballs are cooked through by checking their internal temperature (it should reach 165°F or 74°C).
- Feel free to adjust the amount of maple syrup depending on your preference for sweetness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 55mg