Meatballs with vine tomato sauce

Meatballs with vine tomato sauce

Get the kids to help you make these simple meatballs, or make them up in advance - great for Hallowe'en

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serve 4 children and 2 adults

Preparation and cooking times

Total time

Ready in 1¾ hours

Freezable

Method

  1. Mash the meat in a bowl with a spoon, then tip in the onion, apple, red pepper and oregano (and seasoning if you want to). Mash again to mix everything together. Now mix well with your hands until the mixture is sticky and divide into 16 smallish balls. Chill in the fridge while you make the sauce. You can make them up to this stage 2 days ahead, or freeze them.
  2. Make the sauce. Soften the onion in a medium saucepan with the oil. Tip in the tomatoes and simmer very gently, uncovered, for about 20 mins. Add the rest of the ingredients except the basil and slow cook for another 15-20 mins. Add the basil and a splash of water from the kettle. Tip the contents of the pan into the food processor and whizz until smooth.
  3. Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Gently roll the meatballs in flour. Heat a spoonful of oil in an ovenproof non-stick frying pan, wipe out with kitchen paper, then add the meatballs and fry gently and slowly over a low heat for 10 mins, turning them over once with tongs. (You may need to do this in batches if your pan is not very big.) Drain off any excess fat, pour in the sauce and finish off cooking in the oven for 15 mins. Serve with pumpkin mash.

Per serving (child)

182 kcalories, protein 16.0g, carbohydrate 10.0g, fat 10.0 g, saturated fat 2.0g, fibre 2.0g, salt 0.22 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, October 2004.

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Latest comments and suggestions

  • 29 November 2007

    jimbo@@ rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Great kiddy meal. Tasty but not too challenging flavours.

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  • 18 September 2008

    Jayne rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This is a really easy recipe and it's delicious for kids and adults.

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  • Binder photo Abi

    07 January 2009

    Abi rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Easy to do, very nice.

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  • 11 January 2009

    tamsin rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Munchy, wouldn't have thought of using spple but got a subtle hint of sweetness. Used double portions so some went in the freezer for next time.

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  • Binder photo Abi

    13 January 2009

    Abi commented on this recipe

    I missed out the Pepper as I hadn't got any and it worked just as well. Made lots more than needed as it fed 4 adults and 2 kids with a good portion left over. Will make again as it is so easy to do but very tasty.

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  • 08 March 2009

    Lesley rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Ran out of time (new baby in the house!) so ended up browning mince and adding sauce - it was delicious with pasta. Will do recipe properly soon!

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  • 06 February 2012

    Jodie Rees rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    I'm sure they will be fine for the kids, but I didn't season enough so for me they were too bland.

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  • 15 February 2013

    Apple commented on this recipe

    I think dividing the mixture into 16 balls made the meatballs too large in size. I would make them smaller.

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serve 4 children and 2 adults

Preparation and cooking times

Total time

Ready in 1¾ hours

Freezable

Kids' favourite

Ingredients

  • 500g lean minced beef
  • 1 small onion , finely chopped
  • 1 eating apple , peeled and finely chopped (or grated)
  • 1 red pepper , cored, seeded and finely chopped
  • leaves from 2 sprigs oregano or 1 tsp dried
  • plain flour for coating
  • olive oil , for frying

FOR THE SAUCE

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Per serving (child)

182 kcalories, protein 16.0g, carbohydrate 10.0g, fat 10.0 g, saturated fat 2.0g, fibre 2.0g, salt 0.22 g

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