Pork meatballs in red pepper sauce

Pork meatballs in red pepper sauce

You can't beat a comforting bowl of spaghetti and meatballs, and this version is superhealthy too

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 4

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 15 mins

Cook time

Cook 20 mins

Freezable

Method

  1. Put the pork mince in a bowl and stir in the apple, garlic, breadcrumbs and some salt and pepper. Shape the mixture into 16 balls, cover and chill for 10 mins.
  2. Meanwhile, make the sauce. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan and add the onion. Cook for 2-3 mins, until softened, then tip in the tomatoes and half a can of water. Stir in the peppers along with some salt and pepper. Partially cover and simmer for 15 mins.
  3. Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and add the meatballs. Cook for 5-6 mins, stirring occasionally until they are browned all over. Set aside and keep warm.
  4. Using a hand-held blender, whizz the tomato sauce until smooth. Carefully add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer for 5 mins, until cooked through. Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti following pack instructions, drain, then divide between serving plates. Top with the meatballs and sauce.
Try

Use up roasted peppers: Red pepper houmous

Whizz 2 roasted red peppers in a food processor with a drained 400g can chickpeas, 1 tbsp tahini and 2 tbsp olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

Per serving

303 kcalories, protein 25g, carbohydrate 14g, fat 17 g, saturated fat 5g, fibre 3g, sugar 8g, salt 0.9 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, July 2010.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • Binder photo Yorkbelle

    24 June 2010

    Yorkbelle rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Just had this for a mid-week tea. I added a sprinkle of cheese and a little extra pasta. It was a great low fat meal as I am a weight watcher and as it stands comes in at 5.5 points. Would be fun for children to get involved with.

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  • Binder photo ziggy

    02 July 2010

    ziggy commented on this recipe

    Mid week meal for 6 people. Went down a storm, red peppers cleverly disguised in the sauce. Great dish.

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  • Binder photo kfrej

    06 July 2010

    kfrej rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • Binder photo Beth

    09 July 2010

    Beth rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    Nice but not as good as the Spaghetti in Meatballs from the May 2010 Good food.

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  • Binder photo Julie

    13 July 2010

    Julie commented on this recipe

    I have cooked this 3 times so far, really tasty, both kids loved it and they are not usually keen on tomatoes.

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  • Binder photo SophB6

    15 July 2010

    SophB6 rated and commented on this recipe

    2 stars

    not enough sauce

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  • Binder photo Natalie

    19 July 2010

    Natalie rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Great mid-week meal.

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  • Binder photo Magic Maggie

    21 July 2010

    Magic Maggie rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    Lovely recipe - quick, healthy and very tasty. I added garlic, chopped chilli, and a splash of white wine and I used fresh tomatoes - shame to use canned in the summer when there are gorgeous tomatoes around. I served it with rice which makes it even lighter than pasta.

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  • Binder photo centauri

    16 January 2011

    centauri rated and commented on this recipe

    2 stars

    Fine, nothing special but an easy midweek meal. Sauce is quite bland.

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  • Binder photo popadum

    16 January 2011

    popadum rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    A lovely low budget filling meal. Although the peppadew peppers I used were quite spicy, the kids loved it.

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  • Binder photo bobsheep

    17 February 2011

    bobsheep rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Added chilli to the sauce - tasty mid week meal

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  • Binder photo Estelle

    16 April 2011

    Estelle rated and commented on this recipe

    2 stars

    Ok recipe but result is a bit boring, the sauce was quite bland. Must be the first recipe from BBC Good Food that I wont remake!

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  • Binder photo Ana

    09 May 2011

    Ana commented on this recipe

    I really liked this and the sauce was great; however, I couldn't really taste the apple in the meatballs so would either leave it out next time or add more.

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  • Binder photo tydrawirafon

    05 June 2011

    tydrawirafon rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    I added a few chilli flakes and plenty black pepper to the sauce which made it really yummy. There was plenty sauce (although mine served 3 hungry adults not 4) and the apple in the meatballs seemed to keep them moist - didn't add to the taste. Have already made it twice and it will now become a regular midweek supper dish.

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  • Binder photo vanesa

    16 June 2011

    vanesa rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Made some changes. I used fresh peppers not from the jar (they contain too much sugar and there are many fresh peppers in the summer), which I blackened in the over for 30 minutes. I added a chicken stock cube, one finely grated carrot in the sauce and some parmesan at the end. I used two small grated apples for the mince balls, they add lots of lovely sweetness. I had it with rice not spaghetti. My baby and I loved it! Lots of vegetables/fruits, simple and healthy, definitely a favourite.

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  • Binder photo felicitycornish

    18 August 2011

    felicitycornish rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    I just made the sauce to go with some leftover meatballs I had. It was delicious. I used a fresh pepper which I blackened under the grill to get rid of the skin. I also used chicken stock instead of water, and added garlic. I then added some oregano and fresh basil. Very nice - we will definitely be having it again!

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  • Binder photo The Cherub

    23 August 2011

    The Cherub rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    This was good but in need of a few changes. I would use more peppers next time. I also added sage to the meatballs for a bit more flavour. It wasnt obvious the apple was there but they were nice and moist. I halved the meat balls as there were just 2 of us but cooked the same amount of sauce and it worked well. Also I did not blitz it all at the end as I liked it chunky (and I was too lazy/hungry!)

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  • Binder photo lindah736

    10 September 2011

    lindah736 rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    Okay but agree with other comments that sauce is bland so I jazzed it up with Italian seasoning for the kids and chilli for the adults. I think I'll do my normal one next time.

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  • Binder photo napoliexile

    09 November 2011

    napoliexile commented on this recipe

    I agree that the sauce was bland and also too sweet. It needs chilli/paprika to liven it up.

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  • Binder photo Lesley

    07 February 2012

    Lesley rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    Lovely sauce but I found the meatballs a bit bland. Will make this again but spice up the meatballs a bit. Very easy.

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 4

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 15 mins

Cook time

Cook 20 mins

Freezable

Ingredients

  • 450g pork mince
  • 1 small apple , peeled, cored and grated
  • 1 small garlic clove , crushed
  • 25g fresh white breadcrumbs
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 250g spaghetti , to serve

FOR THE SAUCE

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Per serving

303 kcalories, protein 25g, carbohydrate 14g, fat 17 g, saturated fat 5g, fibre 3g, sugar 8g, salt 0.9 g

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