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Sunita's 'secret veg' meatballs recipe

Sunita's 'secret veg' meatballs recipe

35 ratings

Any parent will probably be able to relate to 'Sunita' in our Food Love Story. Kids can be champion fussy eaters, especially when it comes to vegetables. Here's a genius solution: meatballs packed with under-the-radar veg. 'Sunita's' kids love them – and are none the wiser. See method

  • Serves 4
  • 15 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook
  • 388 calories / serving
  • Freezable

Ingredients

  • 1½ tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled and grated
  • 1 medium courgette, trimmed and grated (or 1 small parsnip, trimmed, peeled and grated)
  • 250g chestnut mushrooms, finely chopped
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
  • 250g turkey breast mince
  • 500g sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 500g Maris Piper potatoes, peeled and cubed

Each serving contains

  • Energy

    1645kj
    388kcal     19%

  • Fat

    7g 9%

  • Saturates

    1g 7%

  • Sugars

    20g 23%

  • Salt

    0.8g 14%

of the reference intake
Carbohydrate 63g Protein 23g Fibre 7g

Method

Gravity Profile Sunita
  1. Heat 1/2 tbsp oil in a large frying pan. Add the carrot, courgette and mushrooms and fry over a medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes. Tip into a large bowl and set to one side.
  2. Meanwhile heat 1/2 tbsp oil in a saucepan. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes, until soft. Add the tomatoes and cook for 20 minutes; stir occasionally.
  3. Meanwhile, mix the turkey mince with the veg and shape into 16 balls. Heat the remaining oil in the frying pan, add the meatballs and cook, turning frequently, for 12-15 minutes, until cooked through.
  4. Boil the Maris Piper potatoes for 5 minutes, add the sweet potatoes, boil for a further 10 minutes, or until both are tender, then drain and mash.
  5. Stir the meatballs through the sauce and simmer for 1 minute. Serve with the mashed potato.

Little help

For even more veggie goodness, defrost a couple of frozen spinach portions into the hot mash.

Freezing and defrosting guidelines

Freeze meatballs and sauce only. Cook as instructed and allow to cool completely. Then transfer to an airtight, freezer-safe container, seal and freeze for up to 1-3 months. To serve, defrost thoroughly in the fridge overnight before reheating. To reheat and serve, place on medium heat, stirring occasionally until the dish is heated through.

For top tips on protecting you and your family when preparing raw meat and poultry, visit Food Safety in the Home.

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