Homemade meatballs with a rich tomato and bean sauce

Serves 2/3

Ingredients

500g lean beef mince
2 onions (one small & one large)
4 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons mixed herbs
1 egg (beaten)
1 can baked beans (I used sugar free)
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 chicken stock cube
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
Low calorie cooking spray
Freshly ground salt and pepper

Method

1. Preheat the oven to gas mark 5/190°C/375°F.
2. First we will begin by making the meatballs. Finely dice a small onion and soften it in a frying pan using some low calorie cooking spray. Place aside in a bowl to cool.
3. Add the mince to a bowl along with the mixed herbs, one clove of crushed garlic, the cooled onions, some freshly ground salt and pepper and the egg (I added half an egg at a time just to check the mixture wasn't too wet). Combine well and shape into meatballs.
4. Slice the remaining large onion and fry with three cloves of crushed garlic until soft in a large frying pan. 
5. Add the meatballs and fry for approximately five minutes until golden in colour.
6. Transfer the meatballs and onions to an oven proof casserole dish. 
7. Dissolve the chicken stock cube in a minimal amount of boiling water to create a paste. 
8. Add the beans, crushed tomatoes, smoked paprika, chicken stock paste and some freshly ground salt and pepper to the dish. 
9. Place a lid on the casserole dish and transfer to the oven for approximately 30 minutes until the meatballs are cooked and the sauce is blipping away nicely.

I served this dish with a lovely creamy mash containing just a little mustard powder. It was absolutely delicious, so hearty and tasty! Typing this right now is making me think about the bowl of leftovers I have in the fridge....perhaps I will have a cheeky midnight snack! 

Happy cooking!

                            Sally xxx

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Snapchat: slimmingsally