Pasta and Meatballs
A hearty recipe with a healthy twist!
RECIPES
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Whenever I ask my little one what she wants to eat, she almost always opts for pasta and meatballs. Like many parents, I struggle to make my daughter eat her vegetables, and if I add them as a side to any dish, she makes sure to leave them out. To tackle this struggle, I came up with a trick to incorporate carrots in her pasta sauce and meatballs. The best thing about this trick is that she is not even able to tell that she is having carrots in her meal, which makes the fuss stay at bay! Let's dive right into it and I'll share the exact techniques I use to prepare this hearty meal. Hope you enjoy this recipe and let me know if you have any questions! Enjoy!
Directions
Pasta and Meatballs (with a healthy twist)
Level: Medium Servings: 4 Preptime: 15 mins
Cooktime: 35-40mins
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup Marinara Sauce
1/2 lb Minced Chicken Breast
1 cup carrots
Pasta 10oz (I have used penne pasta)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
salt to taste
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon chilli powder
1/4 cup bread crumbs
Note:
1) You can choose to add more than a cup and a half or marinara sauce if you prefer your pasta to be saucier.
2) For meat, you can use minced beef as well as turkey.
3) If you don't have breadcrumbs in handy, you can substitute it will 2 tablespoons of chick pea flour or all purpose flour.
4) The secret veggie I have chosen are carrots because the color blends in nicely with the sauce, and the sweetness of the marinara goes well will it. Also, it gives the meatballs a nice tinge of color.
5) You can use any pasta of your choice, wether its penne, rigatoni, spaghetti, ravioli and/or fettuccine.
Instructions
Boil water and cook your choice of pasta.
In the meanwhile, in a bowl add your minced meat, 1/2 cup of finely grated carrots (I use my grinder/blender to help me achieve this), black pepper, paprika, salt, garlic powder, egg, and breadcrumbs. Mix well and set aside.
Use a blender to make a puree by adding 1/2 cup carrots with half cup of water. In a medium sized pot, add the puree and let that simmer on low/medium heat. Season this with salt, pepper and add red chili powder. Now add the marinara sauce, mix well and let it simmer on low/medium heat and cook for 10 minutes.
Make meatballs from the marinade created earlier. The video above shows you the technique by which I make meatballs without having them break.
Cook the sauce on high till it starts to bubble and put the meatballs in.
Do not use a spoon or spatula to mix the sauce so you avoid breaking the meatballs. Swirl around the pan so the meatballs are fully covered by the sauce. Turn the stove to medium/low, cover and let it cook throughly for about 15 mins.
Drain your pasta but do not rinse it. You want the sauce to stick to your pasta. Once the meatballs have cooked thoroughly, add the pasta to the sauce. Mix well. Let it cook for another 2-minutes on medium.
All done! Enjoy with a side of garlic bread, or mozzarella sticks.
Boil water and cook your choice of pasta. In the meanwhile, in a bowl add your minced meat, 1/2 cup of finely grated carrots (I use my grinder/blender to help me achieve this), black pepper, paprika, salt, garlic powder, egg, and breadcrumbs.
Mix well and set aside.
Use a blender to make a puree by adding 1/2 cup carrots with half cup of water. In a medium sized pot, add the puree and let that simmer on low/medium heat. Season this with salt, pepper and add red chili powder. Now add the marinara sauce, mix well and let it simmer on low/medium heat and cook for 10 minutes.
Do not use a spoon or spatula to mix the sauce so you avoid breaking the meatballs. Swirl around the pan so the meatballs are fully covered by the sauce. Turn the stove to medium/low, cover and let it cook throughly for about 15 mins.
Drain your pasta but do not rinse it. You want the sauce to stick to your pasta. Once the meatballs have cooked thoroughly, add the pasta to the sauce. Mix well. Let it cook for another 2-minutes on medium.
