The other night when I gave my niece a choice between this dish and another for what I should cook that night, he chose this Meatballs In Tomato Sauce, hands down! Who can pass up meatballs in homemade tomato sauce? This is a great comfort food recipe, and it is also kid-friendly.
As a variation, instead of the usual ground beef, I sometimes use ground bison and ground pork. I really like bison. I find it has a slightly sweeter taste to the meat than beef, and getting variety in your diet is always a good thing. Also, to the best of my knowledge, you’ll never find bison in a CAFO, so bison is a naturally grass-fed option.
How do you make great meatballs in tomato sauce? Here’s how.
Meatballs In Tomato Sauce: A Great Recipe On A Budget
Meatballs In Tomato Sauce: A Great Recipe On A Budget
Ingredients
TO MAKE THE SAUCE:
1 tablespoon olive oil - (ghee/butter/lard)
1 medium yellow onion - finely chopped
2 cloves garlic - minced
14- ounce tomato - 1 can
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper- ½ teaspoon Sucanat - (optional, if the sauce needs a little mellowing)
- 1 splash olive oil
TO MAKE THE MEATBALLS:
1 pound ground beef (minced beef) - or bison- 1 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon parsley - finely chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley)- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 medium egg
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pot. Add onion and garlic, sauté until golden.
- Add canned tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, salt, pepper, Sucanat and a splash of olive oil. Gently simmer while preparing the meatballs.
- To make the meatballs, add all ingredients to a medium-size mixing bowl and mix well (or use a food processor).
- Form the meat mixture into small balls (no more than 1-inch diameter).
- Drop each meatball into the sauce and simmer, lid partially on, for 10-15 minutes (depending on the size of the meatball) until meatballs are cooked through. Stir periodically to ensure all meatballs are evenly cooked.
- Eat and enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 382kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 23gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 121mgSodium: 921mgPotassium: 745mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1160IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 4mg
How did this recipe turn out for you?We’re eager to hear your thoughts!
