Stuffed meatballs with vegetables ... in sauce

To prepare a delicious recipe for stuffed meatballs with vegetables, we start with minced meat. This can be pork, beef, or a combination of both, depending on preferences. In a large bowl, we mix the minced meat with the desired spices: salt, pepper, sweet or hot paprika, garlic powder, and a teaspoon of oregano. The mixture should be homogeneous, and the spices should be well integrated into the meat.

After preparing the composition, we take a handful of meat and spread it in our palm. This is where the creative part of the recipe comes in: each meatball will be filled with a piece of vegetable. The options are varied: we can add a slice of boiled potato, a piece of cheese, rounds of zucchini, or some chopped mushrooms. After adding the filling, we need to close the meatball, completely covering the ingredients with the meat. We form a ball or an oval shape, which we place in a glass dish.

We repeat this process for all the meatballs, ensuring they are well compacted. When we finish shaping the meatballs, we put them in a preheated oven at a high temperature, around 200 degrees Celsius. It is important that they brown slightly on the outside to dehydrate and capture the flavors better.

Meanwhile, we take care of the sauce. We can use canned tomato juice or fresh tomatoes, which we can mash or finely chop. In a pot, we bring the tomato juice to a boil, adding water and a little oil to thin it out. We mix well, season with salt and pepper, and let it boil for a few minutes. When the meatballs are ready, we take them out of the oven and pour the tomato sauce over them. We cover the dish with aluminum foil and return it to the oven, letting it cook on high heat for about 30 minutes.

In the meantime, we take care of the remaining vegetables from the filling. Since they are already boiled, they do not require a long cooking time. When the sauce has reduced a bit and the meatballs are almost ready, we add the remaining potatoes, zucchini, and mushrooms to the dish. Thus, all the ingredients will "make friends" with each other, and the flavors will become even more intense.

Finally, for an extra flavor, we can add a bay leaf to the sauce, which will give a distinct note. We leave everything in the oven uncovered for a few minutes to achieve a delicious crust. When ready, we serve the meatballs hot, alongside a garnish of fresh salad or polenta. This recipe is not only delicious but also very versatile, allowing us to experiment with various ingredients!

 Ingredients: minced meat, diced boiled potatoes, boiled zucchini cubes, raw chopped mushrooms, mozzarella cubes, tomato sauce, spices for meat: garlic, pepper, hot paprika, dill... whatever else you want.

 Tags:  meat garlic tomatoes potatoes zucchini mushrooms gluten-free recipes meatballs recipes for children