10 Whole Food Meatball Recipes

Meatballs (or if you want to be really Aussie, rissoles) are a must-have in the repertoire for whole food mums.

Mince is one of those budget ingredients that can be used in so many ways and with so many flavours.

You can serve meatballs straight up with veges or salad. You can make them big to go in a homemade burger or mini to go in lunch boxes or on a wrap.

My tip is to cook them on a tray in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes on medium. Its saves burning and mess on the stovetop! Plus you can make a double batch and whack some in the freezer for another meal or to pull out for easy kid lunches.

You can use any sort of mince or a combination of meat for meatballs or you can make vegetarian meatballs – I have included two of those for you – it’s good to change it up.

Here are ten awesome meatball recipes to get you inspired…..

Morrocan Lamb Meatballs with Tzatziki

Beef and Pork Meatballs with Tomato Sauce

Turkey, Lemon and Fetta Meatballs

Herbed Green Polpette with Minted Tomato Sauce

Chilli con Carne Meatballs with Sweet Pepper and Black Beans

Baked Apple and Pork Meatballs

Chicken and Spinach Patties

Roasted Sweet Potato and Chickpea Patties

Healthy Fish Cakes

Spicy Meatballs with Adjika and Yoghurt

Do you have a favourite meatball recipe? Link us up!

I thought today I would share with you one of my family’s all-time favourite meals, Morrocan Lamb Meatballs with Couscous!

Lamb is one of our favourite things to eat and it goes so well with Morrocan style flavourings – a match made in heaven. The meatballs have lots of flavour from the spice in the dukkah, but it’s not hot, so the kids still love it. The little hint of sweetness of the currants and the tang of the yoghurt just make it all work well together. I am a huge fan of couscous too- it’s just the easiest thing in the world to prepare. If you find it a little bland, make it with chicken stock instead of the water. If you are gluten-intolerant, you can serve it with corn couscous, rice or polenta instead. This recipe feeds the four of us.

Morrocan Lamb Meatballs with Couscous

Okay, so this is what you need:

500g organic lamb mince

2 tablespoons organic pine nuts, toasted lightly in a dry pan

4 tablespoons dukkah (any type – make your own or buy it pre-made, just watch for additives )

40g baby spinach, finely chopped (getting some greens in!)

2 tablespoons currants

1 1/2 cups dry wholemeal organic couscous

1 1/2 cups boiling filtered water (or chicken stock)

tzatziki dip, to serve (make your own or buy it pre-made, just watch for additives)

cherry tomatoes on the vine, to serve (optional)

Okay, so this is how you do it:

Combine mince, pine nuts, dukkah, currants and spinach in a bowl. Roll into balls with wet hands, about the size of a walnut.

Set the meatballs on a rack and cook in a hot oven, (200 degrees celsius) for 10 mins or until cooked through.

If you are having the cherry tomatoes too, add them to the oven on a tray with a little drizzle of olive oil (they only need a five to ten minutes).

Meanwhile, place couscous in a glass or stainless steel bowl. Add 1 1/2 cups of boiling water. Cover with a tea towel. Stand for 5 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Fluff it up with a fork.

Divide couscous between plates. Top with meatballs and tomatoes. Drizzle over the tzatziki. I also serve this with a huge green salad.

You can freeze the meatballs, cooked or uncooked. If you have any leftovers, the meatballs are delicious the next day in a wrap (SORJ or MOUNTAIN BREAD are best) with spinach, beetroot, cucumber and tzatziki.

I am drooling just thinking about it…… :P’

As always, if you make them, come back and let me know how you went and please share the recipe around with your friends!