Tender and flavorful ground meat meatballs, cooked in a pan with a tasty bell pepper and tomato sauce… a rustic and simple dish to prepare, excellent as a main course or a one-dish meal. The recipe is very easy; you prepare classic ground meat meatballs, bake them with a little oil (or cook in a pan if you prefer), then let them absorb the flavors of the sauce. Meatballs with bell pepper sauce are delicious whether hot or slightly warm, perfect for any occasion… try them too!
Here are some other delicious suggestions:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: Stove, Oven
- Seasonality: All Seasons
- Energy 403.39 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 22.24 (g) of which sugars 2.92 (g)
- Proteins 17.09 (g)
- Fat 27.42 (g) of which saturated 9.56 (g)of which unsaturated 15.55 (g)
- Fibers 2.87 (g)
- Sodium 1,299.69 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 220 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 14 oz mixed ground meat
- 1 egg (large)
- 2 oz white sandwich bread
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/2 tbsp Grana Padano cheese, grated
- parsley
- breadcrumbs
- salt
- pepper
- extra virgin olive oil
- 3 bell peppers
- 1 onion
- 10.5 oz tomato pulp
- parsley (or basil)
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt
Tools
- Bowl
- Mixer
- Baking Tray
- Parchment Paper
- Pan
Preparation
Start by preparing the meatball mixture: chop the bread with the garlic and a sprig of parsley in the mixer, place the mixture in a bowl, add the ground meat, Grana, and the beaten egg.
Season with salt and pepper, add about half a tablespoon of breadcrumbs and mix by hand until you get a homogeneous mixture (1).
Form meatballs by rolling them between your palms, and coat them in breadcrumbs. With these amounts, you will get 20-25 meatballs, depending on their size.
Place them on a baking tray (2) and lightly oil them. Bake in a ventilated oven at 375°F for about 18-20 minutes.
Alternatively, you can brown them in a pan with extra virgin or seed oil.
While the meatballs are in the oven, prepare the sauce: clean the bell peppers, remove the seeds, and cut them into strips. Peel the onion and slice it into rings.
Cook the bell peppers and onion in a large pan with a dash of oil and a pinch of salt.
After a few minutes, add the tomato pulp and continue over low heat, without reducing the sauce too much (3).
Finally, add the meatballs (4) and let them absorb the sauce flavors for another 7-8 minutes, turning them gently.
At the end of cooking, sprinkle with chopped parsley or a few basil leaves.
The meatballs with bell pepper sauce are ready, tasty and very tender… you can serve them hot or warm.
Tips and Notes
You can use mixed ground meat (beef and pork), or veal, or chicken if you prefer.
You can cook the meatballs either in the oven or in a pan.
In season, you can use fresh tomatoes peeled and seeded, instead of the pulp.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I prepare the meatballs in advance?
Yes, you can prepare them a day in advance and store them in the refrigerator.
Meatballs cooked in the oven (without the sauce) can be frozen.
