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Chicken Meatballs – Homemade Recipe

Chicken Meatballs – Homemade Recipe

by LifestylewithSharon
Preparation : 15 mins ·Cooking : 50 mins•Serves 4
Lunch
Dinner

Ingredients

Serves

people
1
onion
3
tbspolive oil
4
Clovesgarlic
1
tsporegano
1/2
tspturmeric
4
tomatoes, fresh
1
tinchopped tomatoes
1
carrot, small
100
mlwater
2
handfuls of fresh basil
1/3
tubetomato puree
4
celery
2
chicken breast
6
clovesgarlic
1/2
spring onion
1
tspparsley
1
tspsalt
breadcrumbs
1
tsppaprika
2
eggs
parmesan cheese for topping
3
tbspolive oil
1
pinchpepper
60
grambreadcrumbs
1
tsppaprika
2
eggs
6
tbspolive oil
1
onion
1
tsporegano
1
tspturmeric

Nutritional information

Calculated based on standard values with available measurements and may therefore not be accurate

  • Energy399 kcal
  • Total Lipid (Fat)44 g
  • Saturated Fatty Acids7 g
  • Monounsaturated Fatty Acids30 g
  • Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids4 g
  • Calcium0 mg
  • Iron0 mg
  • Potassium0 mg
  • Sodium1 mg
  • Vitamin E9 mg
  • Vitamin K12 µg

Instructions

Step 1

Preparing the Tomato Sauce

  • Peel and dice your onion.

  • Roughly chop or crush the peeled garlic.

  • Cut up four cells of celery to about 1/2 cm chunks.

  • Chop up the fresh tomatoes into small chunks.

  • Grate your carrot.

  • Gather your fresh basil leaves and roughly chop.

Step 2

Cooking the Tomato Sauce

  • Into a saucepan add your olive oil.

  • Turn the heat on to medium.

  • Add your onions, garlic, celery and grated carrots.

  • Mix the ingredients together.

  • Put a lid on and sauté for 5 – 10 minutes.

  • After 5 – 10 minutes, add some salt & pepper.

  • Then add your fresh tomatoes & your tin of chopped tomatoes.

  • To the empty tin of chopped tomatoes, add your water and swirl it around before adding the water to the saucepan. This ensures to not waste any of that lovely tomato flavour that can be left in the tin.

  • Place your tomato puree into the saucepan.

  • Now add your turmeric and oregano & fresh basil.

  • Give all the ingredients a mix around.

  • Time now to put the lid on & let the flavours infuse together - while letting it cook on a slow heat for 45 minutes, occasionally stirring it.

Step 3

In the meantime while your tomato sauce is cooking lets prepare the Chicken Meatballs

  • The easiest way to have ground chicken is to ask your local butcher to mince the chicken breasts for you.

  • Alternatively you can cut your chicken breasts into very small pieces yourself. The chicken is easier to work with when cut up into small pieces.

  • Finely dice your spring onion.

  • Into a large mixing bowl add your finely ground minced chicken & your finely diced spring onion.

  • Season with salt and pepper. If you wanted a bit of a spicy chicken meatball, then add 1/2 tsp of chill powder or chilli flakes.

  • Whisk your eggs & then add to the bowl with your chicken.

  • Add your garlic & your breadcrumbs to the bowl.

  • Put in your paprika & parsley.

  • Grate a bit of your Parmesan cheese into the bowl. Any rich and distinctive strong cheese would be good like Parmigiano Reggiano Dop or something like it.

  • Initially mix ingredients with a fork.

  • Then the best way to combine the ingredients for chicken meatballs is to get your hands into that mixing bowl & really bind the ingredients into a firmer mixture, where the mixture will come away from the edge of the bowl.

  • Now pull small pieces of the mixture & make little ball shaped meatballs.

  • From this amount of ingredients, you need to aim to make about 16 meatballs.

  • You are ready to cook your chicken meatballs.

Step 4

Check on your Tomato Sauce

  • After about 45 minutes your tomato sauce will have changed colour and smell amazing.

  • At this stage you want to place your sauce into a tall jug and liquidise with a hand blender, or you can put the sauce into a liquidiser.

  • Once the tomato sauce is nice and smooth, empty it back into the saucepan and put the lid on. You can cook it on a very low heat while you cook your chicken meatballs.

Step 5

Cooking your Chicken Meatballs

  • Into a frying pan, pour in some olive oil.

  • Place your chicken meatballs into the frying pan on a low to medium heat.

  • You can turn your chicken meatballs in the pan by flicking them in the pan or you can turn the meatballs with some tongs.

  • Moving and jerking your frying pan to move the chicken meatballs ensures the shape of the balls will stay nice and round.

  • However when you use tongs, it may squash the meatballs a little, slighly altering the shape.

  • If the shape is altered slightly it doesn’t matter. They still taste amazing.

  • Ensure the chicken meatballs are nice and brown, so you know they are cooked well. This process will vary depending on your heat, but will take roughly about 10 minutes.

  • While the chicken meatballs are cooking nicely, this is the perfect time to cook your spaghetti.

  • Place your spaghetti pasta into a pot of boiling water and cook to the packets instructions.

Step 6

Chicken Meatballs & Tomato Sauce & Spaghetti

  • Add those gorgeous chicken meatballs to that wonderful homemade tomato sauce.

  • Gently mix the meatballs into the sauce.

  • Once your spaghetti is cooked, drain in a sieve and pour over some boiling water from the kettle onto your spaghetti.

  • Spread your spaghetti onto the plate.

  • Place your wonderful flavoursome chicken meatballs and homemade tomato sauce in the centre of your spaghetti pasta.

  • Grate some parmesan cheese over the top of your meatballs and sprinkle some parsley over the cheese.

  • Serve and enjoy.

Happy Cooking

Sharon

Recipe Story

Learn how to make these delicious and amazing Chicken Meatballs. This chicken meatball recipe is easy to follow and you will be glad you tried it.

Making a classic meatball dinner with chicken instead of beef might seem a bit unconventional but once you try it, you will understand why it makes a nice tasty alternative.

The texture of chicken meatballs is moist and tender, owing to the ground chicken used in their preparation. Chicken meatballs are a delicious and versatile dish made from ground chicken meat. They are similar in concept to traditional meatballs, which are typically made from ground beef or a combination of meats. Chicken meatballs offer a lighter and often healthier alternative, making them a popular choice for those looking to reduce red meat consumption or incorporate poultry into their diet.

Health Benefits of Chicken Meatballs

Chicken is a lean protein source, making chicken meatballs a healthier option compared to beef or pork meatballs.

They are lower in saturated fat and calories, making them suitable for those looking to reduce their fat intake while still enjoying meaty flavours.

Chicken meatballs are a flexible and flavorful dish that can be customized to suit various tastes. Whether served as a main course, appetizer, or in a sandwich, they are a popular and tasty choice for those who love poultry-based dishes.

Meatball Texture:

The texture of chicken meatballs is usually moist and tender, with a crispy outer layer if they are seared or baked. This combination of textures enhances the overall eating experience.

Meatball Customization:

The great thing about chicken meatballs is their adaptability. You can adjust the seasonings and ingredients to match your preferences. For example, you can make them spicy with red pepper flakes or chilli flakes or cayenne pepper, tangy with lemon zest, or herbaceous with fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme.

Tomato Sauce:

Homemade tomato sauce that pairs perfectly with meatballs is a flavorful and versatile accompaniment. This sauce is often referred to as marinara sauce and is a classic Italian tomato-based sauce.

Serving:

Homemade tomato sauce complements meatballs beautifully. You can serve it as a topping over meatballs, whether they're served with pasta, as a sandwich filling, or as an appetizer. The sauce's rich, tomatoey flavor, with aromatic undertones from the onions, garlic, and herbs, enhances the meatball dish and creates a comforting and classic combination.

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