Italian Chicken Meatballs with Cherry Tomato Sauce

A lighter dish than traditional beef mince meatballs.
Main Course
4
1 hr, 20 mins
25 mins
1 hr, 45 mins
Main Course
4
1 hr, 20 mins
25 mins
1 hr, 45 mins

Ingredients

\1 packet of chicken mince
\¼ onion, finely diced
\¼ capsicum, finely diced
\¼ black olives, pitted, finely diced
\1 egg, lightly whisked
\½ cup of almond meal
\2 tablespoons of flour
\½ teaspoon of dried oregano, dried
\½ teaspoon of sea salt
\black pepper, cracked, to season

Cherry tomato sauce

\1 large clove of garlic, finely diced
\2 400g tins of cherry tomatoes
\1 cup of tomato passata
\½ cup of water

To serve

\sourdough bread
\basil, fresh leaves
\cherry tomatoes, roasted (optional)

Instructions

  1. Mix together the onion, capsicum, olives, chicken mince and egg in a large bowl. Add the almond meal, flour, oregano, salt and a generous seasoning of pepper.
  2. Use wet hands (this is important!) to form meatballs using heaped tablespoons of mince. Place the meatballs in the fridge to firm up for 1 hour if possible.
  3. Heat a generous glug of olive in a sauté pan over a medium heat. Cook the meatballs in 2 batches for 4 minutes on each side until golden. They don’t need to be completely cooked through at this stage, as you’ll simmer them in the sauce. Set aside while you start the sauce.
  4. Wipe out the pan and add another good glug of oil. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the tinned cherry tomatoes, tomato passata and water. Simmer for five minutes.
  5. Add the chicken meatballs and simmer for another 10-12 minutes until the meatballs are completely cooked through. Season generously with sea salt and cracked black pepper. Toss through the fresh basil. Garnish with additional fresh basil leaves and roasted cherry tomatoes if using.
  6. Enjoy with chunks of sourdough bread and serve!

Notes

Contains egg, meat, gluten. Dairy free. Recipe credit: Bird and Barrow/Brinks.