Hidden-Veggie Mini Meatballs
Tender little turkey meatballs with grated carrot and courgette hidden inside, baked on a tray, then simmered in a quick tomato sauce. Lovely warm in a thermos with pasta, or cold on a skewer.
Servings
Ingredients
Nutrition
Per serving
Steps
Heat the oven
Heat the oven to 200C (400F) and line a tray with baking paper.
✅ Done when: oven reaches 200C/400F, shown by the oven indicator light turning off or an oven thermometer
Mix
Squeeze the grated courgette in a clean tea towel to remove the water, then mix it in a bowl with the mince, carrot, breadcrumbs, parmesan, egg and oregano using your hands. No salt is needed, the parmesan and herbs give plenty of flavour.
- 500 g minced meat
- 1 grated carrot
- 1 grated courgette
- 40 g breadcrumbs
- 30 g parmesan
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp dried oregano
✅ Done when: mixture is evenly combined and holds together when pressed
Roll the meatballs
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Bake
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Make the sauce
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Combine and pack
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Heat the oven
Heat the oven to 200C (400F) and line a tray with baking paper.
✅ Done when: oven reaches 200C/400F, shown by the oven indicator light turning off or an oven thermometer
Mix
Squeeze the grated courgette in a clean tea towel to remove the water, then mix it in a bowl with the mince, carrot, breadcrumbs, parmesan, egg and oregano using your hands. No salt is needed, the parmesan and herbs give plenty of flavour.
- 500 g minced meat
- 1 grated carrot
- 1 grated courgette
- 40 g breadcrumbs
- 30 g parmesan
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp dried oregano
✅ Done when: mixture is evenly combined and holds together when pressed
Roll the meatballs
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Bake
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Make the sauce
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Combine and pack
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The Story Behind the Dish
Italian polpette are small meatballs made by home cooks to stretch a little meat with bread and cheese. Italian immigrants brought them to the Americas, where they grew bigger and met spaghetti.
Grating vegetables into the mix is an old family trick: carrot adds sweetness and courgette keeps them extra moist, while the colour hides happily in the tomato sauce.
⭐ Why It's Famous
Meatballs are a comfort food in almost every country, from Swedish köttbullar to Mexican albóndigas.
💡 Fun Fact
In Italy, spaghetti with meatballs is rare; polpette are usually served on their own as a second course.
Italy (polpette), loved worldwide
41.90°N, 12.50°E
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