Ready in around 30 minutes, this hearty and warming dinner is perfect for a cool night.
This is one of those "I've got no idea what to cook for dinner" meals, that can be on the table in a flash. If you know you want to whip this up for dinner and you already have the mince in your freezer, just take it out to defrost before you leave for work in the morning - it's hard to make decent meatballs out of mince defrosted in the microwave! Otherwise, you can pop in to the supermarket on the way home to buy fresh mince (and the passata if you don't already have it), the rest of the ingredients are pantry staples.
You can even make the most of your time in the kitchen and make a double batch of the meatballs. Just freeze them (uncooked) in a freezer bag or container, and you will have a ready supply for next time. You could also cook the meatballs for lunches (think meatball subs, wraps, pita pockets) or add them to roast veggie salads for something a little different. They also make a yummy addition to a hearty tomato-based veggie soup.
If you are keen to reduce your food waste, keep a press-seal bag full of breadcrumbs in the freezer: anytime you have crusts left from a loaf of bread, whizz them up in the food processor or blender and add to the bag. This way you don't need to buy breadcrumbs!
This recipe is great all year round: serve with a salad for the warmer months, and seasonal or frozen veg in the cooler months. Frozen veg is a great standby, and is just as nutritious as fresh. It can also mean less food waste - no sad and soggy broccoli in your fridge veggie bin! Just pop the frozen veg into a microwave safe container and steam until hot.
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