Healthy Quinoa and Beef Meatballs

As mentioned in my healthy turkey meatballs recipe, meatballs are something that I make when I am pressed for time but still looking for something healthy and nutritious for lunch or dinner. With this recipe, I have actually added some quinoa for some complex carbohydrates and to keep me fuller for longer when I eat them. Also, these meatballs are baked, not fried or pan-fried, so there is minimal oil in the meatballs when you consume them 🙂

You can make these meatballs for a spaghetti bolognaise dish, for curries, sweet and sour sauce or simply eat them on their own. These meatballs are also good as a snack or finger food when you have a dinner party. I hope you enjoy this recipe and as always , let me know what you think of this recipe 🙂

Makes 20 small-sized meatballs

Ingredients

• 300g lean beef mince;
• 1/2 cup cooked quinoa;
• 2 carrots, finely diced or shredded;
• 1 brown onions, finely diced;
• 2 garlic, minced;
• 2 eggs;
• 1 tbsp paprika;
• 1.5 tbsp Italian herbs or mixed herbs;
• 1 tbsp chilli flakes; and
• salt and pepper, to taste.

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degree Celsius;
2. In a large bowl, mix all the above ingredients well. The mixture should be wet/sticky enough to form bite-size meatballs. If it is too dry, add an extra egg and if it is too wet, add some cooked quinoa;

   

3. Roll the mixture into bite-size meatballs and place on a baking tray;

   

4. Once all the mixture is formed into meatballs, place the baking tray in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. I suggest turning over the meatballs after 15-20 minutes to ensure the meatballs are cooked evenly; and

   

5. Once cooked, remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.