“Spaghetti” and Meatballs

Gluten-free | no added fat | sugar-free | low carb

Serves 2

Why it's delicious

Comfort food, come at me! I simply adore these flavourful meatballs cooked to perfection in a slow-roasted tomato sauce. Combined with fabulous zucchini noodles, you have the low-carb equivalent of solace on a plate. 

Helpful hints + tips

The tomato sauce I used in this recipe is the most wonderful alternative to store-bought tomato passata or sauce. It does need a few hours of slow cooking to help develop the flavours, but it's worth the time. 

Ingredients

• 1 tsp low sodium tamari
• 1 medium onion, finely diced
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp freshly grated ginger
• 300 g (10.5 oz) lean beef or lamb mince (ground beef or lamb)
• 2 tsp cumin powder
• 3 tbsp fresh or dried oregano leaves, finely chopped if fresh
• 2 tsp Himalayan salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• ½  portion of Roasted Tomato Sauce
• 400 g (14.1 oz) zucchini, sliced into noodles
• 4 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
• Small handful of basil leaves

Method

1. Make the meatballs by firstly heating a pan on medium to high heat with the tamari, onion, garlic and ginger. Stirring frequently, cook the mixture for 5 minutes or until tender and well-cooked. Remove from the heat and allow the onion mixture to cool a little.
2. Add the mince into a mixing bowl along with the cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Add the cooled onions and mix well with clean hands. Form the mince mixture into 10 even-sized meatballs. 
3. Heat the tomato sauce in a pot until it begins to bubble gently, and add the meatballs to the pot. Let the meatballs cook for 5-6 minutes, turning them often so that they cook evenly. 
4. Microwave the zucchini noodles for 4-5 minutes on high and then stir them gently. Add half the parsley, season with salt and pepper, and divide the zucchini noodles between 2 plates. 
5. Add the remaining parsley to the sauce and meatballs, and then divide the meatballs and sauce between the 2 plates. Sprinkle with the basil leaves and grinding of black pepper and serve.