Meat can be a bit touch and go with kids. Often the texture can be tricky for them to cope with, so these meatballs are a good one because they are very soft and not so intensely meaty. Also good for little ones just starting out as they are very soft.

Plus, you can make them in the magimix which makes it all satisfyingly easy for washing up.

Ingredients:

A pack of mince meat – I have found that whichever quantity of meat I use, larger or small packs, the result tends to be the same. Obviously the bigger the pack, the more meatballs you get…

2 slices of bread – whichever you prefer. White, brown. (I have also made these with blitzed up ricecakes, matzo meal, spelt flour. It all works) If using flour, then probably 2 tablespoons will do.

Carrots

1 garlic clove

2 eggs

Salt & Pepper (Optional if you prefer. I always season meat with cinnamon as I find it brings a seasoning that salt and pepper don’t quite reach). 1 teaspoon of cinnamon if using.

Put the onion and carrots into the magimix and blend until very fine. Tip the rest of the ingredients into the mixer and pulse until it all comes together.

When the mixture has formed a ball, with a small teaspoon (or fingers) create round balls (you can choose the size you like, I personally prefer around 1 inch sized balls.

You have two options here – you can either bake them at 200 degrees until they are browned, or you can drop them into a tomato sauce. Be aware that baking them makes them much less soft than the sauce method below. Still delicious though. Often if I’m baking them I shape them into little ovals so they are more kofte like and serve with pitta.

To make the tomato sauce use either: A batch of very veg tomato sauce, or a bottle/can of passata. I would normally suggest a tin of chopped tomatoes, but for those with fussy bambinos, like mine, the chunks of tomato in the sauce are seemingly poisonous so I stick with passata. In a measuring jug I prepare a portion of Reduced Sugar and Salt Bisto Beef stock powder as directed, and tip this into the passata. This makes the sauce quite thick and a little gravy like without need for flour thickening. This is also a great place to tip in some of the Very Veg Tomato Sauce for extra hidden veg.

Drop the meatballs into the sauce and let them cook on a medium heat until they are fully cooked through.

Sprinkle a good amount of grated cheese and serve over rice or pasta.