Tender Meatballs with Vegetables in Tomato Sauce

These tender meatballs simmer gently with colorful vegetables in a rich tomato sauce until everything turns meltingly soft. It is the kind of cozy one-pot dinner that fills the kitchen with an irresistible aroma — and if you love hearty ground-meat meals, my Cheese-Stuffed Meat Cutlets are another weeknight winner. Serve it over rice or with crusty bread to soak up every drop of the savory sauce.

Ingredients

• 600 g (1.3 lb) ground meat
• 1 large onion
• 1 bag (about 100 g) rice
• Meat seasoning to taste
• Salt to taste

For the vegetables:

• 4 large potatoes
• 2 red bell peppers
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1–2 tomatoes
• 1 onion
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 3 cups (720 ml) water
• Paprika to taste
• Ground garlic to taste
• Oil for frying

Instructions

1. Chop the onion finely and sauté it until beautifully golden.
2. Boil the rice in salted water until half-cooked, then drain well.
3. Combine the ground meat with the sautéed onion, rice, meat seasoning and salt.
4. Mix thoroughly and slap the mixture against the bowl a few times so the meatballs hold their shape.
5. Shape meatballs of about 50 g (1.8 oz) each.
6. Heat oil in a skillet and sear the meatballs on both sides until appetizingly browned.
7. In a large pot, layer the diced potatoes, peppers, sliced onion and tomatoes. Spread the tomato paste over the top, season with paprika, garlic, salt and pepper, then pour in the water.
8. Arrange the seared meatballs on top, cover and simmer on low heat for 30–35 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the meatballs are cooked through.

Tips

• Slapping the meat mixture against the bowl is the secret to meatballs that keep their shape without any breadcrumbs.
• Brown the meatballs well before simmering — the caramelized crust adds deep, savory flavor to the whole dish.
• Let the finished dish rest off the heat for 10 minutes so the sauce thickens slightly. For safe cooking, follow USDA guidance and make sure ground meat is cooked through.

Nutrition (per 100 g): 85.6 kcal · protein 10.3 g · fat 2.5 g · carbs 4.6 g.

If hearty ground-meat dinners are your thing, try my Cheese-Stuffed Meat Cutlets or the cozy Cabbage Steaks with Ground Meat and Cheese — both are easy weeknight favorites.