Description
What if comfort food could be healthy too?
Parmesan meatballs and zoodles are here to prove it’s not just possible, it’s downright delicious.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Parmesan Meatballs
- 500g Ground Meat
- 1/2 cup Breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 Egg (beaten)
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Parsley
- 2-3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Sun-dried Tomato Pesto
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
- 1/3 cup almonds or pine nuts (roasted)
- 2-3 cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 1 cup olive oil (give or take)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Noodles
- Spiraled zucchini
Instructions
Sun-dried Tomato Pesto
- Toss everything into a food processor and let it work its magic until the mixture is finely chopped.
- Drizzle in the olive oil while it’s blending until the consistency feels just right, thick, but still spreadable.
- Give it a taste, adjust the seasoning, and stash it in a jar.
- It’ll keep for a week in the fridge, though you’ll probably use it up faster than that.
- When needed, heat a little pesto in a pan with some olive oil, toss in the meatballs, and coat them in that flavorful goodness.
- Serve it all up with zoodles and a shower of Parmesan.
Parmesan Meatballs
- Throw everything into a bowl and get your hands in there, mix until it’s all combined.
- Roll the mixture into meatballs about the size of a golf ball.
- Heat some olive oil in a pan over medium heat and brown the meatballs in batches.
- Don’t cram too many in at once; they need space to get that golden crust.
- Once they’re done, set them aside.
Zoodles
- Grab a couple of zucchinis and spiralize them to create your zoodles.
- No spiralizer? No problem, most stores have pre-made zoodles these days.
- Warm them up in the same pan you used for the meatballs so they pick up any leftover flavors.
- Don’t overdo it; they’re best with a little crunch.
Serving
- Combine the warm meatballs with the heated pesto, gently tossing to coat every bite.
- Pile it all on a bed of zoodles, then top with plenty of freshly grated Parmesan.
- If you’re feeling extra, drizzle a bit more olive oil on top, because why not?
Tips:
- No fresh thyme? Use basil or parsley instead.
- Want a little kick? Toss some chili flakes into the pesto.
- Leftover pesto? Spread it on toast, stir it into scrambled eggs, or use it as a sandwich spread. Trust me, it’ll elevate anything.
Notes
Created, Prepared, Tried, and Tested by Rochelle from SA Tasty Recipes – Saffas Daily Recipes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 644
- Sugar: 1.3 g
- Sodium: 1043.4 mg
- Fat: 57.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 10.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 11.1 g
- Fiber: 2.3 g
- Protein: 25.1 g
- Cholesterol: 85.8 mg