blog off/cook off, episode 2: Chicken Meatballs

Today's dish is one healthy meal.  And again, very easy to make.  Here's what you'll need:

500 grams chicken mince

1/2 cup smooth ricotta

(I've had a few emails since this post went live, asking what ricotta I use, so here it is....you should be able to find it in the cheese/deli section of your supermarket, usually next to the cottage cheeses)

1/2 cup breadcrumbs

1 egg

season with salt & pepper, mix together and roll mixture into balls...

cook the lovely little meatballs in the frypan until they're golden brown....

then transfer them to a baking dish....

and start on your sauce.

For this, you'll need

an onion, chopped finely

Gourmet Garden's Chunky Garlic

and Hot Chilli (although that's optional)

a tin of tomato puree

1 cup of chicken stock and

a tin of lentils (that you've rinsed and drain)

Yes, lentils are in this recipe.

No, I'm not a hippy.

Again, I've had a few people message me to say they won't be doing the lentil bit.  Don't be scared of the lentils, they really do add to the flavour and the kids will love them.  Promise.  Just make sure you get yourself the tinned variety, like these ones....

Throw your onion in the pan and add a good dollop of the Chunky Garlic... 

Fry it off and then add your tin of tomato puree....

If you like things spicy, add a dollop of Gourmet Garden's Hot Chilli.

Or not.  Totally up to you.

Whack in your rinsed lentils and bring the sauce to the boil.

Then pour it over the browned meatballs,

cover with foil and bung it in the oven.

At around 200 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Which will give you just enough time to clean up your mess...

AND whip up some yummy bruschetta/toasty treats as a side dish,

which FYI is nowhere near as tricky as it sounds.

Promise.

Just slice some sourdough, smother it with Chunky Garlic, Basil and Thyme...

Add a good lug of olive oil....

and bake for about 10 minutes.

Top with tomato and leave some plain.

For the fussy non-tomato eaters out there.

Of which I have two.

By the time you've whipped that up and cleaned the kitchen, 

your meatballs will be done.

Serve it up to your family, along with the herby crusty bread thingys 

(yes, that is the technical term) and enjoy!

PS:  This meal can totally be made in advance.

Just whack it in the microwave to re-heat.