Hidden Veggie Italian Meatballs
Kid-friendly Italian meat balls with hidden veggies the whole family will love!
Ingredients:
1 lb Ground Turkey, OR grass fed Ground Beef, OR Ground Bison, OR Ground Venison
(pastured raised game meat is a very nutrient dense & mineral dense alternative).
1 Carrots (chopped finely or grated)
1 Yellow onion (chopped finely)
1 Zucchini (chopped finely)
4 Pressed garlic cloves (not chopped, but pressed)
2 sprigs of Fresh thyme and Oregano (chopped finely)
(Fresh herbs are more nutrient dense than dried, so if and when you can opt for fresh herbs it can definitely add more bang for your buck)
1/4 cup chopped fresh Parsley
1 tbsp Garlic seasoning, Italian seasoning
1/2 tbsp salt
1/4 cup Grated Parmesan cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano (Optional, if dairy free)
(Parmesan is naturally low in lactose and can be a good alternative to those who are lactose sensitive; it also contains many gut healing benefits like improving gut microbiota).
1 Egg or 1 flax egg
(Follow directions on ground flaxseed package - it will contain instructions for using flaxseeds as an egg substitute).
Italian Breadcrumbs or Gluten Free Breadcrumbs
(Be careful with breadcrumbs as they do contain higher amounts of preservatives and additives. I highly recommend gluten free organic breadcrumbs such as Spicly Italian Quinoa Breadcrumbs or Aleias GF Breadcrumbs/ Panko)
Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix all ingredients in large bowl using hands to combine. You want everything evenly mixed.
Roll into balls and place on a greased baking sheet or parchment paper covered baking dish (avoid using foil)
Baked for 20 to 25 minutes at 400 degrees. Half way through, turn meatballs over so they can brown on each side.
(Cook time depends on how big you roll the meat balls. The larger the meat ball the longer they will need to cook).
Serves 2 to 3 people. For larger families double the recipe.
Serve with marinara sauce with spaghetti, or on a meatball sub, or any dish you like! Also great as a snack!
