Tomatoes are unbelievably healthy so I’m constantly inserting them into the meals I cook for my boys. Tomato paste is fantastic because it’s super sweet, and — go figure — kids love sweet. Tomato paste is thick, concentrated tomato puree, which means concentrated nutrients!
Invite the kids into the kitchen to help with this one. My boys like shaping the meatballs almost as much as shaping cookie dough!
Ingredients:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons bread crumbs
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- Olive oil for pan
Preparation:
Serves 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: less than 10 minutes
Add the meat to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Use a spoon or your hands to make a well in the center of the meat and add the remaining ingredients to the well and then mix to combine thoroughly.
Heat a large saute pan with the olive oil over high heat while you shape the meat into approximately 1-inch balls. Once the pan is hot, begin adding the meatballs. If you don’t hear a sizzle, wait until you do — otherwise your meat will become soggy and won’t brown properly.
Cook the meatballs for about 2 to 3 minutes per side, until they’re nicely browned. Then reduce the heat to medium-low and roll the meatballs around a bit. Cook until the center of each is cooked through, just a couple more minutes.
An additional note:
Since my oldest son loves ketchup, I always have Krazy Ketchup on hand. It’s delicious, has much less sugar than regular ketchup, and it has added vegetables! You can purchase Krazy Ketchup at Bristol Farms and in Whole Foods stores everywhere. You can also order it online.
