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Hungarian-Style Meatballs

Ingredients 
Serves: 4

  • Fry light or coconut oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 340 g (12 oz) mushrooms, finely chopped
  • 340 g (12 oz) minced turkey
  • 50 g (1¾ oz) fresh breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 550 g (1¼ lb) small new potatoes
  • salt and pepper
  • 4 tbsp plain low-fat yogurt to serve
  • fresh flat-leaf parsley to garnish
  • Paprika and pepper sauce
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 red pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
  • 1 green pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 litre (1¾ pints) passata
  • pinch of caraway seeds

Method
Prep:35min  ›  Cook:45min  ›  Ready in:1hr20min

  1. Melt the oil in a heavy-based frying pan. Add the onion and mushrooms, and cook over a moderate heat, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes. The mushrooms give up their liquid initially, but this evaporates to leave the mixture greatly reduced, dark in colour and very thick. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and allow it to cool slightly.
  2. Add the minced turkey to the mushroom mixture and use a fork to break up the mince. Add the breadcrumbs, egg, parsley and a little salt and pepper. Mix the ingredients until thoroughly combined. Wet your hands to prevent the mixture from sticking to them, then shape it into 20 walnut-sized balls. Set aside.
  3. To prepare the sauce, heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole. Add the onion and cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened but not browned. Add the garlic and red and green peppers, then continue to cook, stirring constantly, for 2–3 minutes. Stir in the paprika and cook for 1 minute, then pour in the passata and bring to the boil over a high heat.
  4. Stir in the caraway seeds and salt and pepper to taste. Add the meatballs and the potatoes to the simmering sauce, taking care not to break up the meatballs. Bring the sauce back to simmering point, then cover and simmer gently for 35 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary.
  5. Ladle the meatballs, potatoes and sauce into bowls and swirl a little yogurt into each portion. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Omit the potatoes and serve the meatballs in their sauce with noodles or spaghetti.

 

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