Scrumptious Slow Cooked Meatballs

There is something about mince meat and winter….well .....okay then, and summer..... and autumn and spring actually! Such a versatile item that with the addition of other ingredients can go far. The meatball recipe I have made today will be consumed for dinner with the rest being turned into school lunches.

I shall post a picture fo the finished recipe this evenign after it has cooked.

The best thing about using a slow cooker is the minimal use of dishes. I place some hot water in the sink as I commence cooking and wash and dry the dishes as I go.

You may prefer to brown you meatballs prior to placing them in the slow cooker, but I am not fussed either way. They still taste the same and the sauce covers them anyway.

What you need:

• 1 bunch of parsley, chopped
• 1 finely chopped white onion
• 1 stalk of finely chopped celery
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped
• 800g heart smart/organic beef mince
• 2 teaspoons mixed herbs
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 red chilli (optional)
• 1 beef stock cube
• 3-4 sliced of chopped raw bacon (optional
• ¼ cup of grated cheese Tasty or Parmesan
• ¼ cup breadcrumbs
• 2 farm fresh eggs (do not use caged eggs please)
• salt and pepper (1/2 teaspoon of each)
• 2 cups of chicken stock (homemade preferably)

• 1 pouch of tomato paste (sometimes I cut the stock in half and use 1  tin of tomatoes)
• white rice and wholemeal self raising flour to roll meatballs in

 

Now I cheat here. Except for the beef, bacon, cheese and breadcrumbs, I simply place all ingredients in a food processor and give it a quick whiz. DO NOT PULVERISE!

Place this mixture in a large bowl with remaining ingredients.

Roll meatball size patties in your hand and place these on a plate to rest.

Once you have finished making all of your meatballs. Roll these in white rice and then wholemeal self raising flour.

Refrigerate or freeze them for an hour. That said, I very rarely do this as I simply want to get them in the cooker.

Now for the slow cooker part. Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker. Place your meat balls into the slow cooker.

 Stack them nicely folks.

Place stock and tomato paste in a bowl, whisk and pour over the meat balls.

Slow cook for five hours and serve with rice.

Variations: add a bunch of coriander/basil.