Spicy Meatballs with Tomato Sauce and Chickpeas

I apologise for the quality of photos, these were taken on my phone. Note to self: charge camera battery tomorrow!

Serves 6 - 8

For the meatballs

• 1kg minced lamb
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 3 tsp Tabasco sauce
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp red spice of your choice (peppercorn, chilli)
• 4 tsp ground cumin
• 4 tsp sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tbs oil, for frying

For the tomato sauce

• 2 Tbs oil
• 2 small onions, roughly chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 4 tsp ground cumin
• 1 x 400 g canned chopped tomatoes
• 1 x jar pasta sauce
• 4 tsp white sugar
• 4 tsp sea salt
• 2 x 4 cm cinnamon sticks (or you could use cinnamon)
• 1x 400g canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed

Mix all of the ingredients for the meatballs together in a large bowl. Shape into meatballs, your preferred size. Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook the meatballs until golden.

Meanwhile, make the sauce. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and fry the onions for 2 minutes over a high heat. Add the garlic and cumin and fry for a further 2 minutes. Transfer the meatballs to the onion mixture, then add tomatoes, pasta sauce, sugar, chickpeas and cinnamon stick. Simmer for 15 minutes/

Adjust the seasoning as necessary. Serve in bowls, topped with Greek yogurt and garnished with coriander. Serve with rice.      

Mince mixture.

Canned tomato added.....

.....along with the pasta sauce.

Served with rice.

Mi Goreng - Indo Mie Instant Noodles

These Indo Mie Instant Noodles are cheap and easy to prepare. I enjoy these on their own, or as I have done here, you can add more of your own ingredients. The more vegies, the better I say.

Serves 1 (large serve)

2 individual packets Indo Mie Noodles, including sachets

1 T oil

2 spring onions, chopped

2 Tbs fish sauce

2 eggs

lemon wedges, to serve

Prepare noodles as intructions direct, drain. In a wok or frypan, heat oil and stir fry spring onions. Add noodles, fish sauce and sachets (however save the Fried Onion sachet for later) and continue to stir fry for 1 minute. Place noodles in serving bowl, sprinkle with Fried Onions.

Meanwhile, in a separate frypan, fry eggs to your liking. Place on top of noodles and serve with a wedge of lemon.

Individual packets.

Beef Kefta

Would be even better with cumin added!

Serves 6 - 8

Kefta
1kg minced beef
2 brown onions
8 garlic cloves, crushed
4 tsp ginger, crushed
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp peppercorns, powdered
2 tsp crushed, dried chilli
1 handful parsley, chopped finely
2 eggs
salt and pepper, to season

Simmer Sauce
2 Tbs oil
2 brown onions, chopped roughly
700mL bottle tomato-based pasta sauce
400g can diced tomatoes

rice, to serve
1 extra handful parsley, roughly chopped

To make the raw kefta, combine all ingredients in a bowl using hands. Divide kefta mixture into tablespoon-sized balls and shape into 'torpedos' using the palm of your hand. Layout the kefta on a large, flat tray and place in the refrigerator for an hour or so.

To begin, heat oil in an extra large pot at medium-high heat. Add onion and fry until just opaque. Add kefta to pot and brown all over. Pour over pasta sauce and diced tomatoes, stirring gently to combine, ensuring not to break up kefta pieces. Cover and allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Sprinkle over parsley and serve with rice.

Raw kefta mixture.

Lean Tandoori Chicken with Rice

Lean. Tandoori. Chicken. Yum.

 

 

Serves 4 - 6

 

2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
3 T tandoori paste
1 cup thick natural yoghurt
4 chicken breast fillets, cubed
1 T oil
2 brown onions, chopped
1 can chopped tomatoes
steamed basmati rice, to serve
lemon wedges, to serve

1. Place garlic, ginger, tandoori paste, yoghurt and chicken in a bowl. Stir to combine, cover and refridgerate overnight.
   
2. Heat oil in a large pot, add onions and stir until softened. Add tandoori chicken mixture and heat until sauce thickens and chicken is cooked through.
3. Serve with steamed basmati rice, yoghurt and lemon wedges.

 With a view like this, who wouldn't want to cook in my family kitchen!

To finish off, store-bought profiteroles. My goal is to make these one day.

Healthy Fish Burgers

A quick and efficient meal to prepare. If your kids love fish then this could be a winner!
Think of this as a meal base and your imagination is the limit. You could also add more salad ingredients to this recipe, or 'Thai It Up' by adding coriander, beanshoots and chopped red chilli. Coating the fish in your favourite seasoning powder before grilling or frying gives a tasty twist (eg. Cajun, Morrocan, Five-Spice Powder etc...)

Either way, you still have a cost effective, healthy tummy filler.

Serves 2
2 Basa fish fillets
cooking spray
2 Saigon rolls (or large hotdog rolls)
2 handfuls mixed lettuce leaves 
1/2 small cucumber, sliced thinly
low-fat mayonnaise
sweet chilli sauce
salt and pepper, to season

Firstly, prepare salad ingredients and set aside. Slice rolls in half horizontally. Heat a large fry pan, spray with oil. Grill fish until cooked through.

To assemble, drizzle rolls with mayonnaise and sweet chilli sauce. Place lettuce and cucumber on roll and top with the grilled fish fillet. Season and serve.

Saigon Roll, bought from my local bakery.

Mayo and sweet chilli sauce.

Assembled salad items.

Extremely simple.

Moves Today
85 minutes walking

Total Kilojoules Burnt: 2644kj