![Mini pork & veg balls A saucepan with meatballs and sauce by a serving bowl with spaghetti](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2020/08/gfkids_meatballs-8a299ee.jpg?quality=90&resize=440,400)
Toddler recipe: Batch-cook mini pork & veg balls
- Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:
- Cook:
- Easy
- Makes 6-8 toddler portions or 2 adults' + 1-2 kids' portions
For the meatballs
- 2 tsp rapeseed oil
- 1 small onionchopped
- 1 slice wholemeal breadtorn into chunks
- 1 carrotcut into chunks
- 1 celerystick, cut into chunks
- 1 red peppercut into chunks
- 500g lean pork mince
- 1 egg
For the sauce
- 1 tsp rapeseed oil
- 2 garlic clovescrushed
- 2 x 390g cartons passata
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp sugar(optional)
- fresh basilor parsley, chopped (optional)
- cooked spaghettiand grated cheese, to serve
Nutrition: Per toddler serving, without pasta and cheese
- kcal145
- fat5glow
- saturates1g
- carbs8g
- sugars6g
- fibre2g
- protein16g
- salt0.28g
Method
step 1
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat 2 tsp rapeseed oil in a medium saucepan. Add the onion and cook for 5-10 mins until softened. Blitz the bread in a food processor until you have breadcrumbs. Add the cooked onion, carrot, celery and peppers and pulse until finely chopped. You may need to use a spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl a few times. Add the pork, egg and a little black pepper, then pulse to combine.
step 2
Divide the mixture in half. Shape half into small meatballs about the size of large marbles and arrange on a baking tray lined with foil. Shape the rest into golf-ball-sized meatballs. Arrange on a lined tray and open freeze. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag and save for another meal. Now bake the mini meatballs for 25 mins or until browned and cooked through.
step 3
Meanwhile, make the sauce. Using the same pan that you cooked the onion in, heat the 1 tsp oil, add the garlic and cook for 2 mins. Pour in the passata, add the thyme and sugar. Simmer for 5-10 mins. Gently stir the meatballs and any juices into the sauce and heat through for a few mins. Stir the meatballs through the spaghetti and serve with grated cheese.