Recipe: Courgetti and veggie meatballs

Instructions

Step 1

Make the sauce: mist a large pan with cooking spray and fry the onion over a medium heat for 6-8 minutes until slightly softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, making sure it doesn’t burn. 

Step 2

Add the fresh and tinned tomatoes, oregano, bay leaf, tomato purée, chilli flakes and balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, add a splash of water and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring regularly, and adding more water if it gets too thick. 

Step 3

Meanwhile, make the veggie meatballs. Mist a small frying pan with cooking spray and fry the onion and pepper over a medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring regularly, until softened. Set aside to cool.

Step 4

Blitz the kidney beans with the breadcrumbs, egg, paprika and tomato purée in a food processor until fairly smooth. Transfer to a bowl and stir through the cooled onion and pepper, and the oregano. Season well. 

Step 5

Preheat the oven to 200°C, fan 180°C, gas mark 6. Line a large baking sheet with baking paper. Shape the bean mixture into 12 equal balls and bake for 30-40 minutes until crisp and lightly browned. 

Step 6

Around 5 minutes before the meatballs are done, heat a large frying pan misted with cooking spray over a high heat. Add the courgette, season, and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring, until just softened. 

Step 7

Around 5 minutes before the meatballs are done, heat a large frying pan misted with cooking spray over a high heat. Add the courgette, season, and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring, until just softened. 

Step 8

Stir the tomato sauce through the courgetti and divide between 4 plates. Top with 3 veggie meatballs per person and serve garnished with the basil.