Recipe by www.slimmingeats.com

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Amazing Mega Stuffed Meatballs with Tomato Sauce - delicious beef meatballs with oozy melted mozzarella, peppers and onion inside.

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Ingredients

• 1 onion (small, finely diced)
• 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
• 1 cup crushed tomatoes (or passata)
• 1 cup stock (chicken or vegetable)
• 1 tbs tomato paste
• 1 tbs balsamic vinegar
• fresh parsley (chopped)
• salt
• black pepper
• cooking oil spray
• 500 g extra lean beef mince
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon italian parsley (fresh chopped)
• 1 tablespoon basil (fresh chopped)
• pinch salt
• black pepper
• 1 egg (beaten)
• ¼ cup Italian breadcrumbs (5.5 syns)
• 1 red pepper (finely chopped)
• 1 yellow pepper (finely chopped)
• 1 onion (finely chopped)
• 1 tbs tomato paste
• ⅔ cup stock
• ½ tbs paprika (or)
• 150 g fresh mozzarella (broken into equal size pieces)
• cooking oil spray

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Method

1. Preheat oven to 200c or 400f (gas mark 4)
2. Place the mince, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, parsley and a pinch of salt and pepper into a bowl and mix to combine. Add the breadcrumbs and egg and mix well. Set Aside
3. Spray a frying pan over a medium high heat with some cooking oil spray
4. Add the onion and peppers and saute for a couple of mins
5. Stir in the tomato paste and paprika and then gradually add stock from the 2/3 cup of stock and reduce down until the onions and peppers are softened.
6. Divide the meatballs mixture into 6 equal sized pieces.
7. Take one of the pieces and flatten into a pancake shape and them form up into a bowl. Add a spoonful of the tomato and pepper mixture and one chunk of mozzarella and close up the meat around the filling, making sure it is firmly closed to avoid any of the filling leaking out and then shape into meatball.
8. Place on parchment paper on a baking tray. Repeat for the 5 other meatballs. You may have some pepper and tomato filling left over, but don\'t worry you can add this into the sauce.
9. Spray over the top with cooking oil spray
10. Place the meatballs in the oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes, until golden.
11. Spray a frying pan over a medium high heat with cooking oil spray
12. Add the onion and garlic and fry for a few minutes to soften (add in a little stock if it starts to stick)
13. Add in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, stock and balsamic vinegar and bring to a boil, then simmer on a medium high heat until it reduces down to a thicker tomato sauce.
14. Once the meatballs are ready, drop them carefully into the sauce, spooning some sauce over the top of the meatballs and allow to simmer in the sauce for about 8-10 minutes to ensure the meatballs are cooked through)
15. Sprinkle with some fresh chopped parsley.
16. Serve with your choice of sides
17. Enjoy!!

View the recipe instructions at www.slimmingeats.com