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Green Meatballs

   

Kids Recipe Challenge winning recipe – Honourable mention

Category : School day lunch, grades 1-3

From Nepean, Jillian’s recipe inspired this green meatball version to enjoy hot from a thermos or cold packed in kids’ lunches. Send along some dipping sauce for a fun addition or pack them in a sub bun for a meatball sandwich.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Makes: 30 meatballs

 

Serve with spaghetti or mashed potatoes and baby carrots.

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

Chopped fresh broccoli florets

750 mL 3 cups
Extra-lean ground beef, chicken or pork 250 g 8 oz
Finely chopped fresh ginger        15 mL 1 tbsp

Rice wine (mirin) (optional) or use rice wine vinegar  

15 mL tbsp

1 clove garlic, minced

Each salt and pepper     2 mL

½ tsp

Directions

  1. In a saucepan of boiling water, cook broccoli for about 8 minutes or until very tender.
  2. Drain well and using potato masher, mash broccoli until fairly smooth to make about 250 mL (1 cup); let cool slightly.
  3. In a large bowl, combine beef, ginger, rice wine, garlic, salt and pepper. Add broccoli and using hands, mix together until broccoli is evenly distributed.
  4. Using about 15 mL (1 tbsp) of the mixture roll into balls and place on parchment paper or foil lined baking sheet to make about 30 meatballs.
  5. Bake in 180°C (375°F) oven for about 20 minutes or until no longer pink inside and golden brown.

Tip #1: You can pan-fry the meatballs in a large nonstick skillet until golden brown on the outside and no longer pink inside.


Nutritional information: per serving (6 meatballs) Calories: 90, Protein: 10 g, Fat: 4 g, Carbohydrate: 4 g, Fibre: 2 g, Sodium: 284 mg

 

Glossary

Carbohydrate
Description:
One of the three macronutrients, along with protein and fat, that supplies energy (calories) to the body. There are three categories of carbohydrates: sugars, starch and fiber.
Fat
Description:
Is one of the nutrients, along with protein and carbohydrate, that supplies energy (calories) to the body. Dietary fats include saturated (animal flesh, butter, margarine, processed and fried foods), trans (hydrogenated oils) and unsaturated (vegetable oils). Unsaturated fats are the preferred type for health reasons.
Fibre
Description:
Is the part of the plant that cannot be digested, also called complex carbohydrates. Fibre can help your digestive tract work, regulate blood sugar, and lower blood cholesterol.

Provided by the Ministry of Health Promotion.

Ontario

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