Meatballs with orzo (Slimming World friendly)
If you have never cooked orzo give this a try it's a pasta shaped like rice and cooks really quickly and easily, I bought mine in ASDA so it's available in most large supermarkets. I adapted this recipe from Nigella Lawsons latest "At my table" cook book just needed a couple of adjustments to make it SW friendly.
You need a large ovenproof casserole dish big enough to hold everything in and is safe on the hob with a lid, I think you could probably use a wok and use a a few sheets of foil as a lid but be careful when removing the foil between stages. It's a great 'one pot' dish and I usually serve it with a side salad or some steamed greens.
Meatballs with orzo (Slimming World friendly)
500g extra lean minced beef
1 large egg (beaten)
salt and pepper
2 x tins chopped tomatoes
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp dried basil
2 cloves garlic (crushed)
1 large onion (finely chopped)
1 tbsp tomato puree
low calorie spray oil
275g orzo pasta
First make the meatballs, Mix the egg and a tsp each of salt and pepper in a bowl with the minced beef and mix together well (easiest way is to use your hands) and pinch off small amounts and roll between your palms in balls about the size of a walnut and place them on a tray or a plate as you go you should get 20-30 meatballs depending on size. If you have a small child around get them on this it's quite fun.
Spray the casserole dish you are using with the spray oil and fry the onion and garlic over a low heat until soft. Add the oregano,basil and a teaspoon of salt and then tip in both tins of chopped tomatoes and refill the tins half full of water and swirl that around and put that in the dish along with a litre of water and stir well . Bring to the boil then turn the heat down put the lid on and simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove the lid and drop the meatballs in carefully , bring it back up to the boil then turn the heat down, Put the lid back on and simmer for 20 minutes.
Next, Remove the lid and stir in the orzo and bring back to a boil then reduce the heat so it's slowly bubbling and cook for 15-20 minutes until the pasta is cooked give it a good careful stir now and then so the pasta doesn't stick.
Syn free and serves 4-6 people
