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Nope! No pasta, and it wasn’t even needed.
baked turkey-vegetable meatballs
roasted yellow pepper sauce
charred and braised escarole
Meatballs without pasta? It’s actually a good thing. Why? 1) it’s a delicious, balanced and healthy dinner; and 2) there’s room and calories left for a little gelato later. 
I started building the meatballs knowing I wasn’t making pasta to accompany them so I had a little fun with the ingredients. I didn’t think I would be making a sauce either so I chose to add vegetables and dates to keep them moist.
At the same time I was baking the meatballs, I roasted some mini sweet peppers and a few cloves of garlic. When they were done, I pureed a few of the yellow peppers with evvo, a roasted garlic clove, red chili flakes and a squeeze or two of honey to make a sauce. Although it may look like French’s Mustard in the photos, I assume you it was a helluva lot tastier.
The escarole was charred in a skillet with a clove of garlic and then given a quick braise with chicken broth.
Note: FOODalogue suggests this recipe as a guide to food pairings and techniques to be experimented with…in your own kitchen…to your own spice and taste levels…and to your preferred portion sizes.
17 Comments
Those meatballs look so good!! I agree that you don’t necessarily need pasta with them. They’re like little round meatloaves! LOVE the sauce – so easy, too!
the wicked noodle recently posted..coq au vin
Neat that you are adding veggies, as well as dates and almonds to the meatballs! Love the yellow pepper sauce too!
5 Star Foodie recently posted..Pasta with Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Smoked Ham, and Délice de Bourgogne
We’ve been trying to cut out a lot of grains–my kids love meatballs so maybe these would go down the hatch! I’ve usually added veggies to the bolognese sauce but putting them into the meatballs is genius!
At first I was confused about no pasta, then you mentioned the gelato and I got it !
Love that you’ve used yellow bell peppers. Sometimes they must feel like they are the forgotten pepper when everyone always chooses their red sisters.
Sam
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen recently posted..Short Ribs Provencale – an excellent dish for entertaining
I’m familiar with the pastaless meatballs concept. Down here we make them in a guajillo pepper sauce and call them albondigas. Your stuffed meatballs look very appetizing. Could they go in a sandwich?
Ben recently posted..Nixtamal and Tortillas
Absolutely! I’m already thinking about a couple of leftover ones in a sandwich with the yellow pepper spread.
I love meatballs in all their incarnations–Middle Eastern, Italian, Swedish, Asian, Moroccan…Yep, meatballs are a concept I can wrap myself around, and these look absolutely wonderful. I love the little fleck of green zucchini and the puddle of yellow pepper sauce. As always, your recipes are inventive and look delicious.
Flavors of the Sun recently posted..Roasted Eggplant Bisque with Honey-Harissa Sauce and Parmesan Crisps
I think I see a meatball sandwich in my future. I love the special additions like dates and carrots. The ingredients remind me a bit of Middle Eastern food. Maybe a spicy harissa as an alternative to the pepper sauce?
Katie recently posted..Surreal Video of Buenos Aires
Yes, a spicy harissa is a good idea. Thanks Katie.
Eating meatballs without the pasta is a wise choice!. I do love meatballs!
Creative and beautiful. GREG
sippitysup recently posted..My Cookbook: Who, What, Where & PIe
Love the perspective on the opening shot Joan!
LL
Lori Lynn recently posted..Brunch. Manhattan. Beach.
Absolutely love it! These not only look fantastic, but really who would need pasta
I thought it was queso on top, but like your salsa better. I could definitely pop a few of these. I just love those sweet roasted pepers. Have to go get some….
Platanos, Mangoes & Me! recently posted..Arroz con Gandules y Chorizo – Rice with Pigeon Peas + Spanish Sausage
What adelicious looking meatballs! I love the way you served them.
Cheers,
Rosa
Perfect for a cocktail party! Great idea!
Cristina, from BA to Paris recently posted..Argentinean Chapa Bread..Enormous Sandwiches, to Say “Hello” to Buenos Aires, or Why “Love is Food” in the Argentinean Mind !
I love the look and sound of these meatballs and they are so healthy to boot. The “mustard” sauce sounds yummy too.
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