Quick Meatballs with Peppers and Pasta

Quick Meatballs with Peppers and Pasta ready to eat in under 30 minutes.

With a little cheating by using frozen ready prepared veggies and a couple of store cupboard ingredients.

Meatballs with Pasta

I love my freezer as I know that if I'm stuck for time there's always something in there enabling me to rustle up a quick dinner after a busy day.

I have to admit I never used to venture into Iceland until they moved it to a more convenient location within our town centre and to be honest I still only popped in now and then.

When I was asked to create a recipe for their #PowerofFrozen campaign I had a proper good look and I hadn't realised what an absolutely fantastic range of frozen foods they now stock.

I was surprised to find things like frozen Tomato and Basil Soup - who knew?

Iceland even have ready prepared Superfoods too such as Zesty Bean Quinoa, Couscous with Vegetables and Bulgur Wheat with Veggies and Sultanas in a Lemon and Mint Dressing; how convenient to have those in the freezer.

I found the prices to be exceptionally good with big bags of veg (at the time of writing) from just £1 each.

But there's more! I was in my element having a good look round - check out the pack of 2 Crème Brûlée that come in terracotta dishes and can even be cooked from frozen.

What about Luxury Belgium Chocolate Melt in the Middle Puddings, how good do they sound?

I'm thinking my next dinner party will be made easy. Sadly I didn't come home with those this time as I just didn't have room in my freezer.

Fascinated by Iceland's range of Specialty Meats which include Wild Boar and Apple Sausages, Venison Steaks, Ostrich Fillets, Crocodile Burgers and more along with these Kezie Wagyu Burgers.

They contain 87% grass-fed New Zealand Wagyu Beef along with onions and spices and we thought these burgers were possibly the best burgers we've ever had; they were tasty and juicy.

Yep we were really impressed and so it seems my burger-making days could be over!

Frozen ingredients are so convenient and the great thing is that frozen food captures the natural quality, goodness and nutritional values of food.

According to research, the vitamin content of frozen produce us typically similar to, or higher than, fresh produce.

Also, that vitamin C and vitamin E levels were often significantly higher in the frozen produce compared with the fresh and that levels of vitamin B were similar.

Cheats Meatballs Recipe

So easy to make, I'd never used pre-chopped onions or ready sliced peppers before, but I have to say it is a lot less faffing about and this has to be the quickest dinner I've ever made and perfect for busy families. To cook you can stir-fry or pop them into the microwave.

The only other ingredients you need are a few tomatoes, a clove of garlic, dried oregano, sweet paprika, tomato ketchup and salt and pepper to taste.

Of course, you can add whatever else you fancy; perhaps swap the oregano for basil and leave out the garlic if you or your kids don't like it.

On with the recipe, when the pasta is cooked, drain and reserve a little of the starchy water and add a splash or two to the peppers and onions and stir.

Have a taste and adjust the seasoning with a little salt and pepper before adding the meatballs; make sure everything is piping hot and serve immediately.

Do you love your freezer do you use frozen veg? Pop over to Iceland Foods for more information.

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English

Yield: 2-3

Author: Jan Bennett

Quick Meatballs with Peppers and Pasta

Quick and easy meatballs with this little cheat.

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 25 Min

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil - for frying
• 1 x pack of your favourite ready-made burgers - defrosted frozen
• 100g (a big handful) frozen ready- diced onions
• a handful quick ready sliced frozen mixed peppers
• 1 clove of garlic – crushed using a garlic press, or very finely chopped
• 8-10 baby plum tomatoes – sliced into halves
• 1 tablespoon smoked sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• sea salt and black pepper
• 2 tablespoons tomato ketchup
• 160g Spaghetti – I used Bucatini pasta

Instructions

1. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to boil and cook the pasta according to the packet instructions.
2. Meanwhile, using your hands divide the burgers and roll them into 10 equally sized meatballs and set aside.
3. In a large frying pan, heat up a tablespoon of vegetable oil and throw in the onions and whilst stirring, cook for about 3 minutes and then add in the mixed peppers, continue to stir now and then and cook for a further 3 minutes.
4. While that’s happening, heat up a tablespoon of oil in another frying pan and fry the meatballs, turning regularly so they brown evenly; they will take about 12 minutes to cook through.
5. Add the garlic, oregano and sweet paprika and tomatoes to the onions and peppers and continue to cook for another few minutes.
6. When the pasta is cooked, drain and reserve a little of the starchy water and add a splash or two to the peppers and onions and stir. 
7. Have a taste and adjust the seasoning with a little salt and pepper. Add the meatballs; make sure everything is piping hot and serve immediately.

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Created using The Recipes Generator

Recipe post commissioned by Iceland for their #PowerofFrozen campaign. All thoughts and opinions are my own.