Meatball Paella

Can you believe we are already at the end of April? It feels like only yesterday it was Liana’s first day of high-school and now April holidays are almost over. Where does the time go?

Work. Life. I’ve found myself working on a number of projects and did some travelling for The Wholesome Cook book including demos at Mind Body Spirit Festival in Brisbane over my birthday weekend. Then, I blinked and April holidays were upon us.

I first fell in love with paella in 2008 during a trip to Spain  where the rice-based dish is a bit of a national staple. However, it’s been one of those enjoy when out, but don’t make it at home dishes probably for the fact that not everyone in the family is as crazy about seafood as me with which the dish is traditionally dotted.

Spanish Meatballs With Quick Capsicum Paella

It’s also taken me quite some time to find the kind of rice that everyone would enjoy, since aside from Matt we are only occasional rice eaters.

When Tilda basmati rice company approached me about creating a recipe using their Basmati rice I was a little skeptical for the very same reason. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how good their rice tasted! It has a delicious slightly ‘nutty’ flavour and light, fluffy texture that’s retained when cooked into the paella-style dish. It didn’t give me any discomfort either, something that regular longrain rice tends to do so I avoid it.

I’ve heard it is a bit like the champagne of rice (Basmati can only be grown in one place on earth – the Himalayan foothills), so it has to be good, right? I might be a convert…

Chicken And Meatball Paella

Not to mention the convenience of steam-pouches. Personally, I don’t microwave the rice, instead I prefer to steam it for a couple of minutes to heat it through or add it to saucy numbers like this paella-meatball number or even the Sweet and Sour Pork in the archives here.

And so, thanks to a couple of small changes like using Tilda’s Basmati and swapping the seafood for meatballs from The Wholesome Cook book, this particular dish is on quite a regular rotation and a huge hit with the family. It gets the kids in the kitchen and I’ve made sure to add a good serving of veg to the mix, too. Perfect quick mid-week fix when too many emails await.

Feel free to use any mince you like - I used organic grass-fed beef mince here, but chicken, or pork would work just as well. If you prefer to use brown rice, feel free to use Basmati brown rice instead of the plain. If you do have a spare hands in the house, ask them to help with making the meatballs - it's great for bonding! Keep fennel fronts in the freezer and pop them into smoothies or soups for extra flavour.

Spanish Meatballs With Tomato Rice And Crunchy Green Beans

Hi! My name is Martyna and Wholesome Cook is a collection of yummy recipes and product reviews - a portfolio of sorts for my recipe development and testing business and a place where I explore natural, additive-free and allergy-friendly recipe ideas that come to mind. ‘We’ are based in Sydney, Australia.

Join 10, 000+ readers! Get delicious recipes and foodie tips delivered straight to your inbox. You will also receive 30% off my eBooks including the ever popular Shopping List and Dealing with Fussy Eaters ebooks.A quick and easy midweek meal idea. This one-pot spicy meatball pasta recipe will be cooked and ready to serve to the family in only 30 minutes.

We show you how to make your own homemade hot Italian tomato pasta sauce. With garlic, chilli and herbs added to give a nice hot kick to spice up your beef meatballs. Can be made with spaghetti or any other pasta shapes.

Chicken, Rabbit, And Pork Meatball Paella

To make your own Italian style spicy meatball sauce with pasta you will need. Meatballs, chorizo, onion, garlic, chilli, tomato puree, chopped tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, herbs and spaghetti.

Meatballs- You can use shop brought beef meatballs or make your own up? Or substitute for turkey, chicken or pork meatballs instead. Or why not use vegetarian meatballs instead?

Chorizo - Adds a great flavour to the homemade tomato meatball sauce, can use bacon lardons instead. Or if trying to lower fat content in the dish. Leave this out and add some smoked paprika instead to still give a delicious smoky taste.

Low Carb Paella

Vinegar - Balsamic, sherry or red wine vinegar, will all work well to bring a pleasant tang to the homemade tomato sauce.

Garlic, Chilli and Sundried Tomato Puree - We used the Gia brand of puree to cheat and make the tomato pasta sauce for the meatballs even quicker for a midweek dish. Whilst still packed full of Italian flavouring.

Herbs - We used dried Italian mixed herbs for flavouring the spicy meatballs. It is a mixture of basil, oregano, rosemary, marjoram and thyme. You can use fresh or frozen instead.

Chicken & Chorizo Paella

Pasta - You can use any pasta shape for this recipe. We have used spaghetti, tagliatelle, tripoline, rigatoni and penne in the past. They all work well.

We use 2 teaspoon of chilli puree which is equal to 2 chillies. This adds a lovely warm spice not too hot!

Why not add chilli flakes when served up at the end. To give more of a kick for some and not the others?

Cozy Baked Cabbage Roll Meatballs

We use our cast iron dish to create all our one-pot recipes. We highly recommend them as they are great to cook with and also easy to clean and will last you a lifetime!!

It is a meal on its own. But if you want it to stretch to more people simply add garlic bread. Or check out The Devil wears Salad for some great salad recipes.

This spicy meatball pasta is a regular one-pot dinner for our family. So quick and easy, perfect for midweek. If you wanted another one-pot meal idea, check out our Pork and Prawn Jambalaya.

Moose Spanish Meatballs And Vegetable Paella

If you are looking for another meaty pasta dish we have Bolognese Pasta Bake or try fellow recipe creator Jack's delicious Italian Sausage Pasta.

If you have leftovers, meatball and pasta can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Infact I find the tomato sauce flavours soaks in to the pasta and tastes even better the next day!

You can freeze for another day, in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen in the oven or defrost first to reheat.

How To Make Meatballs

A quick and easy midweek meal idea, this one-pot spicy meatball pasta recipe will be cooked and ready to serve to the family in only 30 minutes.

How to make your own homemade Italian tomato pasta sauce. With garlic, chilli and herbs added to give a nice hot kick to spice up your beef meatballs.

Calories: 494 kcal Carbohydrates: 50 g Protein: 19 g Fat: 23 g Saturated Fat: 6 g Cholesterol: 43 mg Sodium: 416 mg Potassium: 300 mg Fiber: 2 g Sugar: 3 g Vitamin A: 319 IU Vitamin C: 5 mg Calcium: 32 mg Iron: 2 mg

Chorizo & Chicken Paella Recipe

If you love this one-pot meal, check out our easy corned beef hash or for other pasta ideas our Italian pot roast orSlow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese are delicious.