Do you have trouble finding the dinner “sweet spot”? Are you torn between healthy and delicious, gluten-free and family-friendly, all while trying to get dinner on the table after a long day of work, school and extra-curriculars? Me, too! One of our favorite meals has solved that problem: meatballs with tomato sauce, buckwheat noodles and oven-roasted broccoli. Tasty, kid-friendly, quick to the table and rich in iron, vitamin C, B vitamins and fiber. Perfect for a weeknight or any night!
Let’s start with the meatballs. My favorite recipe uses dark ground turkey, which is a super lean, iron-rich meat. Lean meats need extra flavor: I use chopped fresh herbs, like parsley, sage and basil. For a little extra flavor boost, I add minced shallots when gently mixing the meat and herbs together. And instead of frying them, microwave them for 2 minutes and then finish cooking them in the quick homemade tomato sauce.
Meatballs go great with noodles: use buckwheat noodles instead of rice or corn to up the fiber. Buckwheat is “mis-named” – it isn’t wheat at all! It is high in fiber, B vitamins and iron, though, all important nutrients in a gluten-free diet.
Finally, I love oven-roasted broccoli. You get great flavor with a minimum of oil and with a squeeze of lemon before serving, a great boost of vitamin C. Did you know your body better absorbs iron and vitamin C when you eat them in the same meal?
Bon appetite!
Check out the following great dishes: