This is a simple dish that is enhanced by a few ingredients including spinach. The fact that the red kidney beans are already soft, it is now so easy to incorporate it as an ingredients in this dish. There is no soaking and waiting to have it expanded and eventually become softer by cooking. At any rate, since I haven´t cooked this for a while, yesterday had been the time to make it again.
I made the meatballs first so that they are readily and easily combined in the casserole when then latter is cooked.
Apart from being easy to prepare, it is really delicious. If you try this recipe, you will know what I mean. On a cold rainy day like ours, we would prefer to have this because it is filling the stomach because of the noodles. I wouldn´t say it is heavy but there is an amount of fulfillment even if you just take a small bowl of the casserole.
And so, below are all ingredients I used as well as its preparations. The recipe for the meatballs is also included below...
How to make the Meatballs
Makes about 10 meatballs ( depending on the size you want, they can be smaller or bigger)
Ingredients:
250 g ground pork and beef (50/50)
4 toast bread, cut into small pieces
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 onion, cut into cubes
1/2 cup low fat milk
1 egg
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon worcester sauce
1 tablespoon flour
salt (optional, as the soy sauce already contains salt)
a dash of ground black pepper
cooking oil (for deep frying)
1...In a blender with the standard knife, put all ingredients except for the ground meat, salt and pepper and oil. Pulse until the ingredients are ground and resemble coarse grain . Now, change the knife of the blender to the dough hook or batter beater. Add the ground meat and combine it with the coarsely blended toast. Add a bit of salt and pepper, taste the meat according to your preference.
2...Wet your palms with water and scoop a spoon of the blended meat and with your wet hands shape the blended meat into balls. Deep fry the meatballs for about 4 minutes including turning each under medium heat. Remove onto a plate lined with a paper towel. Keep warm until needed.
Kidney Beans Casserole With Macaroni And Meatballs
4 Servings
Ingredients
1 250 g red kidney Beans in a can, liquid drained
1 1/2 cups macaroni noodles, precooked "al dente"
1 can peeled tomato (used about 3-4 tomatoes)
3 garlic, crushed
1 white onion, cut into small pieces (dice style)
1 red onion, cut into small pieces (for the color)
1 yellow bell pepper , diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 handful fresh spinach
a dash of ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cups skimmed milk or low fat milk
1 tablespoon créme fraiche (Alternative: Philadelphia cream cheese)
1 vegetable cube
salt
ground black pepper
vegetable cooking oil
Preparations:
1...In a hot pan with 2 tablespoon cooking oil, fry the garlic followed by the white onions until brown in color. Add the drained kidney beans, the tomatoes about 3 pieces, stir-fry to blend the ingredients. Turn the heat to medium.
2... Add the macaroni, the bell peppers, the red onion, and the spinach. Continue mixing the ingredients, then add the milk, the thyme, nutmeg, the vegetable cube and the créme fraiche. Blend all the added ingredients. Turn heat to medium, cook for three more minutes until the liquid boils, then turn the heat to low.
3... Add salt and ground black pepper, adjust the taste according to your preference. Add the meatballs, mixing gently to coat the meat with the liquid. Serve hot.
HAPPY COOKING!
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