Adzuki bean ‘meat’balls
Serves 4
1 can adzuki beans
250g semi-sundried tomatoes
½ cup walnuts
½ cup almond meal
2 cloves garlic
4 tsp dried basil
4 tsp dried oregano
2 tbsp soy sauce
Pinch salt and pepper
For the sauce
2 carrots
1 brown onion
1 can diced tomatoes
400g tomato passata
4 tsp dried basil
4 tsp dried oregano
4 tsp thyme
Pinch salt and pepper
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius. Place all the ‘meat’ball ingredients into a bowl. Using an immersion blender, combine ingredients together until a smooth, sticky mixture has formed. With wet hands, roll the mixture into roughly 30g balls.
Warm a frying pan to medium heat, adding a splash of olive oil. Cook each of the ‘meat’balls, rotating them gently until a golden crust has formed. Line a tray with baking paper and place the ‘meat’balls into the oven for 20 minutes (do not overcook otherwise they will become dry).
To prepare the sauce, warm a deep pan to medium heat. Finely dice the onion and sauté in the pan until softened and slightly golden. Finely grate the carrots and add to the same pan along with the diced tomatoes, passata, basil, oregano, thyme and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Using an immersion blender, mix until the sauce has become smooth. Leave to simmer for 30 minutes.
To serve, place ‘meat’balls into the sauce and enjoy. Yum!
Simply Modify:
(IDDSI 7) Easy to chew: Suitable.
(IDDSI 6) Soft & bite-sized: Roll the balls into 1.5cm x 1.5cm pieces or cut up once served. While eating ensure the balls have mixed through the sauce so each mouthful is cohesive (no mixed consistencies).
(IDDSI 5) Minced & moist: Using a fork or food processor, mince the ‘meat’balls until lumps are no bigger than 4mm. Mix the ‘meat’ball mixture through the sauce until cohesive. If liquid separates from the spoon, thickener may need to be added. Refer to the test guide as needed.
(IDDSI 4) Pureed: After removing ‘meat’balls from the oven, place them into a conventional blender and begin to puree. In increments, add small amounts of the sauce until the desired puree has been achieved (ensure smooth with no lumps). Refer to the test guide as needed.
