Description
Rustic potato and meatball casserole combines comfort and flavor in one delightful dish. Layers of tender potatoes, savory meatballs, and rich sauce invite you to savor a soul-warming meal that promises satisfaction with each hearty bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 700 grams (24.7 ounces) minced meat
- 1 egg
- 4 sprigs of parsley, finely chopped
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chili pepper
- 1 teaspoon thyme
Vegetables and Cooking Components:
- 400 grams (14.1 ounces) potatoes, peeled and sliced
- 50 grams (1.8 ounces) butter
- Red pepper, sliced
- Green pepper, sliced
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 glasses of water (400 milliliters / 13.5 fluid ounces)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Thoroughly blend ground meat with finely chopped aromatics including onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, and seasonings using gentle mixing techniques to maintain meat’s tenderness.
- Craft compact, uniform meatballs approximately 1-inch in diameter, ensuring consistent size for even cooking.
- Sear meatballs in a hot skillet with minimal oil over medium-high heat, rotating carefully to achieve golden-brown exterior, approximately 6-8 minutes.
- Remove browned meatballs and reserve, maintaining skillet’s residual flavorful oils.
- Introduce sliced potatoes into identical skillet, seasoning with butter and herbs, allowing them to develop crisp golden edges through careful browning.
- Incorporate vibrant bell peppers, sautéing until edges become slightly caramelized and peppers retain slight crispness.
- Prepare sauce by whisking tomato paste with water, creating a rich, harmonious liquid seasoning.
- Reintroduce meatballs into skillet, gently coating with prepared sauce, ensuring complete coverage.
- Reduce heat, cover skillet, and allow ingredients to simmer harmoniously for 20-25 minutes at low temperature, permitting flavors to meld and meatballs to cook thoroughly.
- Let casserole rest 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to slightly thicken and flavors to intensify.
Notes
- Enhance meatball flavor by letting the mixture rest for 15 minutes before shaping, allowing spices to meld together.
- Prevent meatballs from falling apart by chilling them in the refrigerator for 10 minutes before cooking, which helps them hold their shape.
- Make the dish gluten-free by substituting breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs, maintaining the same binding properties.
- Reduce fat content by using lean ground meat or a mix of turkey and beef, creating a lighter version without sacrificing taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg