Lunch: Party-Perfect Meatballs

Recipe by Whitney Wright To make ahead, prepare meatballs through Step 2, and freeze in zip-top plastic freezer bags for up to 1 month. To reheat from frozen, pick up with Step 3 and warm the meatballs in the sauce over low heat. For serving, keep them w

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Lemon

Health benefits of Party-Perfect Meatballs

Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

Ingredients

1 cup pitted kalamata olives
1/2 small red onion, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons lemon zest
3/4 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound ground beef
1 pound mild Italian sausage, casings removed
1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
3 cups beef broth
1/3 cup hot pepper jelly

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 °. Pulse first 5 ingredients in a food processor 8 to 10 times or until chopped. Stir together panko, next 6 ingredients, and olive mixture in a large bowl until well combined. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls, and place 1 inch apart on aluminum foil-lined jelly-roll pans.
Bake at 450 ° for 12 minutes. Cool 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat a large saucepan over medium heat 2 minutes. Add tomato paste to dry pan, and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes or until paste begins to brown and coat bottom of pan. Increase heat to high, and add beef broth, stirring to loosen bits of tomato paste from bottom of pan. Whisk until smooth. Whisk in hot pepper jelly until combined. Reduce heat to low. Add cooked meatballs, and serve warm.
Note: Sauce may be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days.