Oven-Baked Meatballs in Tomato Gravy

A great option for a hearty and beautiful lunch! These hedgehogs with gravy are cooked in the oven in a thick tomato sauce with the addition of chopped vegetables. The result is a complete, high-calorie meal for serving on any table, including a holiday one!
cook time: 45 min
Ethan Rowley
Oven-Baked Meatballs in Tomato Gravy

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

204
Calories
13g
Fat
17g
Carbs
7g
Protein

Ingredients (3 portions)

Basic:

Onion 1 pc
Salt to taste
Sugar 0.5 tsp
Ground black pepper to taste
Water 150 ml
Rice 150 g
Tomato paste 3 tbsp
Carrot 1 pc
Minced meat 350 g

Recipe instructions

Step 1

Step 1
How to make hedgehogs in the oven with rice and carrot gravy? Prepare the indicated products. Peel the onions and carrots and rinse. Use minced pork and beef, fatty, so that the dish does not taste dry. Instead of tomato paste, it is permissible to use tomato juice, tomato pulp without peel, ketchup, but not bitter. Buy long rice, not steamed.

Step 2

Step 2
Place the minced meat in a separate deep container. Rinse the rice in several waters and add it to the minced meat. If you are preparing a larger number of hedgehogs, be sure to add a chicken egg to the minced meat with rice, otherwise the buns will disintegrate during baking! Thoroughly mix the minced meat with rice, seasoning it with salt and pepper. If you wish, you can first boil the rice until half cooked, cool slightly, and then mix with the minced meat.

Step 3

Step 3
Form small balls with your hands and place them in a baking dish. Leave space between the buns in the pan for the vegetables and gravy, and place them at equal distances from each other. If your minced meat is fatty, then you do not need to grease the mold, and vice versa — grease the mold with vegetable oil if the minced meat consists of pulp without fat.

Step 4

Step 4
Cut the onion into small cubes and grate the carrots on a coarse grater. Place the vegetable mixture between the minced meat and rice balls. Combine tomato paste, sugar and water, pour this sauce into the mold. It is necessary to add sugar, as tomato paste tastes sour. If you wish, you can use various spices and herbs to taste: dried thyme, rosemary, herbes de Provence.

Step 5

Step 5
Place the pan in the oven at 220 C and bake for about 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Remember that porcelain and glass forms are placed in a cold oven, metal and cast iron — in a heated oven. Also keep in mind that the baking temperature and time are approximate; be guided by the features of your equipment. Remove the finished dish after baking and let it cool slightly.

Step 6

Step 6
Place the hedgehogs in the gravy on plates and serve warm with sour cream, mayonnaise or other sauces. Donʼt forget about fresh herbs or vegetable salad to boot!

Additional rubrics

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