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EVERYDAY PACKED LUNCH

Turkey meatballs & tomato pasta

Soft turkey meatballs, a simple tomato sauce and small pasta. A reliable hot lunch to prepare ahead.

Serves
4 generously
From scratch
45 min
Morning with prep done
10–15 min
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AI illustration of Turkey meatballs & tomato pasta
AI-generated visual reference · not a photograph of a tested recipe.

Ingredients

4 generous portions · metric quantities

  • 600 g turkey mince
  • 1 egg (about 50 g without shell)
  • 50 g breadcrumbs
  • 150 g onion, peeled and quartered
  • 6 g garlic, peeled
  • 20 ml olive oil
  • 800 g chopped tinned tomatoes
  • 150 ml water, plus extra for reheating
  • 2 g dried oregano
  • 350 g small dried pasta
  • 200 g frozen peas
  • 3 g salt, or to taste
  • 1 g black pepper

Method

  1. Prepare the sauce

    Bimby TM7 + saucepan

    Put onion and garlic in the mixing bowl, fit the lid and chop 5 sec / speed 5, without heat. Scrape down. Alternatively finely chop with a knife. Transfer to a saucepan with olive oil and soften over medium heat for 8 minutes. Add tomatoes, 150 ml water and oregano. Simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  2. Bake the meatballs

    Bowl + oven + baking tray

    While the sauce simmers, heat oven to 200°C conventional / 180°C fan. Mix turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, half the salt and pepper gently by hand. Shape into 20 equal meatballs on a lined tray. Bake for 18–22 minutes, until the centre of the largest reaches 75°C for 30 seconds. Add to the simmering sauce; season with remaining salt as needed.

  3. Cook and combine

    Saucepan + colander

    While the meatballs bake, cook pasta in boiling water according to its packet, adding peas for the final 3 minutes. Drain and fold into the meatballs and sauce. Divide into four generous portions.

Kitchen notes

Contains wheat and egg. Freeze the meatballs and sauce separately from pasta for better texture. Makes 4 generous portions or 2 dinners plus 2 lunches.

Recipe development draft; not yet kitchen-tested. Timings are guides: check texture and doneness. Bimby settings are manual settings, not an official Guided Cooking programme.