Juicy meatballs in a flavourful tomato sauce are always a dinner-table hit. This version gives a nutritional upgrade to a beloved classic — with extra protein, fibre, and plant-based nutrients folded into each bite.
The recipe comes from the schoolkids menu I developed in collaboration with nutritionist Jaanika Tapver for Pere ja Kodu magazine in September 2021. We created a full day’s worth of meals that meet both nutritional needs and real-life appetite. This included everything from sugar-free muesli and banana bread to a simple salad and these hearty, satisfying meatballs.
At first, we were unsure — would kids actually eat buckwheat salad? But after introducing the idea to a class of primary schoolers, it became one of their most loved recipes from that day. So, yes — if approached with flavour and creativity, even the pickiest eaters can surprise you.
As for these meatballs, they tick all the right boxes for a weekday dinner: high-quality beef mince, wholemeal flour, and beans blended so seamlessly into the mix that only you will know they’re there. Served with a tray of golden vegetable fries, this is a meal that pleases the whole table — and quietly packs in more nourishment than it lets on.