The protein cooking time listed in this recipe has been updated.
As of December 2025, we’ve revised cooking times for all our proteins to reflect improved food safety guidance.
Check out the latest recommended times in our Cooking Guidelines.
Smoky 'Albondigas' Meatball Pasta
Tapas meatballs
High protein
New
5 plants
Serving size
Ingredients
- 11g beef stock powder (Rice flour, Yeast Extract (Yeast Extract, Salt), Potato Starch, Onion Powder, Flavouring, Salt, Tomato Powder, Carrot Powder, Ground Black Pepper.)
- 2 tbsp smoked paprika
- 4 tbsp sundried tomato paste (Tomato Puree, Sundried Tomatoes, Rapeseed Oil, Water, Pine Kernels, Salt)
- 1 handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 4 garlic clove
- 4 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 onion
- 80g rocket
- 250g brown rice penne (Eggs)
- 200g baby tomatoes
- 200g passata (tomatoes, salt, citric acid)
- 500g beef mince (british beef mince (10% fat))
- 2 pepper
Nutritional Information
Calories: 643
Protein: 36g
Carbs: 65g
Fat: 27g
Smoky 'Albondigas' Meatball Pasta
Tapas meatballs
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Cooking Instructions
- Bring a large saucepan filled with salted hot water to a boil. Add the penne and boil for 7-8 mins, until cooked, then drain.
- Finely chop the parsley. Add the beef mince, parsley and half the pack of paprika to a large mixing bowl. Season generously with sea salt. Form into 12 balls. Heat a large pan with 1 tbsp oil on medium high heat. Once hot, add the meatballs and cook for 8 mins, turning frequently until browned all over. Remove from the pan and set to one side.
- Meanwhile, finely dice the peppers, onions and halve the tomatoes. Finely chop or crush the garlic.
- Reheat the meatball pan on medium-high heat and add the peppers, onion and tomatoes. Cook for 5-7 mins, until softening. Add the remaining paprika and garlic. Cook for 30 secs, then add the sundried tomato paste and half the red wine vinegar. Cook for 1 min, and then add the passata, beef stock and 100ml of water. Return the meatballs to the pan, and simmer for 8 mins, until the sauce has thickened and the meatballs are cooked through.
- Once the meatballs are cooked, mix in the cooked pasta. Just before serving, in a large mixing bowl, add 1 tbsp olive oil and the remaining red wine vinegar. Toss the rocket in the dressing.
- Serve the meatball pasta alongside the rocket salad.
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