Tasty pork meatballs flavoured with lemon and thyme and served with roasted vegetables and Freekeh makes an easy and healthy midweek meal.

Easy
Healthy
Family Favourite

Have your tried Freekeh?

Name: Pork, lemon and thyme meatballs with roasted veg and freekeh
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 500 g pork mince; 50 g fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs; 1 clove garlic (crushed); 1 lemon (finely grated zest only); 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme leaves; 1 red onion (cut into 8 wedges); 300 g baby sweet peppers (, seeded or 2-3 mixed bell peppers seeded and cut into chunks); 300 g courgettes ((zucchini) trimmed and sliced diagonally); 4 plump garlic cloves; 2 tbsp sherry vinegar; 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; few fresh thyme sprigs; 175 g cracked Freekeh; 300 g baby plum tomatoes; salt and freshly ground black pepper

Try it, it is delicious! Freekeh is mentioned in the bible and has been used in Eastern Mediterranean dishes for thousands of years but it is relatively recently that it has appeared on the supermarket shelves in the UK. It is made from Durum wheat which is harvested early while the wheat grains are still green, roasted or smoked, then polished and cracked to varying degrees of coarseness. The grains are pale greenish brown and similar in texture to bulgar wheat but with a rich, nutty, smoky flavour. Available cracked or whole, cracked freekeh is quicker to cook. Freekeh can be used in soups and stews or used to make salads and stuffing as well as making a tasty alternative to rice as a side dish.

It’s also healthy grain as Freekeh is low in fat and high in protein and fibre. Serving for serving, freekeh has more protein and twice as much fibre as quinoa and is a source of calcium, potassium, iron and zinc.

Pork, Lemon and Thyme Meatballs with Roasted Veg and Freekeh

This recipe has been adapted from one I found in a Waitrose magazine and it has already become a popular dish with my family. The original recipe was made with veal and used farro rather than freekeh. Like quinoa and freekeh, farro is a so-called ancient grain, which means that it’s been around for generations, though it too has recently surged in popularity. Farro comes in whole grain, semi-pearled, and pearled varieties. So you could substitute the farro for the freekeh as in the original recipe. You could also play around with the type of mince but I think pork or lamb works particularly well here. The original also just had tomatoes and peppers but I think the addition of onion and courgette really helps to make it a more satisfying meal.

I usually serve meatballs with a sauce and when I first made this recipe I was a little concerned that it would be on the dry side but with the extra roasted vegetables if was fine and not in the least bit dry. However, I am tempted to try it next time with my really easy yogurt sauce, not because I think it needs it but because I think the flavours would go quite well together.

pork, lemon and thyme meatballs with roasted veg and freekeh on a serving plate

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5 from 4 votes

Pork, lemon and thyme meatballs with roasted veg and freekeh

An easy and delicious meal of pork meatballs served with roasted vegetables and freekeh. Perfect for a midweek dinner.

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time40 mins

Total Time1 hr

Course: Dinner,

Keyword: healthy

Skill Level: Easy

Servings: 4

Calories: 697kcal

Author: Jacqueline Bellefontaine

Ingredients

metric - US cups

Meatballs:

500 g pork mince
50 g fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs
1 clove garlic crushed
1 lemon finely grated zest only
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme leaves

Roasted veg and freekeh:

1 red onion cut into 8 wedges
300 g baby sweet peppers , seeded or 2-3 mixed bell peppers seeded and cut into chunks
300 g courgettes (zucchini) trimmed and sliced diagonally
4 plump garlic cloves
2 tbsp sherry vinegar
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
few fresh thyme sprigs
175 g cracked Freekeh
300 g baby plum tomatoes
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 220℃ (190℃ fan)/425°F/gas mark 7. Make the meatballs. Place the mince, breadcrumbs, garlic, lemon zest and thyme in a mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper.
Mix well, then divide into 12 and shape into balls. Chill until required.
Place the onion, peppers, courgette and garlic on a baking sheet and sprinkle with the vinegar and 1 tbsp of the olive oil add a few thyme sprigs and roast for 15 minutes.
Cook the freekeh. Rince and place in a saucepan with 600ml (2½ cups) cold water. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes until just tender.
Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a frying pan and fry the meatballs on all sides until golden.
Take the roasted vegetables out of the oven and add the tomatoes. Drain the Freekeh and add to the tin, stir to mix and sprinkle with 4 tbsp water.
Place the meatballs on top and drizzle with the remaining olive oil. Roast for a further 15 minutes or until the meatballs are fully cooked. Serve