Beef and lentil meatballs with tomato sauce
Deliciously tender meatballs simmered in rich tomato sauce, served in a creamy ricotta-filled flatbread for a comforting and hearty sandwich experience.
Updated : 24 July, 2025
Easy
About 20 min.
Ingredients
50 milliliters
Milk
80 grams
Breadcrumbs
500 grams
Beef mince
150 grams
Cooked dried lentils
1
Eggs
30 grams
Parmesan
pinch
Dried oregano
4 tablespoon
Olive oil
2
Onion
3
Garlic
stalk
Thyme
400 grams
Canned tomatoes
1
Flatbread
100 grams
Ricotta
to taste
Salt
to taste
Ground black pepper
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Advices
Advice
You can use small baguettes to serve the meatballs.
Preparation
Step 1
Start by combining the milk and breadcrumbs in a large mixing bowl and allow them to soak for 5 minutes.
Step 2
Next, add the mince, lentils, egg, parmesan, and oregano to the soaked mixture. Season generously with salt and pepper, then knead everything together for about 3 minutes until the mixture becomes sticky and well combined. With wet hands, shape the mixture into small, tightly packed balls roughly the size of ping-pong balls. Set these aside.
Step 3
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large, lidded frying pan over medium heat. Fry the meatballs in a single layer, working in batches if necessary, for 5-8 minutes until they develop a golden-brown crust. Remove and set aside.
Step 4
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the same pan along with the onion, cooking over medium heat for about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and thyme leaves and cook for an additional 2 minutes until fragrant. Pour in the chopped tomatoes and season well with salt and pepper.
Step 5
Bring the sauce to a simmer, then return the meatballs to the pan, spooning sauce over them. Cover with the lid and gently simmer over low to medium heat for 25-30 minutes, ensuring the meatballs are piping hot and cooked through. Remove the pan from the heat.
Step 6
To serve, spread flatbread with ricotta. Arrange the meatballs on half the bread, spooning over some of the tomato sauce. Close it and enjoy.