Egyptian Meatballs

with Spicy Tomato Sauce, Kale & Rice

50 MIN

2 Servings

Wellness at Blue Apron

Find recipes that suit your lifestyle with our new nutritionist-approved dietary tags.

Vegetarian

These recipes don’t contain meat, poultry, fish, or seafood.* They’re made with fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. *Select artisanal cheeses may contain animal-derived rennet.

Carb Conscious

This applies to meal kit recipes with 48g or less of net carbs (total carbs minus dietary fiber) per serving. Carb Conscious Add-ons contain 20g or less net carbs.

Mediterranean Diet

Our Mediterranean recipes are inspired by the Mediterranean Diet, a healthy eating plan recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans published jointly every five years by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). This eating plan highlights the flavors and cooking styles from countries along the Mediterranean Sea, including those in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. These recipes showcase a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, as well as lean proteins and moderate portions of dairy.

600 Calories or Less

These meals contain 600 calories or less per serving. The US Food & Drug Administration uses 2000 calorie daily intake for general advice. The 600 calorie cap equates to 30% of the total 2000 calories per day based on 3 meals per day with 200 calories remaining for snack or beverage.

Wellness Grain

These recipes feature grains such as barley, quinoa, farro, orzo, couscous and more, handpicked by our Culinary team in collaboration with our Registered Dietitian.

Pescatarian

These recipes feature a wide array of nutritious seafood options like salmon, cod, tilapia, crab, and shrimp. While these dishes never contain meat, pork or poultry, they may contain animal derived ingredients such as milk, butter, cheese and/or honey.

30g Of Protein

These meals contain 30g or more of protein per serving, and are ideal for those looking to focus their meals around protein intake.

Keto Friendly

These meals have approximately 10% of calories from carbohydrates, 20% from protein, and 70% from dietary fats (per serving).

45g Of Protein

These meal kit recipes contain 45g or more of protein per serving, and are ideal for those looking to focus their meals around protein intake.

Nutritionist's Pick

These meals are selected by Blue Apron’s Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. They are centered around nutritious and wholesome ingredients, featuring whole grains and fresh produce which provide fiber. They also contain moderate portions of dairy and lean protein while being mindful of saturated fat.

Wheat Free

These meals are prepared with ingredients that do not contain wheat. They feature grains such as barley and rice as well as proteins and vegetables.

Reduced Sodium

These Prepared and Ready dishes contain at least 25% less sodium per 100 grams (or 3.5 oz) than our average Prepared and Ready Meal as of October 1, 2024. Sodium content has been reduced from 330 mg per 100 grams to 250 mg per 100 grams. These dishes focus on ingredients with strong flavor and moderate salt.

Vegan

To view a recipe's full nutrition information, head to your Upcoming page at blueapron.com, click on a specific recipe, then head to the Nutrition tab and select 'View Full Nutrition.' Nutrition Facts Panels are available up to 1.5 weeks in advance

From the Test Kitchen

Tonight’s Egyptian inspired meatballs get a boost of flavor from a savory tomato sauce cooked with an enticing blend of spices including vibrant aleppo pepper, turmeric, and star anise—for a touch of delicate sweetness. Hearty garlic-sautéed kale served on top of the meatballs makes for nuanced texture in each bite, while a side of fluffy basmati rice (a Middle Eastern favorite) balances the rich, spicy sauce.

See Plans

Nutrition

PER SERVING
Calories

790 Cals (est.)

fresh

ingredients

10 oz Ground Beef
1 Cage-Free Farm Egg
½ cup Basmati Rice
1 8-Ounce Can Tomato Sauce
2 cloves Garlic
1 bunch Kale
1 Yellow Onion
¼ cup Panko Breadcrumbs
1 Tbsp Egyptian Spice Blend (Ground Turmeric, Ground Cumin, Aleppo Pepper, Ground Coriander & Ground Star Anise)

time-saving

tips & techniques

step-by-step

instructions

Cook Along

1 Prepare the ingredients:

Wash and dry the fresh produce. Remove and discard the kale stems; roughly chop the leaves. Peel and mince the garlic. Peel and small dice the onion.

2 Cook the rice:

In a small pot, combine the rice, a big pinch of salt and 1 cup of water. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, cover and reduce the heat to low. Cook 14 to 16 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Remove from heat and fluff the cooked rice with a fork. Set aside in a warm place.

3 Cook the kale:

While the rice cooks, in a large pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the kale and half the garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes, or until slightly wilted. Add ¼ cup of water and cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until wilted and the water has cooked off. Transfer to a plate and set aside in a warm place. Wipe out the pan.

4 Form the meatballs:

While the rice continues to cook, in a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg and remaining garlic. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Gently mix until just combined. Using your hands, form the mixture into 12 to 14 equal-sized meatballs. Transfer to a plate.

5 Cook the meatballs & make the sauce:

In the same pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes, or until browned on all sides. Add the onion and spice blend; cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until slightly softened and fragrant. Stir in the tomato sauce and 1 cup of water; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally and spooning the sauce over the meatballs, 6 to 7 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened and the meatballs are cooked through. Remove from heat.

6 Plate your dish:

Divide the cooked rice between 2 dishes. Divide the cooked meatballs and cooked kale between 2 separate dishes. Top with the sauce. Serve with the rice on the side. Enjoy!