Meatballs & Harissa Tomato Sauce

with Green Beans & Orzo Pasta

40 MIN

4 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

We’re elevating these savory meatballs by loading ours with deliciously melty cheese curds, then cooking them in alightly spiced tomato sauce for rich, bright flavor in every bite. It’s all brought together over warm orzo pasta and green beans finished with a touch of crème fraîche.
CLICK FOR RECIPE CARD

See Plans

Nutrition

PER SERVING
Calories

770 Cals (est.)

View Full Nutrition

fresh

ingredients

1⅛ lbs Ground Beef
1 15-Ounce Can Crushed Tomatoes
½ lb Orzo Pasta
2 cloves Garlic
6 oz Green Beans
2 oz Sliced Roasted Red Peppers
2 Tbsps Crème Fraîche
¼ cup Panko Breadcrumbs
3 Tbsps Golden Raisins
2 oz Cheddar Cheese Curds
1 Tbsp Smoky Spice Blend (Smoked Paprika, Sweet Paprika, Ground Yellow Mustard, Garlic Powder & Onion Powder)
1 Tbsp Red Harissa Paste
1 Zucchini

step-by-step

instructions

Cook Along

1 Prepare the ingredients & make the harissa tomato sauce:

Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Finely chop the cheese curds. Medium dice the zucchini. Halve lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Combine the diced zucchini and chopped garlic in a bowl. Cut off and discard the stem ends of the green beans; cut into 1-inch pieces. Roughly chop the peppers. In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, harissa paste, a big pinch of salt, and 1/4 cup of water.

2 Form the meatballs:

In a large bowl, combine the beef, chopped cheese curds, breadcrumbs, and spice blend; season with salt and pepper. Gently mix to combine. Shape the mixture into 12 tightly packed meatballs. Transfer to a plate.

3 Brown the meatballs & zucchini:

In a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the meatballs. Cook, turning occasionally, 5 to 6 minutes, or until browned on all sides. Add the prepared zucchini and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the peppers are softened.

4 Cook & finish the pasta:

Meanwhile, add the pasta to the pot of boiling water and cook 5 minutes. Add the green bean pieces and continue to cook 2 to 4 minutes, or until tender. Turn off the heat. Drain thoroughly and return to the pot. Add the crème fraîche, raisins, and chopped peppers; stir to combine. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Cover to keep warm.

5 Finish the meatballs & serve your dish:

Add the harissa tomato sauce (carefully, as the liquid may splatter) to the pan of browned meatballs and zucchini. Cook, stirring occasionally and spooning the sauce over the meatballs, 4 to 5 minutes, or until the liquid is slightly reduced in volume and the meatballs are cooked through. ** Turn off the heat. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished meatballs and sauce over the finished pasta. Enjoy!