Tender and juicy in the middle and seasoned to perfection, you are going to love these Ajvar meatballs simmered in a zesty tomato sauce. Serve them with quinoa, rice, or hoagie rolls.
It costs $8.42 to make four servings of these meatballs. That works out to be about $2.10 per serving.
Be sure to also try my Blackened Chicken Meatballs for another tasty meatball recipe.
Ajvar is a thick and savory sauce consisting of roasted sweet red peppers, eggplant, onion, and garlic. It’s used in places like Southeast Europe, Albania, Bosnia, and Bulgaria, just to name a few.
There are many different types of Ajvar, but one thing is for sure, it’s absolutely delicious. Let’s make tasty some meatballs.
Ingredients and Cost
RECIPE COST: $8.42
PRICE PER SERVING: $2.10
- 1 pound ground chicken – $0.57
- 1 cup ajvar – $3.28
- ¼ cup chopped dill – $1.28
- ¼ cup chopped parsley – $0.22
- ½ teaspoon cumin – $0.03
- ½ teaspoon coriander – $0.09
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt – $0.02
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika – $0.10
- ⅓ cup flour – $0.11
- ½ cup ajvar – $1.64
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce – $1.08
NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have.
Instructions
STEP 1: Add Ajvar to ground chicken or Turkey.
You can use ground chicken or ground Turkey. You don’t even have to make Ajvar from scratch. I purchased my jar of Ajvar from my favorite Mediterranean market. It’s salty, a little spicy, and has the perfect amount of sweetness.
STEP 2: Add the egg, herbs, and spices.
Add in the fresh herbs and spices like dill and cumin. Mix until a beautiful red color forms. Next, we will add a binder.
STEP 3: add a binder like flour.
I have a thing for banana flour. It’s really soft in texture and doesn’t really add any flavor. Feel free to use quinoa, all-purpose, or oat flour.
STEP 4: form into meatballs and sauté until golden brown.
Measure each meatball the same size so that they all finish cooking at the same time.
I like to use my handy tablespoon to scoop out the meat and form them. Use what you have on hand.
Add olive oil or avocado oil into the pan first to create those beautiful brown sear marks.
STEP 5: add the zest tomato sauce.
Season the tomato sauce with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and a lit bit of Ajvar before adding it to the pot.
After the meatballs are cooked, I like to sprinkle in a little bit of fresh chopped parsley.
I’m drooling over here!
Storage Tips
SERVE: You can keep the meatballs out for about two hours before they need to be stored in the fridge.
STORE: Store the Ajvar meatballs in an air-tight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
FREEZE: Freeze in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you will want to brown the meatballs first to ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. After browning the meatballs, you can then add in the sauce.
Ajvar is a savory sauce made with roasted sweet peppers, eggplant, onion, and garlic that serves as a beautiful way to enhance and enrich the taste of meats. It accentuates the meaty aroma as well as adds a fresh sweet taste.
More Chicken and Poultry Recipes
- Greek Chicken with Lemon and Feta
- Easy Baked Chicken and Zucchini
- Chinese Chicken and Broccoli
- Chicken Shawarma Collard Wraps
- Sheet Pan Chicken with Vegetables
- Baked Harissa Chicken Wings
- Ginger Chicken Skewers
Ajvar Meatballs
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 cup ajvar
- ¼ cup chopped dill
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp coriander
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- pepper to taste
- ⅓ cup flour of your choice banana, quinoa, all-purpose, etc.
Zesty Tomato Sauce
- ½ cup ajvar
- 15 oz can tomato sauce (make sure it is your favorite tomato sauce, as the tomato sauce will be the dominating flavor.)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the ground chicken, ajvar, egg, dill, parsley, and all the spices, salt, and pepper and mix until everything is well incorporated.
- Next, add the flour of choice. Mix once more until everything is mixed well.
- When ready, form the meat mixture into meatballs with your hands. If the meat mixture is too sticky, wet your hand with water.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil (just a drizzle) and place each meatball on the surface of the pan. Cook until the bottom of the meatball is golden brown (about 2-3 minutes). Flip the meatballs and repeat them. The internal temperature of the meatballs should reach 165°F.
- Once the meatballs are golden brown, add the tomato sauce, ajvar, ½ cups of water, salt, and pepper to taste and gently stir to incorporate the ingredients. Cook on medium-low heat for about 15-20 minutes.
TO SERVE:
- Place the meatballs over a bed of buttery rice, alongside quinoa, or inside a rustic Italian bread to create an ajvar marinara meatball sub. The options are endless, do whatever makes you happy! 🙂
Video
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Make sure to tag @PoshPlateRecipes on Instagram for more!
Comments & Reviews
Jill says
These meatballs were so tender and full of flavor. Thanks for the recipe!
Biana says
These meatballs look delicious! What a great idea to use ajvar for more flavor.
Dannii says
Meatballs are total comfort food and this sauce looks amazing.
Caroline says
Those flavors sound so tasty – and comforting too. Yum!
Kristen Wood says
I made this for family that was visiting and it was a real winner! Thanks for the wonderful recipe. 🙂