Prep: 20 Minutes Cook: 3-4 hours on low in a slow cooker. Numbers of Serves: 6-8 Serves

meatball-tortellini-american-homemade-recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 package (16 ounces) frozen California-blend vegetables, thawed
  • 1 package (14 ounces) frozen cooked beef meatballs, thawed
  • 2 cups uncooked dried cheese tortellini
  • 2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
  • 2-1/4 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning

  • Instructions

    In a 3-qt. slow cooker, combine the vegetables, beef meatballs and tortellini. In a large bowl, whisk the soup, water and Creole seasoning. Pour over vegetable-meatball mixture; stir well. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until the tortellini and vegetables are tender.

    Yield: 6-8 servings.

    Note: The following spices may be substituted for the Creole seasoning: 1/2 teaspoon each paprika and garlic powder and a pinch each cayenne pepper, dried thyme and ground cumin.


    For Nutritional And Health Benefits

    This dish is an excellent choice for providing energy to the body and maintaining health as it has a wonderful balance of carbohydrates, protein and important vitamins. Beef kebabs provide the body with high-quality protein and iron, which are essential for muscle growth and preventing anemia. Pasta circles not only keep the stomach full for a long time but also provide instant energy, while mushroom soup provides bone-strengthening vitamin D and immunity-boosting antioxidants. Various vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and carrots included in it provide the body with essential fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C, which help in maintaining the digestive system and making the skin glow. This dish is perfect for dinner as it combines all the basic nutrients in one plate, which is extremely beneficial for heart and brain health.

    For Pro Tips And Substitute Ingredients

    To make this dish perfect and extremely flavorful, it is important to cook the pasta circles carefully so that they do not become too soft and retain their shape. When cooking on low heat, keep in mind that the kebabs and vegetables are already cooked or soft, so set the time correctly so that the color and flavor of the vegetables are maintained and they do not become too soft. Usually, people do not dissolve the mixture of soup and water well when making it, which causes lumps to form, so add it only after whisking it well. If you want to make this dish healthier and lighter, you can use low-fat kebabs of chicken or ostrich meat instead of regular kebabs. In addition, using bone broth and light broth instead of mushroom soup is a great alternative to reduce fat and increase nutrition.

    For Serving And Storing

    When serving the prepared hot meal to the table, a salad of fresh leafy vegetables prepared with olive oil and lemon juice looks very tasty. It can be served with lightly toasted garlic bread, which further enhances its creamy taste, while plain water with mint and lemon in drinks will be the best companion for digestion. If there is leftover food, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it will stay perfectly fresh for two to three days. When reheating leftover food, do not put it directly on the stove or in the microwave on high heat, but add two to three tablespoons of lukewarm water or broth to the pot and heat it over very low heat, covered. This way, the pasta will retain its crunch and softness, the soup will become creamy again, and the kebabs will remain soft and flavorful inside.