Mediterranean Chicken Meatballs in Tomato-Olive Sauce with Orzo-Style Pasta

Ingredients

• 300 g ground chicken
• 1 egg
• 2 slices bread
• 1/2 medium onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 cup canned tomatoes
• 1/4 cup green olives
• 1 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 200 g pasta
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 tsp salt(optional)
• 1/4 tsp black pepper(optional)

Instructions

1. 1

   Soak bread in a splash of water (or milk-free water) until soft; squeeze well and crumble.

2. 2

   In a bowl, mix ground chicken, egg, crumbled bread, minced onion, half the garlic, salt, and pepper. Form small meatballs.

3. 3

   Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high. Brown meatballs in batches, 3–4 minutes per side; remove to a plate.

4. 4

   In the same pan, sauté remaining garlic for 30 seconds. Add canned tomatoes, water, and olives. Simmer 8–10 minutes.

5. 5

   Add meatballs back and simmer gently 12–15 minutes until cooked through.

6. 6

   Meanwhile, cook pasta until tender; drain.

7. 7

   Finish sauce with vinegar. Serve meatballs and sauce over pasta.