Try this hearty and healthy Meatballs & Tomato Sauce Recipe, picked for you by our functional medicine and nutrition experts.
Ingredients for sauce: 
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
4 medium cloves garlic, smashed
2 28-oz. cans whole plum tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes; more as needed
Kosher salt
6 large basil leaves, torn by hand into 1/2-inch pieces
NOTE: Recipe will make extra sauce, option to freeze in freezer safe storage bags or mason jars and use for later.
Ingredients for meatballs (Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free):
1 lb. grassfed beef
2 Tbsp. coconut flour
1 ½ tsp. Italian seasoning or ½ teaspoon each dried thyme, basil, and oregano
3 Tbsp. dairy-free milk of choice, or water
¾ tsp. unrefined salt
Directions for Sauce:
Heat the oil and garlic in a 4- to 5-quart pot over medium heat. Cook until the garlic is golden-brown, about 3 minutes. Discard the garlic. Add the tomatoes (careful—they spatter), the crushed red pepper, and 1 Tbs. salt; simmer gently, adjusting the heat as needed, until the tomatoes begin to break down, about 45 minutes. Whisk the tomatoes vigorously to break them up. Stir in the basil and let the sauce cool to room temperature. Season to taste with salt and crushed red pepper.
Directions for Meatballs:
Preheat oven to 400°F.. In a medium sized bowl, dump all of the above ingredients, and mix them thoroughly with your hands. Using a tablespoon, melon scoop, or hands scoop out small balls of the mixture and quickly roll into small balls. I make about 30 mini meatballs, or 18 medium with this amount. Line up on a parchment lined sheet pan, and cook for about 12-15 minutes (for mini meatballs) or until cooked through. Serve right away.
Note: Serve over zucchini noodles, roasted vegetables, cooked quinoa, or brown rice or quinoa pasta.
Like this Meatballs and Tomato Sauce Recipe? For more great dishes, browse our blog & visit us on Pinterest! To learn more about our Functional Nutrition services, click here.
About Functional Nutrition:
Functional Nutrition is an approach to healthcare that seeks to identify and address the root cause of health concerns, illness and disease. Practitioners of functional nutrition conduct thorough histories and utilize specialized tests in order to understand the unique interactions between a patient’s genetics, environment, and lifestyle factors that influence health. Treatment is individualized and cooperative (both clinician and patient play an active role) and is designed to not just relieve symptoms, but promote and optimize wellness. The goal of our Functional Nutrition program is to assess the root cause of your problems, and then to help affect a sustainable lifestyle change so you can lead a happier healthier life.
