Egg free meatballs for babies & kids
Meatballs are a reliable crowd pleaser, and this egg free recipe is one of our family favourites! Even the youngest family members can enjoy them; they are a great baby led weaning option. Cook up a batch and keep a stash in the freezer for a quick midweek dinner. Like all the recipes on this website, they are free from dairy, egg and soy. Like all the recipes on this website, they are free from dairy, egg and soya. They are also nut free and have a gluten free option.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ground flax seed
- 2½ tbsp cold water
- 30 g carrot, peeled and finely grated
- 400 g beef mince
- 30 g breadcrumbs (panko breadrumbs also work well. Swap for gluten free if needed)
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1½ tsp mixed herbs
- olive oil for frying
Instructions
- Make a flax egg by mixing 1 tablespoon ground flax seed with 2½ tablespoons cold water. Give it a good mix and set aside for at least 10 minutes to thicken up.
- Give the grated carrot a good squeeze over a bowl or sink to get rid of any excess moisture. Then add the carrot to a large mixing bowl.
- Next add your beef mince to the mixing bowl, followed by the breadcrumbs, nutritional yeast and mixed herbs.
- When the flax egg mixture has thickened up, add that to the mixing bowl too. Using your hands, mix it up really well - give that mince a good squish!
- Next shape the mixture into roughly 22 small balls - depending on how large you make them you can get between 20 and 24 meatballs from this mixture. At this point set aside any meatballs you want to freeze.
- If you have time, chill your meatballs in the fridge for 30 minutes before cooking. This is not an essential step, but does help them retain their shape during cooking.
- Heat a thin layer of oil in a large frying pan, over a medium heat. Add the meat balls and cook for around 10 minutes, turning regularly, until they are browned on the outside and cooked all the way through. You may need to do this in batches - I often use 2 frying pans at once!
- If needed, use some kitchen paper to dab off any excess oil before serving.
Notes
- If you or your child has an allergy, always double check that the recipe and all of the components are suitable. This includes checking 'may contain' statements on each ingredient and making your own assessment of risk based on personal circumstances.