By nutritional therapist Christine Bailey

These meatballs sneak in vegetables for plenty of flavour. The meatballs can also be served on their own cold in lunchboxes. Use your favourite gluten free pasta in this recipe. You can make this dish dairy free as well by using vegan pesto and dairy free cheese.

 Serves 6

Ingredients
400g lamb mince
1 small courgette, grated
1 shallot, grated
1 tbsp gluten free/dairy free pesto
Sea salt and pepper
300g gluten free pasta
Olive oil for drizzling
400g passata
1 tsp dried oregano
2 roasted red peppers (from a jar, drained and finely chopped)
For the topping, 250g dairy free or regular cheese

Method
Make the meatballs. Place the mince, courgette and shallot in a bowl with 1 tbsp pesto and mix together with your hands. Shape into little balls, place on a lightly greased baking tray.

Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6.

Drizzle a little olive oil over the meatballs and bake in the oven for 15 minutes until they are lightly golden.

Meanwhile cook the pasta in boiling water for 7 mins or until al dente, stirring occasionally. Drain and return to the saucepan.

Stir in the passata, oregano, chopped red peppers and stir well. Tip the pasta into an ovenproof dish and stir in the meatballs.

Top with the cheese and return to the oven for 15 minutes until the cheese has melted.

About Christine Bailey
Christine is an award-winning nutritionist, chef and author. With a passion for creating delicious nourishing recipes, Christine has a reputation for transforming people’s health and love of real food. As well as seeing clients and writing for national press, Christine runs ‘Nourish’ cookery classes including popular hands-on days for children. Christine is an inspiring nutritional chef well known for her engaging style and enthusiasm.

Christine is the author of numerous health and recipe books including ebooks on paleo eating and gluten-free recipes. Her books include her popular Supercharged Juices and Smoothies, The Juice Diet Book, The Raw Food Diet Book and Eat to Get Younger. Christine has particular specialisms in paleo diets, allergy free cooking, digestive health, coeliac disease and other autoimmune conditions, allergies, healthy ageing and weight loss.

For more information visit her website www.christinebailey.co.uk or follow her on Facebook and Twitter.