This Salmon Meatballs and Rice dish can be made in one pot and is bursting with flavor from the spiced rice, to the roasted red pepper sauce drizzled on top. You're going to love it!
halfof 300-340ml (10-12oz) jar roasted red peppers, drained
⅓cupcanned lentils, drained and rinsed
Optional: ¼ tsp chili flakes
1-2tspwater to blend
For the salmon meatballs
450-500g(1 lb) skinless salmon filets, cut into 1 inch cubes
¼cupdiced yellow onion
2garlic cloves
1 ½tspkosher salt
¾tspground pepper
¼tspchili flakes
1tbsp Greek Freak Mediterranean Seasoning
1small carrot, grated
1lemon, zested
½red pepper, diced
1cupbreadcrumbs
1egg
For the rice
2tbspolive oil
3garlic cloves, minced
1small yellow onion, diced
½tspkosher salt
¼tspground pepper
½tspdried oregano
1cupbasmati rice
2 ¼cupschicken broth
¼cup10% / light cream
Instructions
Make the roasted red pepper sauce by adding the garlic cloves, salt, lemon juice, roasted red peppers and lentils to a high speed blender or food processor. Blend on high until fully combined. Taste and adjust seasonings with chili flakes, salt and/or add 1 tsp of water at a time to get your desired consistency.
Preheat the oven to 350F.
Make the salmon balls: Add onion and garlic to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add salt, pepper, chili flakes, Greek Freak Mediterranean Seasoning, grated carrot, lemon zest and diced red pepper and pulse again to just combine.
Add cubed salmon and pulse just a quick 6-8 times until the salmon is just broken down into pea-sized pieces. Don't over pulse or it will become more like a paste.
Add the salmon mixture to a bowl with the egg and breadcrumbs and gently mix together to combine. Scoop out 1 1/2 tbsp per salmon ball and use your hands to form into balls (makes about 24-26 balls). Place on a plate and when all balls are made, place in the fridge for 10 minutes to set.
Add the diced onion to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until just softened. Then, add the minced garlic, salt, pepper and dried oregano. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add the rice and stir well to coat with the oils in the pan.
Stir in the chicken broth and cream and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, cover the skillet with a lid or aluminum foil and transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes, remove the foil, nestle the salmon balls into the rice and recover with the foil. Cook for 12-15 more minutes until the salmon balls are cooked through.