A hearty meatball recipe, perfect for a weeknight meal

To celebrate our South African heritage, we share the love by sharing their delicious ‘manna’ recipes with the country. This recipe is part of the recipe book, Clover Mama Afrika’s Manna, which was released in December 2022 and is a beautiful tribute to the amazing women of the project. The cookbook is a collection of treasured, traditional South African recipes from the Mama Afrikas themselves.

Today we share Mama Gail Koeberg’s Frikkadel (Meatballs) in Tomato Sauce recipe.

Mama Gail Koeberg’s Frikkadel (Meatballs) in Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

Frikkadel

• 2 Slices white bread, grated
• 500g Mincemeat
• Oil for frying
• 1 Egg
• 1 Medium carrot, finely grated
• 1 Medium onion, grated
• 1 Garlic clove, finely chopped
• 60ml Finely chopped parsley
• 5ml Salt
• 5ml Pepper
• 5ml Dried mixed herbs
• 5ml Dried thyme
• 2.5ml Dried Origanum

Tomato Sauce

• 2 Tins tomato relish
• 1 Finely chopped onion
• 5ml Chopped garlic and ginger
• 1 Finely chopped green pepper
• 50g Tomato paste
• 5ml Salt
• 5ml Sugar
• 5ml Mixed masala/mild curry powder
• 45ml Oil

Method

Tomato Sauce

1. In a large pot over medium heat, lightly brown the onions with the green pepper in oil.
2. Add the garlic, ginger and masala and allow to fry for a bit.
3. Add the tomato paste, tomato relish, salt and sugar and allow to simmer for 30 minutes.

Frikkadel

1. Put mincemeat into a large bowl, add the grated bread, onion, carrot, garlic, parsley and then all the other dry ingredients including salt and pepper. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
2. Working with lightly oiled hands, shape the mincemeat into round balls.
3. Use oil for frying the meatballs until medium brown.
4. Place the meatballs in the tomato sauce, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes over low heat.
5. Serve the meatballs with rice or pasta.

About Mama Gail

Mama Gail has spent a lifetime working on empowerment projects in her community. At the Quegal Restoration & Refuge Centre, she provides a place of safety for destitute and abused women, children and men. She knows from experience what damage abuse and rejection can do, and is therefore determined to support others who are in a similar situation.

With the help of Clover Mama Afrika, Mama Gail unlocked her potential to become an entrepreneur who’s able to sustain her Centre without relying on hand-outs. She generates her own income to finance projects. She therefore has first-hand experience of how Clover Mama Afrika can empower community members so they can stand on their own feet again.

Mama Gail’s bakery is an enormous success. She is a skilled bread baker, and her repertoire includes bread rolls and confectionary. Her needlework and quilting classes are also especially popular amongst the women in her community.

This Clover Mama, with her beautiful smile, is living proof of the power of second chances.