Bread-Free Meatballs with Cottage Cheese
Juicy meatballs with no breadcrumbs or toast in sight: here cottage cheese does the binding and keeps everything wonderfully light and tender. This beef mince recipe comes together in minutes and heads straight for the pan. Perfect for busy weeknights, and the next day they taste just as good cold, straight from the fridge.
Ingredients
- 500 g beef mince
- 2 shallots
- 200 g cottage cheese
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp pepper
- rapeseed oil, for frying, just a little
The ingredient amounts above scale with your choice. The value per serving stays the same, while the total in the pot grows with the number of servings.
All nutrition values side by side
| Nutrient | per serving (estimate) | Total for 4 Servings |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 320 kcal | 1,280 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 4 g | 16 g |
| Protein | 32 g | 128 g |
| Fat | 19 g | 76 g |
| Fibre | 0.5 g | 2 g |
| of which sugar | 2 g | 8 g |
How this is calculated
Target amount = ingredient amount × target servings ÷ base servings. The result is then rounded for kitchen use: from 100 g or ml to the nearest 5, between 1 and 99 to the nearest 1, pieces and spoons to half units, amounts below one unit to quarters, thirds or halves. Teaspoons and tablespoons also go down to an eighth, kilograms and litres stay finer.
Total = value per serving × target servings. The value per serving is unchanged, because ingredient amount and serving count change by the same factor.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (FIC), Art. 32 and 33: nutrition values per 100 g or 100 ml, additionally allowed per portion.
- European Commission, Guidance document for competent authorities for the control of compliance with EU food law, setting of tolerances for nutrient values declared on a label, December 2012.
Nutrition values are estimates from the recipe record, not laboratory results. Even for checked labels the EU sets tolerances: for fat, protein and carbohydrates 20 percent in the range of 10 to 40 g per 100 g, and 2 g per 100 g below that. Home cooking varies more, because variety, size and cooking loss of the ingredients differ. Kitchen rounding also shifts the total slightly against the plain rule of three. Anyone who has to keep amounts exact for medical reasons, for example during a nutrition therapy prescribed by a doctor, should discuss them with a doctor or a registered dietitian. Your serving count is calculated in your browser only, it is neither stored nor transmitted.
Instructions
- Peel the shallots and cut into small dice.
- Put all the ingredients (beef mince, diced shallots, cottage cheese, mustard, egg, paprika, salt and pepper) into a large bowl and mix thoroughly. This works best with your hands.
- Shape the mixture into small, flat patties.
- Heat a very small amount of rapeseed oil in a pan over high heat. Fry the patties until crisp and golden on both sides.
- Reduce the heat and cook for a further 5 minutes or so, until cooked through.
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Nutrition facts per serving (estimate)
| Calories | 320 kcal |
|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | 4 g |
| Protein | 32 g |
| Fat | 19 g |
| Fibre | 0.5 g |
| of which sugar | 2 g |
Frequently asked questions
Why don't these meatballs need bread or breadcrumbs?
The cottage cheese does the binding and holds the mixture together, so there's no need for bread or flour. That keeps the meatballs low in carbs and gluten-free.
Can I use mixed mince instead of beef mince?
Yes, a mix of beef and pork mince works just as well and makes the meatballs a little juicier.
How long do the meatballs keep in the fridge?
Well covered, they'll keep in the fridge for about 2 to 3 days. They taste great cold, too.
Can I freeze the meatballs?
Yes, once cooked the meatballs freeze well and can be reheated in a pan or in the oven whenever you like.
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