Healthy Baked Meatballs

Preheat the oven to 200 °C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. To prevent the meatballs from sticking and to achieve a nicer crust, you can lightly brush the paper with a little oil.

Finely chop the onion (you can also quickly sauté it and let it cool for a milder flavor, but this isn't necessary). Crush the garlic. If the oats are quite coarse, quickly blend them in a blender to get a texture similar to breadcrumbs.

In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, egg, oats, parmesan, onion, garlic, olive oil, milk, and all the spices. Gently mix the ingredients with your hands until evenly combined. Important: Do not mix too aggressively or for too long, as this can make the meatballs dense and tough.

Shape the meatballs. Take a portion of the mixture (about 1 heaping tablespoon per meatball) and gently roll it between your palms into a ball. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, spaced slightly apart. You should get about 18–22 meatballs.

Bake in the preheated oven for 18–20 minutes, or until the meatballs are nicely browned and cooked through in the center (internal temperature should reach 74 °C). Serve warm, topped with your favorite tomato sauce or alongside a bowl of salad.