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Protein-rich meatball dish
CALORIES · 100 G
GI
POTASSIUM · 100 G
FIBER · 100 G
1 serving (medium) of Meatballs with Zigana sauce (180 g) has 342 calories. That works out to 190 calories per 100 g. It contains 12.8 g of carbs, 25.6 g of protein, 21.2 g of fat and 2 g of fiber. Its 2.6 µg of B12 covers 109% of the Daily Value. Its glycemic index is 32 (low), so it raises blood sugar slowly.
Selected: 1 serving (medium) · 180 g
342
KCAL / 180G
Carbs
12.8g
· 5% DV
Protein
25.6g
· 51% DV
Fat
21.2g
· 27% DV
Fiber
2g
· 7% DV
DV is the share of the daily value covered, on a 2,000 kcal reference diet.
Calories come from: Carbs 15% · Protein 30% · Fat 55%
| Nutrient | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 342 kcal | |
| Total fat | 21.2 g | 27% |
| Saturated fat | 7.29 g | 36% |
| Trans fat | 0.58 g | |
| Sodium | 738 mg | 32% |
| Total carbohydrate | 12.8 g | 5% |
| Fiber | 2 g | 7% |
| Protein | 25.6 g | 51% |
Calories: Calories measure energy. Average daily need is 2,000 kcal. Excess calories are stored as fat, too few cause weight loss.
Carbs: Your body's primary energy source. The brain runs exclusively on carbs. Daily need: 275g.
Protein: Essential for muscle repair and cell growth. Daily need: 50g. Keeps you full and boosts metabolism.
Fat: Needed for hormone production and vitamin absorption. Daily need: 78g. Limit saturated fats, choose unsaturated.
Fiber: Critical for digestive health and satiety. Daily need: 28g. Stabilizes blood sugar, lowers cholesterol.
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| Serving | Amount | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 1 serving (medium) | 180 g | 342 kcal |
| 1 piece (small) | 35 g | 67 kcal |
| 2 piece (medium) | 70 g | 133 kcal |
| 100 g | 100 g | 190 kcal |
| 3 piece (large) | 105 g | 200 kcal |
| 1 cup (medium) | 220 g | 418 kcal |
| 1 serving (large) | 250 g | 475 kcal |
Calculated from 190 calories per 100 g.
Meatballs with Zigana sauce are shaped portions of seasoned ground meat served with a sauce known by the name Zigana. The dish does not have one universally fixed recipe, so both the meatball seasoning and the sauce can vary between cooks and restaurants.
The sauce for meatballs with Zigana sauce commonly uses tomato or pepper paste, garlic, and spices. There is no single standard formula, and some versions add other ingredients, so ask the restaurant about its particular recipe if you need to know exactly what is in it.
The name of meatballs with Zigana sauce evokes the Zigana Pass in Türkiye’s eastern Black Sea region. The dish is not tied to one universally documented recipe, however, and versions served in restaurants may be contemporary interpretations rather than one fixed regional preparation.
Meatballs with Zigana sauce are made by seasoning and shaping ground meat, then cooking the meatballs in a pan, on a grill, or in an oven. The sauce is prepared separately and added at serving, which helps the meatballs brown instead of simmering in the sauce.
Meatballs with Zigana sauce are not necessarily spicy. The heat comes from the amount and type of chilli used in the sauce, which can vary by recipe. If you are ordering them, ask whether that version is hot; at home, adjust the chilli to taste.
Serve meatballs with Zigana sauce with rice, bulgur, or bread, plus a fresh salad or plain yogurt. A simple side works particularly well when the sauce is strongly seasoned, while bread is useful for soaking up any sauce left on the plate.
Yes, meatballs with Zigana sauce can be made with lamb or a beef-and-lamb blend; many versions use beef. Lamb gives the meatballs a richer flavour, so a strongly seasoned sauce may suit it better than a very mild one.
For a home-style Zigana sauce, cook tomato or pepper paste with garlic, a little oil, and spices, then loosen it with water until it reaches a spoonable consistency. Recipes differ, so taste the sauce before serving and adjust its salt and chilli rather than assuming it must be hot.
Cooked meatballs with Zigana sauce keep for 3–4 days in a covered container in the refrigerator. Store them promptly after the meal, and reheat only the portion you plan to eat until it is hot throughout.
Yes, meatballs with Zigana sauce can be frozen after cooking. Cool them first and pack them airtight; freezing the sauce separately can help preserve the meatballs’ texture. Thaw them in the refrigerator and reheat thoroughly before serving.
Vitamins
B12
2.61µg · 109% DV
B3
8.28mg · 52% DV
B6
0.56mg · 33% DV
B2
0.34mg · 26% DV
Minerals
Selenium
33µg · 60% DV
Zinc
5.85mg · 53% DV
Phosphorus
274mg · 39% DV
Sodium
738mg · 32% DV
Potassium ⭐
513mg · 15% DV
GLYCEMIC INDEX
GLYCEMIC LOAD
Accounts for portion size — a more realistic measure than GI alone.
To burn the 342 calories in 1 serving (medium) (180 g):
🚶
Walking (5 km/h)
🏃
Running (8 km/h)
🚴
Cycling
🏊
Swimming
Times are calculated with the MET equation for a 70 kg adult. Actual burn varies with your weight, age and pace.
Meatballs with Zigana sauce brings together seasoned minced-meat meatballs and a savoury sauce known as Zigana sauce. Recipes can vary in the sauce’s ingredients and thickness, so the dish may taste a little different from one kitchen to another.
It is usually served hot as a main course. Bread is handy for soaking up the sauce, while rice, salad or cooked vegetables make natural sides. In Turkey, it fits comfortably into a home-cooked lunch or dinner; elsewhere, serve it as you would other sauced meatballs. With 14.2 g of protein per 100 g, it is a filling, protein-rich choice. For a lighter plate, add extra vegetables and keep the rice portion modest.
Medium
How many vitamins, minerals and how much fiber this food carries per calorie. A high score means a lot of nutrition for few calories.
Medium
An EatBetter score computed from fiber, protein and calorie density. A high score means staying full longer on the same calories.
Both scores are calculated per 100 g and do not change with the selected portion. The satiety score is EatBetter's own calculation, not a clinical measure.
NOVA 2
Minimally Processed
1. Unprocessed
2. Minimally Processed
3. Processed
4. Ultra-Processed
NOVA classifies foods into 4 groups by industrial processing. NOVA 1 (unprocessed) is the healthiest.
Contains these allergens:
Vegan
— Not suitable
Vegetarian
— Not suitable
Gluten-Free
— Not suitable
Dairy-Free
— Not suitable
Mediterranean
✓ Suitable
Paleo
✓ Suitable
Whole30
— Not suitable
DASH
— Not suitable
Keto
✓ Suitable
Low FODMAP
— Not suitable
SATURATED
7.29g
MONOUNSATURATED
9.14g
POLYUNSATURATED
1.58g
Omega 6:3 ratio 9.5:1
Above the ideal 4:1 (9.5:1).
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Nutrition data compiled from USDA FoodData Central and scientific sources.