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Traditional bulgur and minced meat meatballs cooked in tomato paste sauce
CALORIES · 100 G
GI
POTASSIUM · 100 G
FIBER · 100 G
1 serving (medium) of Simit meatballs with tomato paste sauce (180 g) has 302 calories. That works out to 168 calories per 100 g. It contains 21.2 g of carbs, 16.4 g of protein, 16.6 g of fat and 3.4 g of fiber. Its 1.6 µg of B12 covers 68% of the Daily Value. Its glycemic index is 48 (low), so it raises blood sugar slowly.
Selected: 1 serving (medium) · 180 g
302
KCAL / 180G
Carbs
21.2g
· 8% DV
Protein
16.4g
· 33% DV
Fat
16.6g
· 21% DV
Fiber
3.4g
· 12% DV
DV is the share of the daily value covered, on a 2,000 kcal reference diet.
Calories come from: Carbs 28% · Protein 22% · Fat 50%
| Nutrient | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 302 kcal | |
| Total fat | 16.6 g | 21% |
| Saturated fat | 5.58 g | 28% |
| Trans fat | 0.22 g | |
| Sodium | 576 mg | 25% |
| Total carbohydrate | 21.2 g | 8% |
| Fiber | 3.4 g | 12% |
| Protein | 16.4 g | 33% |
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 | 302 kcal |
| 1 piece (small) | 18 g | 30 kcal |
| 2 tablespoon (diced) | 36 g | 60 kcal |
| 5 piece (medium) | 90 g | 151 kcal |
| 100 g | 100 g | 168 kcal |
| 8 piece (large) | 144 g | 242 kcal |
| 1 cup (medium) | 220 g | 370 kcal |
| 1 serving (large) | 250 g | 420 kcal |
Calculated from 168 calories per 100 g.
Simit meatballs with tomato paste sauce are Turkish meatballs made from minced meat and fine bulgur, then cooked in a tomato paste sauce. Here, “simit” can refer to fine bulgur in regional Turkish usage, not the sesame-crusted bread ring.
You make simit meatballs with tomato paste sauce by kneading fine bulgur with minced meat and seasonings, shaping the mixture into small balls, then simmering them in the sauce. A well-kneaded mixture holds its shape better while cooking.
Not always: simit meatballs with tomato paste sauce generally include minced meat, while fellah kofte is commonly made from bulgur without meat. Names and recipes vary by region, so some home versions may overlap in shape or seasoning.
In the name simit meatballs with tomato paste sauce, “simit” may refer to fine bulgur, a usage found in parts of Turkey. It does not mean that the meatballs are made with the ring-shaped sesame bread called simit.
Simit meatballs with tomato paste sauce can fall apart if the bulgur is not softened or the mixture is not kneaded enough to bind. Shape the balls firmly and simmer them gently; a vigorously boiling sauce can break delicate meatballs apart.
Fine bulgur, often sold as köftelik bulgur, is the usual choice for simit meatballs with tomato paste sauce. Its small grains soften and bind into a shapeable mixture; coarse pilaf bulgur will produce a different texture and may need a different method.
Yes, you can make a meat-free variation of simit meatballs with tomato paste sauce by using a bulgur-based mixture, though it will differ from the traditional minced-meat version. The mixture needs enough binding and gentle cooking to keep the balls intact.
Simit meatballs with tomato paste sauce pair well with plain yogurt, a crisp salad, or pickles. Since the dish already combines bulgur, meat, and a rich sauce, a fresh or cooling side makes a practical contrast.
Yes, simit meatballs with tomato paste sauce can be frozen after cooking. Cool the dish promptly, pack it in an airtight container, and reheat it thoroughly; add a little water if the sauce thickens during storage.
Simit meatballs with tomato paste sauce are associated with southeastern Turkish home cooking, where fine bulgur is widely used in köfte dishes. Recipes differ between towns and families, so there is not one universally fixed ingredient list or method.
Vitamins
B12
1.62µg · 68% DV
B3
5.04mg · 32% DV
B6
0.38mg · 22% DV
Biotin
5.4µg · 18% DV
Minerals
Selenium
20µg · 36% DV
Zinc
3.42mg · 31% DV
Phosphorus
194mg · 28% DV
Sodium
576mg · 25% DV
Potassium ⭐
459mg · 14% DV
GLYCEMIC INDEX
GLYCEMIC LOAD
Accounts for portion size — a more realistic measure than GI alone.
To burn the 302 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.
Simit meatballs with tomato paste sauce are made by kneading fine bulgur—called “simit” in parts of Turkey—with minced meat and seasonings, shaping it into small meatballs, then cooking them in a tomato-paste-based sauce. Here, simit means bulgur, not the sesame-crusted bread ring. The dish is associated with southeastern Turkish home cooking.
The meatballs have a pleasantly firm, grainy bite, while the sauce brings a rich, savoury tang. They are usually served hot as a main dish, often with yoghurt, salad or pickles. Bulgur supplies most of the carbohydrate and some fibre; the meat contributes protein and fat. For a lighter plate, use leaner mince and moderate the oil, then serve with plenty of fresh salad.
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.
No known major allergens
Vegan
— Not suitable
Vegetarian
— Not suitable
Gluten-Free
— Not suitable
Dairy-Free
— Not suitable
Mediterranean
✓ Suitable
Paleo
— Not suitable
Whole30
— Not suitable
DASH
— Not suitable
Keto
— Not suitable
Low FODMAP
— Not suitable
SATURATED
5.58g
MONOUNSATURATED
6.84g
POLYUNSATURATED
1.62g
Omega 6:3 ratio 14.4:1
Above the ideal 4:1 (14.4:1).
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Nutrition data compiled from USDA FoodData Central and scientific sources.