recipes

Meatballs in Spicy Tomato Sauce

Catherine Fulvio shows us how the make the perfect meatballs.

Ingredients

• For the meatballs
• 1onion, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 225g lean minced pork
• 225g lean minced beef
• 50g fresh breadcrumbs
• 100ml milk
• 1 ½ tsp oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp ground black pepper
• 1egg, beaten
• For the spicy sauce
• ½ tsp dried chilli flakes (or to taste)
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil, extra virgin
• 200ml vegetable stock
• 400g canned chopped tomatoes
• 30g sundried tomatoes, chopped
• 2 tbsp tomato puree
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Olive oil, extra virgin
• Grated parmesan, to serve

Method

To make the sauce

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan, add the onion and thyme and cook on a low heat until the onion has softened.
2. Add the dried chilli, stock, tomatoes, tomato puree, sundried tomatoes, salt and pepper.
3. Bring to the boil and allow to simmer for 7 minutes.

To make the meatballs

1. Mix the onion and garlic with the pork and beef.
2. Soak the bread crumbs in the milk.
3. Place the breadcrumbs, oregano, salt and pepper to the meat mixture and mix.
4. Add in the egg, and mix thoroughly.
5. Roll the mixture into small balls.
6. Heat the oil in a frying pan, over a medium heat and add the meatballs. Fry for approximately 7 minutes, until they are browned, turning them occasionally, then turn down the heat.

To finish

1. Add the cooked sauce to the pan and simmer for 7- 8 minutes.
2. Serve with spaghetti and grated parmesan to serve.