Greedy Meatballs and Pasta

I love this recipe because I don't like the uncertainty of frying meatballs so finishing cooking them in the oven helps enormously. The cooked meatballs can be frozen for another day and I think the sauce is worthy of Spaghetti Bolognese. I also have to add I used Aldi Sweet Harvest Chunky Chopped Tomatoes with Herbs, very tasty stuff!

Serves 4

Ingredients
450g Minced Beef
½ Medium sized onion
1 Clove of garlic
5 tbsp Breadcrumbs
1 Medium Egg
2 tsp Tomato Puree
1 tsp Dried Mixed Herbs

Sauce
400g Chopped Tomatoes
½ medium onion, chopped
4-5 Closed Cup Mushrooms - sliced thinly
2 cloves Garlic - crushed
1 tsp Mixed Herbs
75ml Fresh Cream (Optional)
100ml Beef Stock
1 tbsp Brown Sugar
Seasoning

400g Dry Pasta,


Method
Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions, set aside. Pre-heat the oven to: 180˚C/350˚F/Gas Mark 4. Make the meatballs as follows, place the meat in a large bowl with the onions and garlic and add the breadcrumbs, tomato puree and dried herbs.

Add in the egg to bind the ingredients together. Mix the ingredients well using either a wooden spoon or your hands. Using wet hands shape the meat into meatballs.

Brown the meatballs in a large deep sauté pan for 3 to 4 minutes and then transfer to the pre-heated oven for 15 to 20 minutes to ensure that they are thoroughly cooked.

To make the sauce.
Fry the onion, mushroom and garlic until nice and soft (approximately 3 to 5 minutes). Add in the mixed herbs, chopped tomatoes, beef stock and brown sugar.

Allow the mixture to reduce for about 10 minutes. If using the cream add to the sauce now to enrich it.

Adjust the seasoning and add the meatballs to the sauce and warm for 6-7 minutes.

Serve the pasta and spoon over the meatballs pasta sauce.



Quorn Meatballs

Makes 16

Ingredients
500g Quorn mince, defrosted
35g Onion sauce packet (I used Knorr)
3 Eggs
1 Clove garlic, crushed
5 tbsp Breadcrumbs
1 tbsp Dried herbs
2 tsp Tomato puree

Method
Preheat the oven to180˚C/350˚F/Gas Mark 4 and line a large baking tray with baking paper. Place all the meatball ingredients in a large bowl, mix together. Using wet hands, make 16 balls and lay them on a lined baking tray. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.