Meatballs with any type of pasta are a real favourite and always seem to be well received at any meal. In some parts of Italy it is traditional to eat the meat balls separately with a salad then eat the pasta and sauce. This ensures you serve vegetables and stretches the meal for a larger family. Our recipe is simply presented with the pasta and meatballs.
Ingredients
- 1 onion – peeled, rinsed, diced finely
- 2 garlic cloves – peeled, rinsed, crushed
- 1/2 cup parsley – washed, diced finely
- 1 cup mozzarella – grated
- 600g / 21oz veal mince
- 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 4 tablespoons olive oil – for frying
- 2 – 400g / 14oz tins tomato – blended
- Water – for boiling
- 350g / 12oz penne pasta – pictured wholemeal
Directions
- Prepare vegetables and cheese.
- In a large bowl add garlic, parsley, mozzarella, mince, breadcrumbs and egg mix well to combine with clean hands.
- With a tablespoon load a heap of meat mixture and with wet hands roll mixture into a ball and place on a plate. Repeat until mixture is finished.
- Heat oil in a large frying pan on low heat.
- Add meat balls and onion rotate to lightly brown meat balls all over. Constantly stir to prevent meat from sticking and onions from browning for approximately 3 – 5 minutes.
- Add blended tomatoes to cover over meatballs, bring to boil and simmer on low heat covered for 30 minutes.
- Slightly remove lid of frying pan for a further 15 minutes to thicken sauce.
- In the last 15 minutes of the sauce cooking, boil water in a large pot. Add penne and cook to directions on pack. Drain.
- Add sauce and penne into serving bowl mix to combine. Serve.