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Italian Meatball Recipe

Lovely juicy Italian meatballs.
Servings 4

Ingredients

For the tomato sauce

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • Chilli chopped to taste
  • 500 g (17.6oz) passata
  • 1/2 tsp dried chopped thyme
  • 1-2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • Salt
  • Ground black pepper
  • Sugar to taste optional

For the meatballs

  • 1 large onion chopped roughly
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled
  • 1/2 red bell pepper deseeded and roughly chopped
  • Chilli to taste
  • Large handful fresh coriander cilantro
  • 500 g 17.6oz lean pork mince
  • 2 tbsp grated Parmesan
  • 50 g 2oz breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 egg beaten
  • Oil for frying

Instructions

  • First start with the meatball sauce.
  • Heat the olive oil and sweat the onion for about 5 mins until soft.
  • Then add the garlic and chilli and fry for a minute.
  • Mix in the passatta, thyme, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and sugar and simmer for about 30 mins until done.
  • Make the meatballs
  • In a food processor mince together the onion, garlic, pepper, chilli and coriander till well chopped.
  • Add this mixture to the pork mince and also add in the parmesan, breadcrumbs, salt, black pepper and egg.
  • Combine everything together till well mixed.
  • Heat some oil in a frying pan and fry a very small amount of the meat mixture. Taste for seasoning and make any necessary adjustments.
  • Then divide the meat mix into 24 portions and shape each portion into a meat ball between the palm of your hands.
  • Then reheat oil in the frying pan and fry meat balls in batches making sure they are brown on each side and cooked through.
  • When done serve the meatballs topped with the sauce and some cheese.