Mini meatballs in rich tomato sauce
These meatballs in a tomato sauce are so easy to make! We used lean beef mince, but you could use turkey or pork mince instead
Published 19 February 2009
Approx cost for 4: £3.65
What do I need?
- 500g lean beef mince
- 40g fresh breadcrumbs
- 2 tsp dried mixed herbs
- 1 egg, beaten
- Salt and pepper to season
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
- 400ml can of chopped tomatoes
- 1 tbsp tomato purée
- 300g (dry weight) spaghetti
How do I make it?
- Using a fork, combine the first five ingredients, and a quarter of the onion, in a bowl. Using clean hands, form the mix into 24 small balls.
- Heat the oil in a lidded non-stick frying pan and add the meatballs. Brown on each side over a medium-high heat, then move to a plate.
- Add the rest of the onion to pan and stir-fry for a minute. Add the remaining ingredients, except the spaghetti, stir well and simmer. Next return the meatballs to the pan, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes with the lid on.
- Check after 10 minutes and add a little boiling water if the sauce is dry.
- Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according to the pack instructions. Drain, and serve in bowls or on plates with the sauce and meatballs in the centre.
"We had fun making the meatballs. As the recipe says, it is a very rich tomato sauce."
Rani, mum of Sarah, 19, Sonia, 14, and Amanjit, 4
Recipe: Judith Wills, author of Feeding Kids: 120 Foolproof Family Recipes. The Netmums cookery Book (£14.99, Headline). Photography: Jon Osborne. Food styling: Nicole Herft
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