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Meatballs served in tomato sauce
Juicy meatballs in rich tomato sauce

Meatballs in tomato sauce

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Main Courses
The secret of real Italian 'polpette' is softness. We don't want hard balls, but ones that almost melt in the mouth. We achieve this by lightening: breadcrumbs (or soaked bread) bind moisture, and egg holds the mixture together. Slow cooking in tomato sauce permeates the meat with flavours whilst keeping it juicy.
🕒 Prep Time 20 mins
🍳 Cook Time 30 mins
⌛ Total Time 50 mins
🍽️ Servings 4 servings
🔥 Calories 650 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Italian

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Large mixing bowl
  • High sided frying pan
  • Wooden spoon

Allergen Information

⚠️ Eggs
⚠️ Cereals containing gluten

Instructions

1 ✓

Finely chop the onion, crush the garlic. In a bowl mix the meat, egg, crumbs, onion, half the garlic, parsley and spices.

Tip: Don't over-knead, as meat proteins stick together and the ball becomes rubbery. Just until it comes together.
2 ✓

With wet hands, form walnut-sized balls.

Tip: Fat doesn't stick to wet hands.
3 ✓

Heat oil in a pan, and fry the balls all over until crusted. Remove them.

Tip: They don't need to be cooked through, just the crust is the goal for flavour. The inside cooks in the sauce.
4 ✓

Pour the passata into the same pan, add the remaining garlic, oregano, sugar and salt. Bring to the boil.

Tip: The tomato juice dissolves the browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan, enriching the sauce.
5 ✓

Return the balls, cover, and simmer on a low heat for 15-20 minutes.

Tip: If it thickens, add a little water.

Recipe FAQ

Why did the ball fall apart?
Too little binder (egg/crumbs) or the sauce boiled too vigorously. Only simmer!
Can I bake in the oven?
Yes, at 200°C for about 20 minutes, then put into the sauce. This needs less fat.

Ingredients

  • 500 g Minced pork (min. 20% fat content)
  • 50 g Breadcrumbs
  • 1 pc Egg
  • 1 pc Onion
  • 2 pcs Garlic cloves
  • 1 bunch Fresh parsley
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 pinch Pepper
  • 400 g Tomato purée (Passata)
  • 1 tsp Sugar
  • 2 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 tsp Dried oregano