Spaghetti And Meatballs

Serves 6

Spaghetti and meatballs is easy, simple, delicious, fun food. It is amazingly pleasing to most palates. So whether you are pretending you’re in the Sopranos or trying to please fussy children, or maybe you’re an amature chef cooking a romantic meal for two this is a great, easy, recipe that is delicious. Sometimes the simple things are best.

Ingredients

For the Sauce

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 400g plum tomatoes
• 125ml Red wine
• 125ml beef stock
• ½ tsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tbsp basil

For the meatballs

• 600g minced beef
• 100g Pecorino cheese
• 1 tbsp parsley, chopped
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 small onion, grated
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 egg
• Flour, for dusting
• Oil, for frying
• Cooked spaghetti, to serve

Method

For the Sauce

1. Heat the oil in a pan and cook the onion until softened. Add the garlic and fry for another minute.
2. Stir in the tomatoes, wine, stock, sugar and tomato purée. Leave to simmer gently until the meatballs are ready to go in.

For the Meatballs

1. Mix the beef, cheese, herbs, onion, garlic and egg. Season with salt and pepper and mix together, breaking up any clumps of meat with a fork.
2. Dust your hands with flour and roll the mixture into ping pong-sized balls.
3. Heat a little oil in a frying pan and fry the meatballs until brown and slightly crispy. Drain on kitchen paper.
4. Add the meatballs to the sauce and cook for a further 15 minutes. Stir through the basil and serve over spaghetti.