Receta Savoury | Truly Tender Meatballs in a Rich Tomato Sauce … #comfortfood
“Everything you see I owe to spaghetti.”
Sophia Loren
It’s been a while since I posted something savoury here on PAB. A link that I followed after posting my #pieformikey led me to the beautiful Food52. There was this huge connect I felt; loved the honest to goodness style of posting. Meandering around with Jennifers voice playing in my head , don’t wait for tomorrow, my eye caught a link to Spaghetti and Meatballs… there was going to be no waiting now!
Delving deeper and deeper I landed up at this tried and tested recipe for Truly Tender Meatballs in Rich Tomato Sauce by lastnightsdinner that promised the best meatballs ever in a rich tomato sauce. I knew I had to make this without wasting another day … the tiresome teen had been begging me to make some for ages. Heed Jennifers advice … do it now!
This has entered my recipe folder as one of the BEST.COMFORT.FOODS.EVER! We are a family that love our food, be it the healthy version of Indian Butter Chicken, Pizza {with Peter Reinharts pizza dough}, Chicken Quark Crossover Pastry, Thai Chicken Satay {not blogged yet but made recently & it was delicious} … … or then this version of spaghetti & meatballs. I’ve made meatballs before but these turned out to be the best to date. I think it was the ricotta in there AND a great recipe!!
Tell me dear readers, do you have a favourite bunch of comfort food main meal recipes you reach out for over and over again? Would love you to share the links with me.
Recipe: Truly Tender Meatballs in a Rich Tomato Sauce
Summary: A recipe adapted from Last Nights Dinner is true to its title…these are truly tender meatballs in a rich tomato sauce. The secret ingredient probably ricotta that makes the meatballs tender and delicious.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes + chilling time
Ingredients for Chicken Meatballs:
500gm chicken mince {from thigh tenders}
1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs
1/2 cup ricotta, drained {homemade recipe here}
1 onion, chopped fine
5-6 cloves garlic, chopped fine
1/2 tsp roasted red chili flakes
Handful of fresh basil
1 egg
Salt & pepper
Oil to shallow fry
Method:
Run all ingredients in processor until the mince is smooth.
Thermomix: Drop 1 slice of bread in and process on Speed 4 for 10 seconds. Add the onion, garlic and basil and chop on Speed 4 for 10 seconds, scrape down, and process for another 10 seconds. Add remaining ingredients and process on Speed 6 for 15 seconds}
Chill in fridge for 30 minutes {I left mine overnight}
Make small meatballs and shallow fry in batches until golden brown on all sides {don’t over crown the pan}
Remove and keep warm.
Once all done, pour the tomato sauce {recipe follows} into the same pan and simmer the meatballs in the sauce for an hour or so.
Check seasoning, add fresh basil and serve over spaghetti. {About 400gms spaghetti}
Note: Thin out the sauce with some pasta water if it is too thick.
- Ingredients for Rich Tomato Sauce:
- 1 kg tomatoes,
- 1 onion
- 1 red bell pepper
- 5-6 cloves garlic
- Red chili flakes
- Zest of 1 lime
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Handful of fresh basil
- 1 tsp sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Method:
Saute the finely chopped onion, garlic, basil and bell pepper in olive oil for 2-3 minutes.
Add chopped tomatoes and cook covered on simmer till sauce comes together. Blend rough or smooth as you like it. {I left mine medium}
Add zest of 1 lime, salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar and sugar. Simmer for 5-7 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Thermomix: Place onion, garlic,basil, bell pepper in TM jar and process on Speed 4 for 6 seconds. Scrape down sides and repeat. Add EVOO and cook on 100C, reverse speed 2 for 3 minutes. Add halved tomatoes and run on Speed 4 for 7 seconds. Season with red chili flakes, salt and pepper. Cook on 100C/reverse speed 2 for 20 minutes. Once cooked, puree to desired consistency on Speed 8 increasing to 10/ 10-20 seconds depending on how smooth you want the sauce to be.
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