Spaghetti Meatballs Recipe

A few weeks ago, we shared head chef Mario's patented recipe for the perfect tomato pasta sauce and, I think it's about time, we shared a pasta dish which uses his fantastic sauce.



Today, we're sharing our recipe for spaghetti meatballs. This is an excellent dish for so many reasons. Firstly, children universally seem to adore it. Secondly, cost - using a mixture of pork and beef mince really lowers the price. Thirdly, this recipe can be halved, doubled, tripled, quadrupled...super easily. Together with the low price ingredients, you can feed hungry hoards relatively inexpensively.

Firstly, you'll need to whip up a batch of Mario's tomato sauce. This stuff is sublime - cooking for such a long time ensures tomato perfection. But we know you're busy people, and time is often of the essence, so if you can't be bothered to make the tomato sauce, just buy bottled passata, just don't tell us!

To make enough spaghetti meatballs to feed 10 hungry people, you'll need the following:

1Kg pork mince
1Kg beef mince
1/2 bunch parsley, finely chopped
1 large red onion, chopped
3 small eggs or 2 large ones
100g bread crumbs
1Kg spaghetti
Olive oil
Parmesan and fresh parsley to serve
salt and pepper

1. The important thing with the meatballs is that you tenderise the meat to ensure maximum juiciness. To do this place both meats in a huge sandwich bag and take out your frustrations on it using a rolling pin.

2. Place the bashed up mince and all the other ingredients (together with a hefty seasoning of salt and pepper) in a large bowl and crush together by hand until everything is thoroughly mixed together.
3. Preheat the oven to 200C. Roll the meatballs into small golf ball sized spheres.

4. Space out in a large roasting tin (you may need to use two) and add a few tablespoons of olive oil. Cook the meatballs in the oven for 20 minutes until browned. Pour over your tomato sauce and cook for a further 20 minutes. Check that the meatballs are piping hot before serving.
5. Cook your spaghetti according the the instructions on the packet.
6. Mix together your meatballs and spaghetti and serve generous portions. Sprinkle over parsley and grated parmesan cheese.